On the highest step of the Olympic podium, U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner wept, tears trickling down her face as her country’s national anthem serenaded her for a gold medal she could not have imagined winning while in a Russian prison.

The United States won a 67-66 thriller over France in the women’s basketball final, claiming a historic eighth consecutive Olympic crown while denying the hosts the golden finish to the Paris Games that had seemed within their grasp.

There was no “Miracle on the Seine” at the Paris Olympics today as the United States men’s basketball team did as expected by grinding out a 98-87 win over France to claim a fifth consecutive gold medal.

The United States kept the dream alive with a stirring fourth quarter rally to tame feisty Serbia 95-91 on Friday and move into the Paris Olympics men’s basketball gold medal final against France.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has received permission from the 49ers to seek a trade, a significant development signaling contract talks are unlikely to be resolved with the 26-year-old in San Francisco.

Participants from Fiji and other Pacific Islands basketball nations will have the opportunity to enhance their skills, learn from experienced mentors, and compete at a high level.

The French men’s basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday that propelled the hosts into the Olympic semi-finals riding a wave of national emotion.

The Netherlands won gold in the men’s 3×3 basketball by edging France 18-17 in overtime in the final at the Paris Olympics, just a few minutes after Germany had earned their first international title in the women’s tournament.

The latest edition of the U.S. Dream Team will add their star power to the City of Light this week as the Paris Olympics basketball competition moves onto the big stage.

Olympic champions the United States will meet Nigeria in the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball tournament at the Paris Games, while hosts France face Germany, Belgium take on Spain and Serbia meet Australia.

Reigning Olympic champions the United States will face Brazil in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament after beating Puerto Rico 104-83 in Lille to seal top spot in Group C with three wins out of three.

China pulled off a surprise 21-15 victory over gold medal favourites Serbia on the second day of the men’s 3×3 basketball pool stage at the Paris Olympics.