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FRANCE went down fighting but the USA held firm to win their women's Olympic Gold Medal match 67-66 in arguably the best such Final in decades, Gabby Williams' last basket, a floating jumper on the siren fired from just inside the arc, creating the closing scoreline when just a few inches back would have meant overtime.

But even that millisecond of confusion did not detract from one of the all-time great Finals, a match in which France's strategy almost closed the USA's winning streak at 60.

Almost.

A'ja Wilson (21 points, 13 rebounds. 4 blocks) compensated for a rare MIA by her partner in keyway control, Breanna Stewart.

Despite the poor first-half shooting, it was a quality game from start-to-finish made so by France's relentless, dogged and amazing hustle on defence. The Americans had trouble coping with the physicality, missing shots they normally would gobble up.

When the US snatched the lead in the final quarter, then just as the men's game played out, the expectation was France would fold.

But just as it would not in the men, it would not in the women, coming back repeatedly to ensure the USA earned its eighth straight Gold Medal.

Kahleah Copper tied the game from the stripe inside the final five minutes, then her layup put the US ahead 55-53.

Williams, who had a scintillating final period - she scored 11 points in the last four minutes - kept France hot on the trail before Kelsey Plum's free throws put the Americans 60-57 clear.

When Plum's free throws at 11 seconds left made it 65-61, this one looked banked.

Nup.

Williams drained a 3-pointer with 5 seconds to go for 64-65, then fouled Copper inside the final 3 seconds. She made both FTs for 67-64 before a long pass found Williams just inside the arc, the shot creating the final scoreline.

What a Final this was, France extending its lead to 10 points at 35-25 on Marieme Badiane's free throws at 7:23 in the third quarter after scores were locked on a paltry 25-25 at halftime.

Two threes by Plum book-ending a Wilson layup meant an 8-0 US response as Leila Lacan bobbed up for France to push back its lead.

They kept the buffer at five for a while but some cavalier play by Marine Johannes did not help, some better ball distribution by Simone Ionescu putting USA ahead going into the final, intense quarter.

That Wilson and Stewart made the All-Star Five was no surprise, but neither were the selections of Williams, Belgium's Emma Meesseman and our own Alanna Smith.

Finally given the appropiate court-time and confidence, Smith more than fulfilled expectations, further exciting Opals fans at what the future holds when Jade Melbourne - just as Josh Giddey had been at the 2023 FIBA World Cup - was named the tournament's Rising Star.

USA 67 (Wilson 21, Copper, Plum 12; Wilson 13 rebs; Gray, Plum 4 assts) d FRANCE 66 (Williams 19, Ayayi, Johannes 9; Williams 7 rebs; Badiane 3 assts)

WOMEN'S FINAL

USA 67 d France 66

BRONZE MEDAL

Australia 85 d  Belgium 81

WOMEN'S SEMI FINALS

USA 85 d Australia 64, France 81 d Belgium 75 (in O/T)

WOMEN'S QUARTER-FINALS

Australia 85 d Serbia 67, Belgium 79 d Spain 66, France 84 d Germany 71, USA 88 d Nigeria 74

WOMEN'S INTRAGROUP RESULTS

Group A: Spain 90 d China 89, Serbia 58 d Puerto Rico 55; Spain 63 d Puerto Rico 62, Serbia 81 d China 59; China 80 d Puerto Rico 58, Spain 70 d Serbia 62. Spain 3-0 (+10), Serbia 2-1 (+17), China 1-2 (-1), Puerto Rico 0-3 (-26). Final Order: 1 Spain, 2 Serbia, 3 China, 4 Puerto Rico.

Group B: Nigeria 75 d Australia 62, France 75 d Canada 54; Australia 70 d Canada 65, France 75 d Nigeria 54; Nigeria 79 d Canada 70, Australia 79 d France 72. France 2-1 (+35), Nigeria 2-1 (+1), Australia 2-1 (-1), Canada 0-4 (-35). Tied Teams Table: France 1-1 +14, Australia 1-1 -6, Nigeria 1-1 -8. Final Order: 1 France, 2 Australia, 3 Nigeria, 4 Canada

Group C: Germany 83 d Belgium 69, USA 102 d Japan 76; Germany 75 d Japan 64, USA 87 d Belgium 74; Belgium 85 d Japan 58, USA 87 d Germany 68. USA 3-0 (+58), Germany 2-1 (+6), Belgium 1-2 (0), Japan 0-3 (-64). Final Order: 1 USA, 2 Germany, 3 Belgium, 4 Japan