Welcome to the final day of the 2024 Olympics!
As the curtain falls on the Paris Games, Team USA is poised to cap off an unforgettable journey with a highly anticipated gold medal match.
But that’s not the only hardware the U.S. will be looking for today. The U.S. men’s water polo squad got the day started with a win in the pool in its bronze medal match against Hungary, and U.S. women’s volleyball took home the silver medal after falling to Italy.
The Olympic competition then is capped off with its final event: the women’s basketball gold medal game. With a win over France, Team USA would become the first team in any sport to win eight consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Finally, the closing ceremony will bring the world’s top athletes together to celebrate the competition, unity and perseverance that have shaped these Games.
Here’s what to watch on Sunday at the Olympics.
11:27 a.m. ET: U.S. women’s basketball makes history
Team USA are women’s basketball champions for the eighth consecutive Games, but the title didn’t come without a sizable scare.
UNBELIEVABLE ENDING IN PARIS. 😱
Gabby Williams banked it in at the buzzer but her FOOT WAS ON THE THREE-POINT LINE. TEAM USA WINS BY A SINGLE POINT.#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/DJI7YxfVMl
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
The U.S. and France traded blows all afternoon on Sunday, with the Americans eventually pulling ahead heading down the final stretch. France nearly forced a miraculous overtime, going the length of the court in a matter of seconds after Kahleah Copper’s free throws put Team USA up by three, but Gabby Williams’ foot was inside the three-point arc on what could have been a game-tying shot.
AN OLYMPIC DYNASTY DECADES IN THE MAKING. 🇺🇸👑
TEAM USA WOMEN’S HOOPS IS GOLDEN ONCE AGAIN!#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/nBBQuciCVz
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
10:12 a.m ET: Upset watch in women’s basketball
The U.S. women’s basketball squad and its 60-game win streak enter halftime against France … tied?
Marine Fauthoux beats the shot clock with a DEEEEP three. 👀
📺 NBC and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/FXUDL04qts
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
The French haven’t backed down as they look to pull off a colossal win on home soil. Gabby Williams leads all scorers with eight points as Team USA will enter halftime looking to find a way to cut back on turnovers — they have 13, as opposed to just six for France. The U.S. will have some momentum, though, after a Napheesa Collier tip-in ensured a tied halftime score as opposed to a French lead.
Napheesa Collier tips it in at the buzzer to send the gold medal game into the locker room tied at 25 apiece. 🚨#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/KGx4k9BA0x
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
9:21 a.m. ET: Valente defends her gold women’s omnium
With two chances left in the Games, Team USA needed two gold medals to draw into a tie with China atop the standings. Jennifer Valente, who also helped the U.S. earn gold in the women’s team pursuit event, went back-to-back with her second gold medal in as many Games in the women’s omnium event. Team USA is now one gold medal short of finishing the games tied with China, with one event left to play: the women’s basketball gold medal match, where the U.S. will look to become the first program in Olympic history to win eight consecutive team gold medals.
Jennifer Valente successfully defends her gold medal in the women’s omnium at the #ParisOlympics! 🥇👏 pic.twitter.com/j5n8CieGPx
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
8:46 a.m. ET: Italy downs U.S. to win women’s volleyball gold
After a scorching-hot run through the knockout stage, Italy women’s volleyball has ensured that the program’s first medal at the Games is golden.
In fact, prior to Paris, the Italian women had never even played for a medal in Olympic volleyball. But their run in France was nothing short of dominant. Italy dropped the second set in its first match against the Dominican Republic … and then followed that up with 17 consecutive sets won en route to the gold medal. All but untouchable on its quest for glory, just one of the nine sets Italy won in knockout play was decided by a margin of fewer than three points.
6:55 a.m. ET: Sifan Hassan secures remarkable treble
It had been four decades since an athlete attempted to compete in the 5,000-meter, 10,000-meter and marathon races at the same Olympic Games. And seven decades since an athlete medaled in all three.
Until Sifan Hassan arrived in Paris. On Monday, Hassan ran in the 5,000 and secured bronze. On Friday she ran in the 10,000 and secured bronze again. And on Sunday morning she ran in the marathon, and not only won gold, but broke the Olympic record with a time of 2:22:55.
“She is amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing. She’s just awesome,” Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi said afterward. “Who can do that? Who can come from track and win the marathon?” READ MORE on Hassan and her quest for the treble.
WHAT A FINISH! 😱
Sifan Hassan sets an OLYMPIC RECORD in the women’s marathon to win gold and her third medal of the #ParisOlympics! pic.twitter.com/qMQHsdntPH
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
6:44 a.m. ET: U.S. men’s water polo takes bronze
For the first time since the 2008 Games, U.S. men’s water polo is back on the podium.
Sixteen proved to be the lucky number for the U.S.: 16 years after the team took silver in Beijing, goalie Adrian Weinberg made 16 saves to help the team eventually prevail in a penalty shootout to decide bronze medal honors. The win marked Team USA’s second shootout victory in three knockout stage games, as the U.S. also eliminated Australia in the quarterfinal round via penalties.
The USA clinched bronze in men’s water polo with a FLAWLESS shootout performance against Hungary. ✅✅✅#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/XaaVtjYs47
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
