.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's university basketball as well as the WNBA.Formerly covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore native with further take in at the Dallas Early Morning Headlines, Seattle Moments and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elderly Person Article Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series.Previously an expert along with the Indiana Pacers.Built WARP rating and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global rivals will definitely reunite on Friday, as the United States ladies's baseball team confronts the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold award match on the line.Team USA, which is actually riding a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic success, advanced to the semifinals along with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Complying with a dismayed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung all together three straight victories, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal choice over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the united state girls have actually been the gold standard for basketball across the planet, succeeding 7 successive Olympic gold medals and also 9 general, Australia has actually been a historic giant alongside them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of recent seven Summers months Video games, take away three silvers as well as two bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris marks the very first time they've advanced past the quarterfinals because the 2012 London Video games.2012 likewise was the final opportunity the legendary Lauren Jackson dressed on the Olympic phase for the environment-friendly and gold-- until now. While Crew United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, appearing in her 5th Games as well as to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has regularly medaled in the competition, and also though she has actually seen limited activity until now in France, she possesses an opportunity to continue that streak this weekend.Australia-- which includes six energetic WNBA gamers-- has a lot of drive, but the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity against the U.S. senior national team, including 0-8 in Olympic competitors. In the course of the 5 Gamings in which they medaled, Australia dropped to the united state either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The squads final satisfied in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou as well as Kevin Pelton break some of journalism inquiries heading in to the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credits Jackie Young for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart speaks with Brian Windhorst after Crew United States's 14-point draw Nigeria to progress to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. switched over up its own starting five versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Young instead of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the step fix its own problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Youthful in place of Taurasi-- who possessed last go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the appropriate technique. With 15 points versus Nigeria, Youthful seems taking a function as Team USA's 3rd marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Certainly, Young is the just various other USA player averaging dual figures at 10.3 points every activity.) Young, among 3 Las Vegas Aces gamers in the beginning 5, showed off her 3-point capturing previously versus Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless coming from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her ability to acquire downhill as well as attack from midrange that stuck out, along with her hallmark protection in the backcourt. It took till the middle of the second fourth for the USA to truly put its foot on the fuel against Nigeria, but Young's aggressiveness as well as power on both ends need to remain to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi seemed to perform properly off the seat, where she stepped up as a company with four assists.Pelton: I will adore to view starting point player Chelsea Gray be actually a hazard to score. She missed out on all three of her try attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 so far during the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the united state outscored Nigeria by simply pair of aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our last roundtable, the united state females can easily beat one non-scorer in the beginning five as long as she is actually carrying something else to the desk. And Gray is along with her playmaking, having today totaled 22 assists versus just 3 turn overs. Therefore, I do not presume coach Cheryl Reeve needs to create more changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat issues carry out the Australians position, as well as what can create all of them a challenging matchup?Top accounts of the full week from Receive unique access to countless costs short articles a year from top authors. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB sophomore class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP war, various other awards "u2022 25 essential players in CFP nationality" Even more ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA enthusiasts are going to be well acquainted with this Opals team, which features the Seat Storm's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne as well as Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Freedom instructor Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not just do the Opals have the ability to contend versus Staff U.S.A.. They have momentum and fix following their frustrating begin to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually satisfied along with her team's grace as well as grit over recent full week, pair of qualities an enemy requires when dealing with the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced assault boasts 5 gamers averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can harm enemies inside along with Magbegor as well as Johnson yet likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the most effective in the Olympic area and a lot more than Staff United States's modest 30.8%. Whitcomb and also Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while with the Sin City Aces, lead the group with 8 and also 7 treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is deeper as well as much more accomplished than any team in the field except for the USA women. We can debate the most effective international player at the Paris Video Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as strong prospects. Yet no crew possesses a pair of gamers as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and also Johnson, each of whom would possess gotten on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was certainly not named to the group this time in spite of similar manufacturing.) As well as no team outside the united state has virtually as a lot WNBA adventure throughout its own roster.Given everything ability, it was actually surprising when Australia shed its opening game to Nigeria then rarely defeat winless Canada. In their past pair of activities, our team have actually observed the Opals we counted on, as they beat surpassed France to advance to the knockout phase and also led Serbia through as a lot of as 28 in an unequal quarterfinal victory.A' Ja meals to Stewie for three. LeBron permits. United States System as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 May anyone quit Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if any person is actually going to have all of them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson. Australia's message gamers place second (Magbegor, 2.4) as well as fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per video game and possess the flexibility to speak up for Stewart and Wilson on the perimeter. Magbegor is actually especially experienced against each challengers, having dealt with Stewart in practice for 3 years as Hurricane allies and also compared along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest difficulty for Magbegor as well as Smith is actually nasty trouble. Magbegor grabbed 3 first-half fouls against Canada, as well as Johnson possessed two in the initial quarter versus France, restricting their mins. Back-up George is actually a tough, trained player (she scored 18 aspects in 24 minutes versus Serbia) yet nowhere near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up a valid problem. But provided the experience Stewart and Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is actually going with her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and also Smith are actually appearing in their initial Gamings-- I will expect the Team United States very duo to help make the winning plays important in such a high-pressure situation to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium would certainly be a harder enemy for Staff USA?Pelton: I'm opting for Belgium, which gave the united state women their most difficult Olympic examination however. The Americans prevailed by 13 aspects, although the margin was simply seven getting in the 4th one-fourth of a team stage video game played in Lille, France, near the borderline with Belgium. All this even with Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, with Julie Vanloo especially straining coming from midtown while overlooking 10 of her 11 efforts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 from 3, racking up 13 factors with seven aids (albeit along with nine turn overs) as Belgium navigated previous Spain, the simply various other group besides the united state that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the lot country with the group on its own side and also a lot of take pride in vulnerable, a challenging protective team in France definitely would not be a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may blow up like she did against Germany with 24 points off the seat as well as along with Gabby Williams breaking the ice on each ends.Has Group U.S.A. played its absolute best basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on outburst, can easily still be an issue. There are actually times when the absence of playing opportunity all together or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still noticeable. It goes without saying, there's a reason why Sue Bird just recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that United States Baseball is actually one of the most annoying baseball she has ever before participated in. After a bit of a sluggish start, the U.S. at some point led by 30 in the third one-fourth versus Nigeria, however Reeve could not have enjoyed just how her team enabled the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point game just before the last buzzer. With 4 video games, the Americans' lack of 3-point shooting hasn't definitely been actually treated, which may be an issue if challengers get hot from deep.Team U.S.A. can not ignore some of the staying teams in the business, yet along with a defensive identification and aggressive adeptness led through Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually revealed it may place games away when it needs to, one thing that must transmit over in to the final two games.Pelton: On the other side, I believe the shooting is additionally cause to feel there is actually an additional gear for the united state females. Together, the 12 players on the lineup have integrated to fire 33% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That will not get a "Sprinkle Sisters" nickname at any time soon, but it is actually likewise better than Staff USA has actually dealt with from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and also Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually past due to warm up coming from long assortment. Look out if they eventually perform.