.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's university baseball as well as the WNBA.Recently dealt with UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous along with additional encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Information, Seat Moments and also Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Syllabus set.In the past an expert along with the Indiana Pacers.Cultivated WARP rating as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global opponents will definitely meet again on Friday, as the United States ladies's basketball group takes on the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Games' gold medal match on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually using a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic triumphes, developed to the semifinals with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Following an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung all together three upright triumphes, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal selection over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the united state girls have been actually the gold specification for baseball all over the world, winning seven consecutive Olympic gold awards and also 9 general, Australia has actually been a famous giant alongside them. The Opals have actually medaled in 5 of the past seven Summer Games, taking home three silvers and also two bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris notes the first time they have actually developed past the quarterfinals due to the fact that the 2012 London Gamings.2012 additionally was the last time the fabulous Lauren Jackson wore on the Olympic stage for the environment-friendly and gold-- until now. While Staff United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, appearing in her fifth Video games and also to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has consistently medaled in the competition, as well as though she has actually seen minimal activity until now in France, she possesses an odds to continue that touch this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts six active WNBA gamers-- has plenty of energy, but the Opals are actually 0-20 perpetuity versus the U.S. senior nationwide group, including 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the 5 Gamings through which they medaled, Australia dropped to the united state either in the semifinals or the gold medal competition. The teams final complied with in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break down a few of journalism questions heading right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart talks with Brian Windhorst after Staff U.S.A.'s 14-point gain Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team United States shifted up its starting 5 against Nigeria, along with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Performed the relocation correct its own problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful instead of Taurasi-- who possessed last come off the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the correct relocation. With 15 points against Nigeria, Young appears to be taking a task as Group USA's third marker responsible for A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Indeed, Youthful is actually the merely various other U.S. player averaging double figures at 10.3 aspects per game.) Young, among 3 Las Vegas Aces players in the starting 5, flaunted her 3-point shooting previously versus Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless coming from deep on Wednesday, it was her ability to get downhill as well as attack from midrange that stuck out, along with her hallmark protection in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the second one-fourth for the U.S. to actually place its own feet on the gasoline versus Nigeria, however Young's hostility as well as energy on both ends must continue to pay dividends. And also Taurasi seemed to carry out effectively off the seat, where she stepped up as a facilitator with four assists.Pelton: I 'd like to observe starting point player Chelsea Gray be a hazard to rating. She overlooked all three of her go attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 up until now in the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the united state outscored Nigeria through simply pair of factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or far better while on the court.Still, as I mentioned in our last roundtable, the USA girls can get rid of one non-scorer in the beginning five as long as she is actually bringing something else to the desk. And Gray is with her playmaking, having right now totaled 22 supports versus only 3 turn overs. So, I don't think instructor Cheryl Reeve needs to make more changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat problems perform the Australians posture, as well as what could make them a hard matchup?Top accounts of the full week coming from Get exclusive access to hundreds of superior posts a year coming from best authors. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB sophomore training class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP war, other honors "u2022 25 most important players in CFP nationality" More ESPN+ web content ".Philippou: WNBA enthusiasts will be effectively familiar with this Opals squad, which includes the Seat Tornado's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne as well as Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Freedom trainer Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not merely do the Opals have the ability to compete versus Staff U.S.A.. They have momentum and willpower observing their unsatisfying beginning to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually satisfied along with her team's grace as well as guts over the past week, pair of premiums a rival requires when encountering the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced assault flaunts 5 players balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can injure adversaries inside with Magbegor and Smith but likewise coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the very best in the Olympic area and also considerably higher than Group United States's paltry 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the team along with eight as well as seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Theoretically, Australia is much deeper as well as much more accomplished than any sort of crew in the business barring the united state ladies. Our company can easily discuss the greatest global player at the Paris Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful prospects. However no team has a set of gamers comparable to the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, each of whom would possess been on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually not called to the group this time regardless of similar creation.) And also no group outside the USA has nearly as much WNBA adventure throughout its roster.Given all that ability, it was stunning when Australia shed its own opening activity to Nigeria then rarely beat winless Canada. In their previous pair of activities, we have actually found the Opals our team counted on, as they defeat exceeded France to develop to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia by as a lot of as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja meals to Stewie for 3. LeBron authorizes. USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can anybody cease Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if any person is actually visiting include all of them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and Smith. Australia's article gamers rank second (Magbegor, 2.4) and also fourth (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per game and have the flexibility to speak up for Stewart as well as Wilson on the perimeter. Magbegor is specifically experienced against both enemies, having faced Stewart in practice for 3 years as Storm teammates and compared along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest challenge for Magbegor as well as Johnson is actually filthy difficulty. Magbegor grabbed three first-half fouls against Canada, as well as Johnson possessed pair of in the 1st quarter versus France, restricting their mins. Backup George is a challenging, competent player (she racked up 18 points in 24 minutes against Serbia) but nowhere near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic issue. But given the encounter Stewart as well as Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is choosing her third Olympic gold and Wilson her second, while Magbegor and also Johnson are appearing in their first Gamings-- I would certainly anticipate the Crew United States very duo to make the winning participates in needed in such a high-pressure circumstance to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium would certainly be a harder opponent for Team USA?Pelton: I'm going with Belgium, which offered the U.S. females their toughest Olympic examination however. The Americans dominated through thirteen aspects, although the margin was actually only 7 going into the fourth one-fourth of a team stage activity played in Lille, France, near the edge along with Belgium. All this even with Belgium going merely 5-of-27 in 3-point shooting, along with Julie Vanloo particularly struggling coming from downtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 efforts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up thirteen factors along with 7 supports (albeit with 9 turn overs) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the just other staff besides the U.S. that was actually unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the host nation with the group on its side and also a lot of honor on the line, a difficult protective group in France wouldn't be actually a pushover, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may go off like she performed versus Germany along with 24 aspects off the seat as well as along with Gabby Williams leading the way on each ends.Has Staff USA played its absolute best baseball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, specifically on offense, can easily still be a problem. There are times when the shortage of participating in time all together or even Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still noticeable. Nevertheless, there is actually a reason that Sue Bird just recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Basketball is actually the best uncomfortable basketball she has actually ever before participated in. After a bit of a slow-moving start, the USA ultimately led by 30 in the 3rd one-fourth against Nigeria, but Reeve could not have actually enjoyed exactly how her team permitted the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point video game just before the final buzzer. Via 4 games, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing hasn't actually been remedied, which could be a concern if opponents get hot coming from deep.Team U.S.A. can not forget any one of the remaining staffs in the business, yet with a defensive identification and also aggressive expertise led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has revealed it can easily put activities away when it needs to, something that must transfer over into the final two games.Pelton: On the flip side, I think the shooting is likewise explanation to strongly believe there's yet another equipment for the USA women. Collectively, the 12 gamers on the roster have actually integrated to shoot 33% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That will not gain a "Splash Siblings" label whenever soon, but it is actually also far better than Team USA has managed coming from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually past due to heat coming from long variety. Look out if they eventually do.