.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's college basketball and also the WNBA.Recently covered UConn and also the WNBA Connecticut Sunlight for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous along with additional take in at the Dallas Early Morning News, Seat Times as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elder Author Co-author, Pro Basketball Syllabus collection.In the past an expert along with the Indiana Pacers.Created WARP rating and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global opponents are going to meet again on Friday, as the USA girls's basketball staff faces the Australian Opals along with an area in the 2024 Paris Games' gold medal match on the line.Team United States, which is actually using a touch of 59 successive Olympic victories, improved to the semifinals with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Complying with a dismayed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung with each other 3 upright triumphes, including Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA women have actually been the gold standard for baseball throughout the globe, succeeding seven successive Olympic gold awards and 9 overall, Australia has been actually a historical goliath alongside all of them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of recent seven Summers months Games, taking home three silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris denotes the very first time they've advanced past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 London Gamings.2012 likewise was the last time the fabulous Lauren Jackson dressed on the Olympic stage for the eco-friendly as well as gold-- previously. While Crew U.S.A. possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Games and initially in 12 years. Jackson has actually regularly medaled in the competitors, as well as though she has actually observed limited activity until now in France, she has a chance to carry on that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 energetic WNBA gamers-- has a lot of energy, but the Opals are actually 0-20 all time against the united state senior national crew, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the 5 Gamings through which they medaled, Australia lost to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The squads last fulfilled in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and also Kevin Pelton break down several of the pressing inquiries moving right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit reports Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart talks with Brian Windhorst after Staff USA's 14-point get Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team USA changed up its beginning 5 versus Nigeria, with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the relocation correct its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful in place of Taurasi-- that had last come off the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the correct technique. With 15 points against Nigeria, Young appears to be carving out a job as Staff USA's 3rd marker behind A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Indeed, Young is actually the just other USA gamer averaging double designs at 10.3 aspects per activity.) Youthful, some of three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the starting 5, displayed her 3-point shooting earlier against Germany, going 5-of-8. However while she went scoreless from deeper on Wednesday, it was her ability to get downhill as well as strike from midrange that stood apart, along with her trademark self defense in the backcourt. It took until the center of the second one-fourth for the USA to truly put its foot on the fuel versus Nigeria, but Youthful's aggressiveness and also electricity on both ends should continue to pay dividends. And also Taurasi seemed to accomplish well off the seat, where she boosted as a company with four assists.Pelton: I 'd enjoy to observe starting point player Chelsea Gray be a threat to score. She missed all 3 of her try efforts in the quarterfinals, delivering Gray to 1-of-13 so far in the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the U.S. outscored Nigeria by only 2 factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 other beginners possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even far better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our final roundtable, the united state women can eliminate one non-scorer in the beginning 5 such a long time as she is actually taking something else to the desk. And Gray is along with her playmaking, having now completed 22 aids versus merely three turn overs. Thus, I do not believe instructor Cheryl Reeve needs to make more changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat problems carry out the Australians pose, and what might make all of them a challenging matchup?Top stories of the full week coming from Get unique access to thousands of premium posts a year coming from top authors. u2022 Solak: Fascinating NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP war, other awards "u2022 25 most important gamers in CFP race" Even more ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA followers will be well aware of this Opals squad, which features the Seat Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus Nyc Liberty trainer Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not only do the Opals possess the talent to contend against Group USA. They possess momentum and also fix observing their frustrating begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually felt free to with her group's poise and guts over recent week, two qualities a challenger needs when dealing with the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced attack flaunts five gamers balancing at least 8.0 PPG, may harm foes inside along with Magbegor and Johnson however likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the most effective in the Olympic area and also a lot higher than Crew United States's puny 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as 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: Theoretically, Australia is actually deeper as well as a lot more gifted than any staff in the business except for the united state girls. Our team may discuss the most ideal worldwide player at the Paris Gamings, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as strong applicants. However no team possesses a set of players like the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and Johnson, each of whom would have performed my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not called to the staff this period even with similar development.) And no group outside the U.S. has nearly as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its roster.Given the only thing that talent, it was shocking when Australia shed its opening video game to Nigeria then scarcely defeat winless Canada. In their previous 2 video games, our team have actually found the Opals our experts anticipated, as they defeat bested France to develop to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia through as several as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron authorizes. United States System as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can anybody cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if any person is mosting likely to have them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and Smith. Australia's post players rate second (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity and possess the wheelchair to defend Stewart as well as Wilson on the border. Magbegor is specifically experienced versus both opponents, having actually faced Stewart virtual for 3 years as Tornado teammates as well as paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest challenge for Magbegor and Smith is foul problem. Magbegor got 3 first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Johnson possessed two in the first fourth versus France, limiting their minutes. Data backup George is a challenging, skillful player (she scored 18 factors in 24 moments versus Serbia) yet no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a legitimate worry. But provided the encounter Stewart as well as Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is going with her third Olympic gold and also Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor as well as Smith are actually showing up in their initial Gamings-- I 'd count on the Group U.S.A. tremendously duo to make the winning participates in important in such a high-pressure circumstance to advance to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would certainly be a harder rival for Crew USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which gave the USA females their most difficult Olympic examination yet. The Americans prevailed through 13 points, although the margin was actually just seven getting into the fourth one-fourth of a team stage activity played in Lille, France, near the borderline with Belgium. All this in spite of Belgium going simply 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, along with Julie Vanloo particularly battling coming from midtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 tries. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring 13 points with seven supports (albeit along with nine turnovers) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the simply various other team besides the U.S. that was actually unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the bunch nation with the group on its own side and lots of pleasure vulnerable, a challenging protective team in France would not be actually a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may go off like she carried out against Germany with 24 aspects off the bench and also along with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Crew United States played its own best baseball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, especially on offense, may still be actually an issue. There are actually opportunities when the absence of participating in opportunity all together or even Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still evident. Besides, there is actually a reason why Sue Bird just recently stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Baseball is the best awkward baseball she has actually ever played. After a little bit of a slow beginning, the USA inevitably led through 30 in the 3rd one-fourth versus Nigeria, but Reeve couldn't have actually loved how her team made it possible for the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point video game just before the final buzzer. Through 4 games, the Americans' lack of 3-point shooting hasn't actually been treated, which may be a problem if rivals fume from deep.Team United States can't forget some of the continuing to be groups in the business, however along with a protective identification and aggressive prowess led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually presented it can easily place activities away when it requires to, one thing that ought to move over into the final pair of games.Pelton: On the other side, I believe the capturing is likewise main reason to believe there is actually yet another gear for the U.S. girls. Collectively, the 12 players on the lineup have combined to fire 33% on 3-point attempts in the WNBA this season. That will not get a "Splash Sisters" label any time soon, however it's also much better than Team U.S.A. has actually handled coming from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually outstanding to heat up coming from long variation. Look out if they ultimately do.