United States Punches Ticket To Olympic Gold Medal Match

PARIS, France – The United States will play for gold on Saturday at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, following its 1-0 win in extra time over Germany in the Olympic semifinal on Tuesday.

The USWNT will face the winner of Brazil-Spain in the Olympic final on Saturday, August 10 at 11 a.m. ET.

Three former North Carolina women's soccer standouts – New Zealand's Katie Bowen and the United States' Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox – have been competing in France.

The USWNT secured its spot in the knockout rounds after sweeping Group B. Its spot in the quarterfinals was clinched after a big 4-1 win over Germany on July 28 followed by a 2-1 win against Australia on July 31. The stars and stripes opened its Olympic campaign with a 3-0 shutout against Zambia on July 25.

Team USA began the knockout round with a 1-0 win over Japan on Aug. 3 in which Dunn had the game-winning assist in extra time. The U.S. then had another 1-0 win against Germany in the quarterfinals on Aug. 6 with the lone goal again coming in added time.

New Zealand went 0-3 in group stage play, ending its Olympic tournament on July 31. A defender, Bowen wore the captain's armband each match and played a full 90 minutes in all three of her Olympic games.

Bowen (2012-15) represented New Zealand in her fourth Olympic Games. She is the reigning New Zealand and Women's International Player of the Year and was an alternate in 2012 before making the 18-person roster the past three Olympiads.

Now with 15 Olympic appearances, Dunn (2010-13) is one of just three three-time Olympians on the United States' roster. The forward earned bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and scored a goal in 2016 in Rio. Her 20th career USWNT assist came in the quarterfinals against Japan.

Making her Olympic debut for Team USA is defender Fox (2017-19). Fox, who is one of nine first-time Olympians on the USWNT, has now made 55 caps for the red, white and blue.

Tar Heels' Olympic Schedule
Group Stage
Thursday, July 25 – Canada def. New Zealand, 2-1 (Group A) – Recap
Thursday, July 25 – United States def. Zambia, 3-0 (Group B) – Recap
Sunday, July 28 – Colombia def. New Zealand, 2-0 (Group A) – Recap
Sunday, July 28 – United States def. Germany, 4-1 (Group B) – Recap
Wednesday, July 31 – United States def. Australia, 2-1 (Group B) – Recap
Wednesday, July 31 – France def. New Zealand, 2-1 (Group A) – Recap

Knockout Rounds
Saturday, August 3 – United States def. Japan, 1-0, Quarterfinals – Recap
Tuesday, August 6 – United States def. Germany, 1-0, Semifinals
Saturday, August 10 – Gold medal match, 11 a.m. ET

All times listed as Eastern Standard. Click here for full schedule and results.

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