Like so many of us this summer, I was caught up in the thrill of professional women’s basketball. I cheered wildly for Caitlin Clark from the University of Iowa as she debuted with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team, Indiana Fever. Clark inspired thousands of people to buy outrageously expensive tickets to the games while others watch the Fever’s games religiously from TV screens across the country. We were inspired by her finesse despite her fierce competitiveness. We were encouraged by her kindness to tiny tots who held up their shoes for her autograph and by her genuine humbleness.

To finish off the summer basketball thrills, we watched Team USA play against the French women on the final night of the Olympics. Both teams moved the ball with lightning speed, charging into shooters, and launching three pointers from the paint.

Statistically, the French underdogs outplayed the red jerseys from the USA. The French team had a higher percentage of two pointers (43% vs. 39%). The French team had a higher number of steals (16 vs. 9) and fewer turnovers. The French never missed a free throw (100% vs. 79%).

Gabby Marshal’s final shot from just inside the three-point line was centimeters from propelling the game into overtime. But at some point, the game ends. Whichever team is ahead after exactly 40 minutes of play goes home with the gold medal.

I could fill pages with stories of how the game of basketball is a lot like the game of life. But for now, let me just say that the French team did not lose that game. They played hard. The rose above the challenge of outshooting the dominantly favored team. They proved to their hometown fans that they could outscore and out run their opponents many times. They believed in themselves. With the 2024 Olympics in the rear-view mirror, we can remember the French women’s basketball team as silver-medal Olympic champions, loosing only by centimeters.

My take-away is this: Play hard. Give it your best. Seek to rise above your greatest challenges. Believe in yourself. And take home the silver medal with pride. In life, we never really lose games; in life, we always win when we give it our best shot.

Author: Robin Gingerich, Ph.D., MA TESOL Program Director at LCC International University.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images