.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's university baseball as well as the WNBA.Recently covered UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous along with more encounter at the Dallas Morning Headlines, Seattle Moments and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elder Author Co-author, Pro Baseball Syllabus collection.Formerly a professional with the Indiana Pacers.Established WARP rating and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international rivals are going to reunite on Friday, as the United States females's basketball team confronts the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Video games' gold award match on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually riding a streak of 59 successive Olympic triumphes, improved to the semifinals along with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Complying with an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung all together 3 straight victories, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal selection over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the united state women have actually been the gold specification for baseball throughout the planet, succeeding 7 successive Olympic gold medals as well as nine overall, Australia has actually been a historical giant together with them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of recent seven Summertimes Video games, take away three silvers and two bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris marks the very first time they've developed past the quarterfinals due to the fact that the 2012 London Video games.2012 additionally was actually the final time the legendary Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the eco-friendly and gold-- until now. While Crew U.S.A. possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, appearing in her fifth Games and initially in 12 years. Jackson has actually always medaled in the competitors, and though she has observed limited action thus far in France, she has a chance to carry on that touch this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts six active WNBA players-- possesses a lot of energy, however the Opals are actually 0-20 perpetuity against the U.S. senior national team, consisting of 0-8 in Olympic competitors. During the 5 Gamings in which they medaled, Australia dropped to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The teams final satisfied in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and also Kevin Pelton malfunction a few of the pressing inquiries heading right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit histories Jackie Young for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart speaks with Brian Windhorst after Staff USA's 14-point gain Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team United States switched up its own starting five versus Nigeria, with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Performed the step repair its own problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Youthful instead of Taurasi-- that possessed final go over the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was the appropriate technique. With 15 factors against Nigeria, Youthful seems carving out a role as Crew USA's third scorer behind A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Undoubtedly, Youthful is actually the merely various other U.S. player balancing dual designs at 10.3 aspects every video game.) Youthful, one of three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the beginning 5, showed off her 3-point shooting earlier against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deep on Wednesday, it was her ability to obtain downhill and reach from midrange that attracted attention, alongside her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the 2nd one-fourth for the U.S. to really put its own foot on the fuel versus Nigeria, yet Youthful's hostility and also power on both ends ought to continue to pay dividends. And Taurasi seemed to be to do well off the seat, where she stepped up as a company with 4 assists.Pelton: I 'd adore to see beginning point guard Chelsea Gray be actually a risk to rating. She missed out on all 3 of her try tries in the quarterfinals, carrying Gray to 1-of-13 until now throughout the Olympics. Incredibly, the USA outscored Nigeria by merely pair of points 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 stated in our final roundtable, the USA females can get over one non-scorer in the beginning 5 such a long time as she is bringing something else to the table. And Gray is actually along with her playmaking, having actually right now totaled 22 aids versus simply three turn overs. Thus, I do not believe coach Cheryl Reeve needs to make more changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat complications do the Australians position, and what can make all of them a tough matchup?Top stories of the week coming from Obtain unique accessibility to countless costs posts a year from leading writers. u2022 Solak: Intriguing NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP battle, various other honors "u2022 25 crucial players in CFP race" More ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA fans are going to be properly accustomed to this Opals squad, which includes the Seat Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and also Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus Nyc Freedom instructor Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not merely do the Opals have the skill to contend against Crew U.S.A.. They have energy as well as fix observing their disappointing start to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been pleased with her team's poise as well as grit over recent week, two qualities a rival needs to have when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced assault flaunts five players balancing at least 8.0 PPG, may injure opponents inside with Magbegor and also Smith yet likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the best in the Olympic area as well as much higher than Team United States's paltry 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Sin City Aces, lead the team along with 8 as well as seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually much deeper and a lot more skilled than any team in the business barring the united state women. Our company may question the most effective worldwide gamer at the Paris Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as sturdy candidates. However no team has a pair of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Smith, both of whom would possess gotten on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was certainly not named to the crew this season regardless of identical manufacturing.) And no staff outside the USA possesses nearly as much WNBA expertise throughout its own roster.Given everything talent, it was stunning when Australia lost its opening game to Nigeria after that scarcely defeat winless Canada. In their past pair of games, our company have actually viewed the Opals we counted on, as they beat topped France to develop to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia by as lots of as 28 in a lopsided quarterfinal victory.A' Ja dishes to Stewie for three. LeBron accepts. United States System and also Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can any individual quit Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if anyone is actually visiting contain all of them, it's the duo of Magbegor and also Johnson. Australia's post gamers rate 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and also fourth (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every video game and possess the wheelchair to speak up for Stewart and Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually specifically experienced versus both opponents, having actually dealt with Stewart in practice for 3 years as Storm colleagues as well as paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The greatest hurdle for Magbegor and also Smith is actually foul trouble. Magbegor picked up three first-half fouls against Canada, as well as Johnson possessed 2 in the first one-fourth versus France, restricting their mins. Data backup George is actually a hard, trained player (she racked up 18 factors in 24 mins against Serbia) but nowhere near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up a valid concern. But provided the experience Stewart as well as Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is actually opting for her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her second, while Magbegor as well as Smith are actually showing up in their 1st Games-- I would certainly anticipate the Staff U.S.A. incredibly duo to create the winning plays essential in such a stressful condition to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would certainly be actually a more durable opponent for Team USA?Pelton: I'm selecting Belgium, which provided the USA women their most difficult Olympic examination yet. The Americans prevailed by thirteen aspects, although the frame was merely seven entering the fourth quarter of a group stage video game played in Lille, France, near the edge along with Belgium. All this regardless of Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo especially struggling coming from midtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 tries. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring thirteen points along with 7 assists (albeit along with 9 turnovers) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the only other team besides the united state that was actually unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the multitude nation along with the group on its side and also lots of pride vulnerable, a hard defensive staff in France wouldn't be actually a pushover, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may blow up like she did against Germany with 24 aspects off the bench as well as with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Group U.S.A. played its own ideal basketball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, particularly on outburst, may still be actually a problem. There are actually times when the absence of playing time all together or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is still evident. Nevertheless, there's a reason why Sue Bird recently claimed on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Baseball is actually one of the most annoying basketball she has ever participated in. After a little bit of a slow beginning, the united state at some point led by 30 in the 3rd quarter versus Nigeria, but Reeve couldn't have actually adored just how her group made it possible for the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point video game before the last buzzer. With 4 video games, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing have not actually been fixed, which can be an issue if opponents fume from deep.Team United States can not forget any one of the continuing to be groups in the business, however with a protective identification as well as aggressive expertise led by Stewart and Wilson, it has actually revealed it can easily place activities away when it requires to, one thing that ought to move over right into the last two games.Pelton: On the other hand, I think the firing is actually additionally cause to feel there's yet another equipment for the united state females. Collectively, the 12 gamers on the lineup have combined to fire 33% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That will not gain a "Sprinkle Sisters" label any time soon, yet it is actually additionally better than Staff U.S.A. has actually managed coming from the briefer 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are overdue to heat coming from lengthy assortment. Watch out if they finally carry out.