.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's university basketball as well as the WNBA.Recently dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunlight for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous along with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seat Times as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Program collection.Previously an expert along with the Indiana Pacers.Established WARP ranking and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international competitors will reunite on Friday, as the United States females's basketball group goes up against the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold medal suit on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic wins, advanced to the semifinals with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Adhering to a dismayed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung together 3 upright success, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA females have been the gold requirement for baseball around the globe, succeeding 7 successive Olympic gold medals and nine total, Australia has actually been a historical goliath along with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of recent seven Summer seasons Video games, taking home 3 silvers as well as pair of bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris notes the first time they have actually developed past the quarterfinals due to the fact that the 2012 London Games.2012 additionally was the last opportunity the famous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic phase for the eco-friendly as well as gold-- previously. While Team United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Video games and first in 12 years. Jackson has actually consistently medaled in the competition, and though she has seen restricted activity thus far in France, she possesses an odds to carry on that touch this weekend.Australia-- which includes six energetic WNBA players-- possesses a lot of momentum, however the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity against the U.S. elderly national crew, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the 5 Games through which they medaled, Australia shed to the U.S. either in the semifinals or the gold award competition. The teams final complied with in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break a number of the pressing inquiries heading right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit reports Jackie Young for jump-starting Crew USABreanna Stewart chats with Brian Windhorst after Team U.S.A.'s 14-point win over Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. changed up its beginning five against Nigeria, along with Jackie Young instead of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the technique fix its concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Young in place of Taurasi-- that had last go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the right relocation. With 15 aspects versus Nigeria, Young appears to be carving out a part as Crew United States's third scorer responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is the only various other USA player balancing double figures at 10.3 aspects every video game.) Young, among 3 Sin city Aces gamers in the beginning five, showed off her 3-point firing earlier versus Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless from deeper on Wednesday, it was her potential to get downhill and strike from midrange that stood apart, along with her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took up until the middle of the second fourth for the united state to truly place its own feet on the gasoline against Nigeria, however Youthful's aggression and also electricity on each ends must remain to pay dividends. And Taurasi appeared to carry out well off the bench, where she stepped up as a facilitator along with four assists.Pelton: I 'd enjoy to view starting point player Chelsea Gray be actually a threat to rating. She missed all three of her chance attempts in the quarterfinals, carrying Gray to 1-of-13 thus far during the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the united state outscored Nigeria by only pair of points in Gray's 17:27, while all four other beginners possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or far better while on the court.Still, as I mentioned in our final roundtable, the U.S. ladies may get rid of one non-scorer in the beginning 5 so long as she is actually taking another thing to the table. As well as Gray is along with her playmaking, having now totaled 22 helps versus only 3 turnovers. Thus, I don't assume train Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create further changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat complications perform the Australians present, and also what can make them a tough matchup?Top tales of the week coming from Acquire unique accessibility to thousands of fee short articles a year from leading authors. u2022 Solak: Appealing NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP war, other awards "u2022 25 essential gamers in CFP nationality" More ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA fans will definitely be properly knowledgeable about this Opals squad, which features the Seattle Storm's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus New York Liberty train Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not only perform the Opals possess the ability to compete versus Crew USA. They possess energy and willpower observing their disappointing start to the Olympics. Brondello has been pleased with her staff's grace and also grit over recent full week, 2 high qualities an opponent requires when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced strike boasts 5 gamers balancing at least 8.0 PPG, can hurt foes inside with Magbegor and also Johnson however likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the very best in the Olympic industry and considerably greater than Group U.S.A.'s puny 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while with the Sin City Aces, lead the group with eight and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Theoretically, Australia is deeper and more skilled than any kind of crew in the business except for the USA ladies. Our company can easily dispute the best worldwide gamer at the Paris Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and also Satou Sabally (Germany) as tough applicants. But no staff has a pair of gamers like the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, each of whom would certainly possess performed my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually not called to the team this season regardless of identical manufacturing.) As well as no crew outside the USA has nearly as a lot WNBA knowledge throughout its roster.Given the only thing that ability, it was shocking when Australia dropped its own opening video game to Nigeria at that point hardly defeat winless Canada. In their previous pair of activities, our experts have actually observed the Opals we counted on, as they trump outdoed France to develop to the knockout phase and led Serbia through as numerous as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron permits. U.S.A. Network as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can anybody stop Breanna Stewart as well as A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. But if anyone is heading to contain them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and also Johnson. Australia's message players position 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) as well as 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every game and possess the range of motion to defend Stewart as well as Wilson on the border. Magbegor is specifically experienced versus each opponents, having dealt with Stewart in practice for three years as Storm teammates and also compared with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest obstacle for Magbegor and also Johnson is actually repulsive trouble. Magbegor got three first-half fouls against Canada, and Johnson possessed pair of in the first quarter versus France, limiting their moments. Back-up George is a difficult, experienced player (she racked up 18 factors in 24 minutes versus Serbia) however nowhere near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic worry. Yet offered the take in Stewart and also Wilson contend this stage-- Stewart is actually opting for her 3rd Olympic gold and Wilson her second, while Magbegor and Smith are seeming in their 1st Video games-- I will expect the Team United States tremendously duo to produce the winning participates in important in such a high-pressure circumstance to breakthrough to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium would certainly be actually a harder opponent for Staff USA?Pelton: I'm picking Belgium, which gave the USA women their most difficult Olympic examination but. The Americans prevailed through thirteen points, although the frame was actually just seven getting in the fourth one-fourth of a group phase activity played in Lille, France, near the edge along with Belgium. All this even with Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, along with Julie Vanloo specifically battling from downtown while overlooking 10 of her 11 efforts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 from 3, scoring thirteen points with seven assists (albeit with 9 turn overs) as Belgium travelled past Spain, the just other group besides the USA that was unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the multitude nation with the group on its edge and also a lot of honor on the line, a challenging defensive crew in France definitely would not be a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may blow up like she performed against Germany along with 24 points off the bench and also along with Gabby Williams leading the way on each ends.Has Staff USA played its ideal baseball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on offense, may still be an issue. There are actually times when the absence of playing time with each other or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is still noticeable. After all, there's a reason Sue Bird recently stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Basketball is the absolute most awkward basketball she has ever before participated in. After a bit of a slow begin, the USA eventually led by 30 in the third one-fourth against Nigeria, but Reeve could not have liked exactly how her staff permitted the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point activity before the last buzzer. With 4 video games, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing have not definitely been actually solved, which might be a concern if rivals fume from deep.Team U.S.A. can not forget any of the remaining crews in the field, yet along with a protective identity and also aggressive expertise led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has presented it may put games away when it requires to, something that needs to transfer over in to the final two games.Pelton: On the other side, I assume the shooting is actually also main reason to strongly believe there is actually an additional equipment for the U.S. women. Collectively, the 12 players on the lineup have combined to shoot thirty three% on 3-point attempts in the WNBA this period. That will not get a "Burst Sis" nickname at any time very soon, but it's additionally better than Group United States has actually dealt with 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 warm up coming from long variety. Look out if they eventually carry out.