.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's university baseball as well as the WNBA.Formerly covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous with further encounter at the Dallas Morning Information, Seat Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Article Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus set.In the past a consultant along with the Indiana Pacers.Created WARP ranking and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide rivals will certainly reunite on Friday, as the United States girls's basketball group confronts the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold medal suit on the line.Team USA, which is actually using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic success, improved to the semifinals along with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Observing a dismayed reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung all together three upright success, including Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal selection over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA girls have been actually the gold standard for basketball all over the world, gaining 7 consecutive Olympic gold medals and also 9 general, Australia has been actually a historical goliath along with all of them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of the past seven Summer seasons Games, taking home three silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris denotes the first time they've improved past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 Greater london Games.2012 likewise was the last opportunity the fabulous Lauren Jackson dressed on the Olympic stage for the eco-friendly and also gold-- previously. While Team USA has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, appearing in her 5th Games and also to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has always medaled in the competitors, and though she has actually seen restricted action so far in France, she has a possibility to proceed that streak this weekend.Australia-- which includes 6 active WNBA players-- has plenty of energy, but the Opals are actually 0-20 perpetuity versus the united state elderly nationwide team, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competition. Throughout the 5 Gamings through which they medaled, Australia shed to the USA either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The squads final met in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and also Kevin Pelton break down a number of the pressing inquiries heading into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit histories Jackie Young for jump-starting Staff USABreanna Stewart talks with Brian Windhorst after Team USA's 14-point draw Nigeria to progress to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. changed up its starting 5 versus Nigeria, with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Did the technique repair its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Young instead of Taurasi-- that possessed last come off the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the correct relocation. Along with 15 points versus Nigeria, Youthful appears to be carving out a duty as Group USA's third marker behind A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Definitely, Youthful is actually the merely various other united state gamer averaging dual figures at 10.3 aspects every game.) Youthful, one of 3 Sin city Aces players in the beginning 5, flaunted her 3-point capturing earlier against Germany, going 5-of-8. However while she went scoreless from deeper on Wednesday, it was her capability to receive downhill and reach coming from midrange that stuck out, together with her hallmark protection in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the second fourth for the USA to actually place its own feet on the gasoline versus Nigeria, yet Young's aggression and also electricity on both ends ought to continue to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi appeared to do well off the seat, where she stepped up as a facilitator with four assists.Pelton: I will really love to observe starting point guard Chelsea Gray be a danger to credit rating. She missed all 3 of her go efforts in the quarterfinals, delivering Gray to 1-of-13 so far throughout the Olympics. Incredibly, the united state outscored Nigeria through simply two aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or even much better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our final roundtable, the U.S. ladies can conquer one non-scorer in the starting 5 such a long time as she is actually delivering something else to the desk. And also Gray is actually along with her playmaking, having right now amounted to 22 aids against simply 3 turnovers. Thus, I do not presume coach Cheryl Reeve requires to create more changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE through Getty ImagesWhat troubles perform the Australians pose, as well as what might make all of them a tough matchup?Top stories of the full week from Obtain exclusive accessibility to lots of superior write-ups a year coming from best article writers. u2022 Solak: Fascinating NFL QB sophomore class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP struggle, other awards "u2022 25 most important gamers in CFP race" Additional ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA enthusiasts are going to be actually well knowledgeable about this Opals team, which includes the Seat Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne as well as Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Right coach Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not just perform the Opals have the talent to compete against Staff United States. They possess energy and also fix observing their disappointing begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually felt free to with her staff's grace and also grit over recent full week, 2 high qualities an opponent requires when facing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced assault flaunts 5 players averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can harm adversaries inside with Magbegor as well as Johnson but also coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the most ideal in the Olympic industry and considerably greater than Group U.S.A.'s tiny 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group along with eight and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is much deeper and also even more talented than any team in the business save for the U.S. women. Our company can debate the most ideal worldwide player at the Paris Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as tough applicants. Yet no staff possesses a set of players comparable to the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and also Johnson, each of whom will have performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not called to the group this period regardless of similar development.) And also no group outside the U.S. has virtually as much WNBA knowledge throughout its roster.Given everything ability, it was actually shocking when Australia dropped its own position game to Nigeria at that point rarely beat winless Canada. In their past two activities, our company've seen the Opals our team anticipated, as they defeat exceeded France to develop to the knockout stage and led Serbia by as lots of as 28 in an askew quarterfinal victory.A' Ja foods to Stewie for three. LeBron authorizes. USA Network and also Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily anyone cease Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if anybody is actually visiting contain them, it's the duo of Magbegor and Johnson. Australia's article gamers place 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every video game and also have the wheelchair to stand up for Stewart and Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually specifically experienced against both enemies, having dealt with Stewart virtual for 3 years as Hurricane colleagues as well as compared along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest obstacle for Magbegor and also Johnson is actually repulsive problem. Magbegor picked up three first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Johnson possessed pair of in the first fourth versus France, restricting their moments. Backup George is actually a difficult, competent gamer (she racked up 18 points in 24 minutes versus Serbia) yet no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up a legitimate worry. But given the encounter Stewart and Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is selecting her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her second, while Magbegor as well as Johnson are seeming in their first Gamings-- I will anticipate the Team U.S.A. tremendously duo to create the winning plays essential in such a high-pressure situation to breakthrough to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would be actually a tougher rival for Staff USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which provided the U.S. girls their hardest Olympic exam but. The Americans dominated through 13 aspects, although the margin was actually just 7 entering into the 4th one-fourth of a team phase activity played in Lille, France, near the perimeter with Belgium. All this despite Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point shooting, with Julie Vanloo particularly straining 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 13 aspects with seven aids (albeit along with nine turnovers) as Belgium navigated previous Spain, the just other staff besides the U.S. that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the lot nation with the crowd on its edge as well as a lot of pride on the line, a tough defensive group in France wouldn't be a piece of cake, either, especially if Marine Johannes may go off like she performed against Germany along with 24 aspects off the seat and also with Gabby Williams leading the way on both ends.Has Staff United States played its finest baseball yet?Philippou: In-game consistency, particularly on outburst, can still be an issue. There are actually times when the absence of participating in time together or even Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is still apparent. Besides, there is actually a reason Sue Bird lately stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Baseball is one of the most unpleasant basketball she has actually ever participated in. After a bit of a sluggish beginning, the USA inevitably led by 30 in the third fourth versus Nigeria, however Reeve could not have adored exactly how her group allowed the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point game prior to the ultimate buzzer. Through 4 video games, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing hasn't truly been fixed, which can be a problem if opponents fume from deep.Team U.S.A. can't overlook any one of the staying staffs in the business, however along with a protective identification and also aggressive prowess led through Stewart and Wilson, it has presented it may place games away when it needs to, one thing that should move over into the ultimate 2 games.Pelton: On the other side, I presume the firing is actually additionally reason to feel there is actually an additional equipment for the united state ladies. Together, the 12 players on the lineup have actually incorporated to shoot thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this season. That won't earn a "Sprinkle Sis" label at any time soon, however it is actually also better than Staff United States has actually handled from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and also Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are outstanding to heat from lengthy range. Look out if they eventually carry out.