As the curtain fell on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. women’s basketball team delivered a grand finale by securing their 40th gold medal on August 11th, just a day after their male counterparts claimed their victory. The atmosphere was electric, the kind that only the Olympics can conjure, not just from the game but from the star-studded audience. Among those in the crowd were the Bryant family, and notably, 2× Olympic gold medalist Scottie Pippen with his daughter, Sophia Pippen.

Sophia Pippen has always been a constant supporter of the USA women’s national basketball team. Her enthusiasm for the sport was evident as she took to Instagram to share a series of photos capturing her experiences at the Olympics and around Paris, simply captioning it, “PARIS.” She also posted a heartwarming picture with her father, on her IG story, reflecting a moment of pride and joy.

Interestingly, Sophia Pippen had previously been spotted courtside, supporting basketball teams. Back in June, she and her mother, Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa Pippen attended a WNBA game and cheered for Angel Reese against the Las Vegas Aces.

However, the focus of the day remained on the USA women’s basketball team. With this latest triumph, they claimed their 8 consecutive gold medal—a streak unmatched by any other nation, male or female, in Olympic basketball history. But it wasn’t an easy win; Team USA edged out France by just one point in a nail-biting finish. 2× WNBA champion A’ja Wilson led the charge with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Gabby Williams gave a valiant effort for France, scoring 19 points.

Interestingly, the Pippen duo weren’t the only famous faces in the audience that day. Many other celebrities and athletes turned out to witness this historic moment.

Other stars join Sophia and Scottie Pippen for the gold medal match

As the U.S. women’s basketball team battled for gold, the Bercy Arena was filled with more than just the sounds of sneakers squeaking on the court. Among the crowd was the late Kobe Bryant’s family was also present, honoring the legacy Kobe left, especially in women’s basketball. Kobe once said, “Women are capable of being as successful, if not more successful, than men.” His words echoed through the arena, as NBA stars Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo, fresh off their own gold medal win, showed up to support their fellow Americans.

Moving to the sidelines, one could spot Sue Bird, one of the greatest to ever play the game, witnessing the new generation take the stage. It was a poignant moment for Bird, as this was the first Olympics since Sydney 2000 where she wasn’t competing but cheering from the stands.

On the other side of the court, the French team also had their own supporters in attendance. 4× NBA champion Tony Parker was there, lending his voice to the cheers, alongside swimming sensation Leon Marchand, who took home 4 golds and a bronze. Even French President Emmanuel Macron and soccer legend Thierry Henry, who won silver as the manager of France’s soccer team, couldn’t resist being part of the thrilling atmosphere.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.