.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's college baseball and the WNBA.Formerly dealt with UConn and also the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and Baltimore indigenous with further take in at the Dallas Early Morning Headlines, Seat Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elderly Person Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Program series.Previously a specialist along with the Indiana Pacers.Cultivated WARP ranking as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global opponents will reunite on Friday, as the United States females's basketball group confronts the Australian Opals along with a place in the 2024 Paris Video games' gold award match on the line.Team USA, which is actually riding a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic victories, developed to the semifinals along with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Following an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung together three upright triumphes, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. girls have actually been actually the gold specification for basketball around the world, succeeding 7 consecutive Olympic gold medals and nine overall, Australia has actually been a famous powerhouse alongside them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of recent 7 Summer Video games, taking home 3 silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris notes the first time they've advanced past the quarterfinals due to the fact that the 2012 Greater london Video games.2012 likewise was the final opportunity the epic Lauren Jackson wore on the Olympic phase for the environment-friendly as well as gold-- previously. While Crew United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, showing up in her 5th Games and initially in 12 years. Jackson has actually constantly medaled in the competition, as well as though she has actually found minimal action thus far in France, she has an opportunity to carry on that touch this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 energetic WNBA gamers-- possesses loads of energy, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 perpetuity versus the U.S. elderly nationwide crew, including 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the 5 Gamings in which they medaled, Australia shed to the U.S. either in the semifinals or even the gold award competition. The squads last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break several of journalism questions moving right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit scores Jackie Young for jump-starting Crew USABreanna Stewart speaks with Brian Windhorst after Team USA's 14-point sway Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team United States switched over up its own beginning 5 versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Did the relocation correct its own concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful in place of Taurasi-- who had final come off the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was the right step. With 15 factors versus Nigeria, Youthful seems carving out a part as Crew U.S.A.'s 3rd marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Indeed, Young is actually the only other USA gamer averaging double figures at 10.3 factors every activity.) Youthful, among three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the starting five, showed off her 3-point shooting previously versus Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless coming from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her capability to obtain downhill and attack from midrange that attracted attention, alongside her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took till the center of the second fourth for the USA to definitely place its feet on the gasoline against Nigeria, but Youthful's hostility and also electricity on both ends need to remain to return. And Taurasi seemed to be to carry out well off the seat, where she stepped up as a company along with four assists.Pelton: I will enjoy to find starting point player Chelsea Gray be a threat to credit rating. She missed out on all three of her shot efforts in the quarterfinals, carrying Gray to 1-of-13 thus far during the Olympics. Incredibly, the united state outscored Nigeria by merely two factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or far better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our last roundtable, the united state ladies may get over one non-scorer in the starting 5 such a long time as she is delivering another thing to the table. As well as Gray is actually along with her playmaking, having right now totted 22 helps versus simply 3 turn overs. Therefore, I do not believe trainer Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create more changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat problems carry out the Australians present, as well as what could possibly create them a challenging matchup?Top accounts of the week coming from Obtain exclusive access to countless fee articles a year from top article writers. u2022 Solak: Appealing NFL QB student course "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP fight, other honors "u2022 25 most important gamers in CFP ethnicity" More ESPN+ content ".Philippou: WNBA fans are going to be effectively aware of this Opals team, which features the Seattle Storm's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Right instructor Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not just carry out the Opals possess the talent to compete against Crew USA. They possess momentum and also fix observing their unsatisfactory beginning to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually felt free to along with her team's grace as well as grit over recent week, pair of top qualities a rival needs when facing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced strike includes 5 players balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can easily injure foes inside with Magbegor and also Smith yet also coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the most effective in the Olympic industry as well as a lot greater than Staff United States's modest 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the team with 8 as well as seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Abstractly, Australia is actually much deeper and also even more proficient than any type of crew in the field barring the united state women. Our company can easily discuss the most effective worldwide gamer at the Paris Video Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful candidates. Yet no crew possesses a pair of gamers like the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Smith, both of whom would possess performed my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not named to the crew this time despite comparable development.) And no crew outside the united state possesses virtually as a lot WNBA experience throughout its roster.Given the only thing that talent, it was actually astonishing when Australia lost its own position game to Nigeria then scarcely trump winless Canada. In their previous pair of activities, our company have actually viewed the Opals our company anticipated, as they defeat bested France to develop to the knockout stage and also led Serbia by as a lot of as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for 3. LeBron authorizes. USA System and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily anybody cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if any person is actually visiting have all of them, it's the duo of Magbegor and Johnson. Australia's blog post gamers position second (Magbegor, 2.4) and 4th (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity and also possess the movement to stand up for Stewart and also Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually specifically experienced against both enemies, having experienced Stewart in practice for 3 years as Tornado colleagues and also compared with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest hurdle for Magbegor and also Johnson is filthy difficulty. Magbegor got three first-half fouls against Canada, and Johnson had 2 in the very first one-fourth versus France, limiting their moments. Back-up George is a difficult, knowledgeable player (she racked up 18 points in 24 minutes versus Serbia) but no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic concern. However provided the take in Stewart as well as Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is actually opting for her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and also Johnson are appearing in their initial Gamings-- I 'd expect the Crew United States extremely duo to make the winning plays important in such a high-pressure situation to innovation to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium would certainly be a more durable rival for Group USA?Pelton: I am actually selecting Belgium, which provided the U.S. females their hardest Olympic examination however. The Americans prevailed through thirteen aspects, although the margin was simply seven getting into the fourth one-fourth of a team stage activity played in Lille, France, near the border along with Belgium. All this in spite of Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, along with Julie Vanloo particularly having a hard time from midtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 from 3, scoring 13 points with seven aids (albeit with nine turnovers) as Belgium navigated previous Spain, the just other group besides the united state that was actually unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the bunch nation along with the crowd on its side as well as plenty of satisfaction on the line, a tough defensive crew in France wouldn't be actually a pushover, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may go off like she carried out against Germany with 24 points off the bench and also with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on each ends.Has Staff U.S.A. played its ideal basketball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, especially on outburst, may still be actually a problem. There are actually opportunities when the absence of participating in time with each other or even Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is still noticeable. It goes without saying, there is actually a reason Sue Bird lately claimed on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Basketball is the most annoying basketball she has actually ever played. After a little a sluggish beginning, the USA inevitably led by 30 in the 3rd quarter versus Nigeria, yet Reeve couldn't have enjoyed exactly how her crew enabled the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point game just before the ultimate buzzer. Via four activities, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing hasn't actually been fixed, which can be a concern if enemies get hot from deep.Team U.S.A. can't ignore any one of the continuing to be staffs in the business, but along with a defensive identity and offensive expertise led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually shown it may put games away when it needs to, something that should transmit over into the last pair of games.Pelton: On the other side, I think the firing is actually additionally factor to strongly believe there is actually one more gear for the USA females. Jointly, the 12 players on the roster have blended to shoot thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That won't gain a "Sprinkle Siblings" label whenever soon, however it's likewise much better than Crew United States has managed from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually outstanding to warm up coming from long selection. Keep an eye out if they finally carry out.