US women chase record basketball gold against France team lifted by love [Video]

The all-conquering US women’s basketball team chase an historic eighth straight Olympic gold on Sunday against French opponents fuelled by the “love” of their fans.

The US women have won basketball gold at the past seven Olympic Games, starting at Atlanta in 1996.

An eighth straight triumph would give them the record for most consecutive gold medals in any team sport at the Olympic Games — breaking a tie with the US men, who won seven basketball titles in a row from 1936 to 1968.

“I think the gold medal is the standard,” US forward Alyssa Thomas said. “No matter where we are in the world, it’s our goal and that’s what we came here for.”

It promises to be an emotional affair at Bercy Arena, where for the first time in Games history the men’s and women’s finals featured identical match-ups.

Delirious fans erupted in joy when France’s women …