.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's college basketball and also the WNBA.Previously dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad as well as Baltimore native along with further take in at the Dallas Early Morning News, Seat Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elderly Person Article Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Syllabus collection.In the past a professional along with the Indiana Pacers.Developed WARP score as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide rivals will definitely meet again on Friday, as the USA ladies's baseball staff takes on the Australian Opals with a place in the 2024 Paris Games' gold award suit on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually riding a streak of 59 successive Olympic triumphes, developed to the semifinals with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Following an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung with each other 3 upright victories, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal choice over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA females have actually been actually the gold specification for basketball across the planet, succeeding seven consecutive Olympic gold awards and nine general, Australia has actually been actually a historic goliath alongside them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of the past seven Summertimes Games, take away three silvers as well as two bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris notes the very first time they have actually advanced past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 Greater london Games.2012 also was the final opportunity the legendary Lauren Jackson dressed on the Olympic phase for the environment-friendly and also gold-- until now. While Staff U.S.A. possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Games as well as first in 12 years. Jackson has always medaled in the competitors, and also though she has seen restricted action up until now in France, she has a chance to continue that touch this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 energetic WNBA gamers-- possesses a lot of energy, but the Opals are 0-20 all time versus the U.S. senior nationwide group, consisting of 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the five Gamings in which they medaled, Australia lost to the USA either in the semifinals or the gold medal contest. The squads last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break some of journalism questions moving into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit histories Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart chats along with Brian Windhorst after Staff U.S.A.'s 14-point gain Nigeria to progress to the semifinals.Team United States switched up its own starting five versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the step fix its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful instead of Taurasi-- that had last go over the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was the appropriate relocation. Along with 15 points versus Nigeria, Young looks carving out a role as Group USA's 3rd marker behind A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is actually the just various other U.S. gamer balancing dual designs at 10.3 aspects every activity.) Youthful, one of three Las Vegas Aces players in the beginning 5, flaunted her 3-point shooting earlier versus Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless from deeper on Wednesday, it was her ability to acquire downhill and also strike from midrange that stood out, in addition to her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the second one-fourth for the united state to truly place its own foot on the fuel versus Nigeria, yet Youthful's aggressiveness and also electricity on each ends ought to remain to pay dividends. And Taurasi seemed to be to perform effectively off the seat, where she stepped up as a company along with four assists.Pelton: I will like to see starting point guard Chelsea Gray be actually a hazard to rating. She skipped all three of her shot attempts in the quarterfinals, bringing Gray to 1-of-13 so far during the Olympics. Remarkably, the U.S. outscored Nigeria by merely pair of factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or far better while on the court.Still, as I discussed in our final roundtable, the USA women can get over one non-scorer in the starting five such a long time as she is delivering something else to the desk. As well as Gray is actually with her playmaking, having right now totted 22 supports against just three turnovers. Thus, I do not presume train Cheryl Reeve requires to create additional changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE by means of Getty ImagesWhat complications do the Australians present, as well as what can create them a hard matchup?Top tales of the full week coming from Get unique accessibility to thousands of premium short articles a year from leading article writers. u2022 Solak: Intriguing NFL QB sophomore class "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP fight, other awards "u2022 25 essential players in CFP ethnicity" Additional ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA followers will certainly be actually properly familiar with this Opals squad, which features the Seat Storm's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and also Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus New York Freedom trainer Sandy Brondello responsible. Not merely carry out the Opals have the talent to complete against Crew U.S.A.. They have energy and fix observing their disappointing begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been satisfied along with her crew's grace as well as grit over the past full week, pair of premiums a challenger needs when encountering the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced assault boasts five players averaging at least 8.0 PPG, can easily injure adversaries inside along with Magbegor as well as Smith but likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the most ideal in the Olympic industry and a lot more than Staff United States's paltry 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the staff with eight and also seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Theoretically, Australia is much deeper and extra accomplished than any kind of staff in the business barring the USA women. Our company can discuss the best global gamer at the Paris Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as strong applicants. But no crew possesses a pair of players as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and also Johnson, both of whom would possess been on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was not called to the crew this season in spite of comparable creation.) And also no staff outside the USA possesses nearly as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its roster.Given the only thing that talent, it was actually stunning when Australia shed its opening video game to Nigeria after that hardly beat winless Canada. In their previous pair of games, our company have actually viewed the Opals we expected, as they defeat exceeded France to advance to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia by as several as 28 in a lopsided quarterfinal victory.A' Ja dishes to Stewie for 3. LeBron approves. U.S.A. System and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can anyone cease Breanna Stewart as well as A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if anyone is heading to have them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and also Johnson. Australia's article players rate 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and also 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every game as well as possess the movement to speak up for Stewart as well as Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is actually specifically experienced versus both opponents, having faced Stewart virtual for 3 years as Hurricane colleagues and also paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The most significant hurdle for Magbegor and Smith is repulsive problem. Magbegor picked up three first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Smith had pair of in the very first one-fourth versus France, limiting their mins. Back-up George is a challenging, skillful player (she scored 18 factors in 24 minutes against Serbia) however no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic concern. But provided the encounter Stewart and Wilson contend this stage-- Stewart is selecting her third Olympic gold and Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor as well as Johnson are actually appearing in their 1st Gamings-- I would certainly count on the Crew U.S.A. super duo to create the winning plays important in such a high-pressure condition to advance to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would be actually a harder challenger for Crew USA?Pelton: I am actually going with Belgium, which provided the united state women their toughest Olympic exam however. The Americans prevailed by 13 points, although the frame was only seven getting into the 4th quarter of a team stage activity played in Lille, France, near the edge with Belgium. All this despite Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point shooting, along with Julie Vanloo specifically straining from midtown while overlooking 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring thirteen factors with 7 helps (albeit with 9 turn overs) as Belgium travelled past Spain, the just other crew besides the U.S. that was actually unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the lot country along with the group on its edge and also a lot of honor vulnerable, a challenging protective crew in France wouldn't be a pushover, either, specifically if Marine Johannes can blow up like she did versus Germany along with 24 aspects off the bench and along with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Staff United States played its own ideal basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on outburst, may still be actually a concern. There are actually times when the absence of participating in time all together or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still apparent. It goes without saying, there is actually a reason that Sue Bird recently claimed on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Baseball is one of the most uneasy baseball she has ever participated in. After a little bit of a slow-moving begin, the united state eventually led through 30 in the third quarter versus Nigeria, but Reeve could not have adored exactly how her team made it possible for the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point activity before the ultimate buzzer. With 4 activities, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing hasn't really been actually remedied, which may be a problem if opponents get hot coming from deep.Team United States can't overlook any one of the remaining crews in the business, however along with a defensive identity and also offensive adeptness led by Stewart as well as Wilson, it has actually presented it can easily place games away when it needs to have to, one thing that ought to transmit over right into the last two games.Pelton: On the other side, I assume the shooting is also cause to believe there is actually one more equipment for the united state women. Collectively, the 12 gamers on the lineup have blended to shoot thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this period. That won't earn a "Dash Sisters" label any time very soon, but it is actually likewise much better than Team USA has taken care of coming from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually past due to heat up coming from lengthy selection. Look out if they lastly do.