.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers women's college basketball as well as the WNBA.Formerly covered UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad and also Baltimore indigenous along with more take in at the Dallas Morning Headlines, Seattle Moments and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elder Author Co-author, Pro Basketball Syllabus collection.Previously an expert with the Indiana Pacers.Developed WARP ranking as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide rivals are going to meet again on Friday, as the USA women's baseball team takes on the Australian Opals with a location in the 2024 Paris Games' gold medal suit on the line.Team USA, which is riding a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic wins, improved to the semifinals with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Following a distressed reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung with each other 3 straight success, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal choice over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. women have actually been actually the gold requirement for baseball around the globe, winning 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards and nine overall, Australia has been a historic giant together with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of the past seven Summer seasons Games, taking home 3 silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris notes the first time they have actually advanced past the quarterfinals because the 2012 London Video games.2012 likewise was actually the last time the legendary Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the environment-friendly and gold-- until now. While Group U.S.A. has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, appearing in her 5th Games as well as first in 12 years. Jackson has actually constantly medaled in the competition, and though she has actually found minimal activity thus far in France, she possesses a chance to proceed that streak this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts 6 energetic WNBA gamers-- has lots of drive, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 all time versus the united state senior national group, including 0-8 in Olympic competition. Throughout the five Gamings through which they medaled, Australia lost to the U.S. either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The squads last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton malfunction several of journalism inquiries moving into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Young for jump-starting Staff USABreanna Stewart chats with Brian Windhorst after Crew United States's 14-point sway Nigeria to accelerate to the semifinals.Team USA changed up its beginning five against Nigeria, with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Did the action fix its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Young in place of Taurasi-- who possessed last go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the best move. Along with 15 aspects versus Nigeria, Young appears to be taking a task as Staff USA's 3rd scorer responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Definitely, Youthful is the just other united state gamer averaging dual designs at 10.3 points every activity.) Youthful, among 3 Sin city Aces gamers in the starting 5, flaunted her 3-point shooting earlier versus Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless coming from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her capacity to obtain downhill and also strike from midrange that stuck out, in addition to her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took till the middle of the 2nd fourth for the U.S. to truly place its own foot on the gas against Nigeria, but Youthful's aggressiveness and electricity on both ends must continue to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi appeared to carry out properly off the bench, where she stepped up as a company with 4 assists.Pelton: I will love to find starting point guard Chelsea Gray be a risk to rating. She missed out on all three of her shot attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 up until now during the course of the Olympics. Incredibly, the united state outscored Nigeria by simply 2 factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other starters had a plus-minus of plus-17 or better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our final roundtable, the USA females can overcome one non-scorer in the beginning five such a long time as she is actually carrying something else to the table. As well as Gray is actually with her playmaking, having today totted 22 assists versus merely three turn overs. Therefore, I do not assume coach Cheryl Reeve requires to make additional changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat concerns do the Australians present, as well as what might make all of them a challenging matchup?Top accounts of the full week from Acquire unique access to hundreds of premium short articles a year from best writers. u2022 Solak: Fascinating NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP struggle, various other awards "u2022 25 most important players in CFP race" More ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA followers will be actually well familiar with this Opals team, which features the Seattle Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and also Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus Nyc Right train Sandy Brondello responsible. Certainly not only perform the Opals possess the ability to complete against Group USA. They have momentum and willpower following their unsatisfactory start to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually satisfied along with her group's grace as well as guts over recent full week, two premiums a rival needs when facing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced attack boasts five gamers averaging at least 8.0 PPG, may hurt opponents inside with Magbegor and also Johnson but likewise coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the best in the Olympic field as well as a lot greater than Staff USA's puny 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group with eight and also 7 treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually deeper as well as a lot more gifted than any sort of crew in the field save for the USA females. Our team can easily dispute the most ideal global gamer at the Paris Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as strong candidates. However no group has a set of players as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Smith, each of whom will possess performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually not named to the group this period despite identical manufacturing.) And no crew outside the united state possesses virtually as much WNBA experience throughout its roster.Given the only thing that talent, it was actually surprising when Australia lost its position game to Nigeria after that hardly defeat winless Canada. In their previous pair of games, our experts've viewed the Opals our company counted on, as they defeat topped France to develop to the knockout stage and led Serbia through as several as 28 in a lopsided quarterfinal victory.A' Ja dishes to Stewie for three. LeBron permits. USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily any individual stop Breanna Stewart as well as A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if anybody is actually heading to have all of them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor as well as Smith. Australia's message gamers rank 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity and also possess the flexibility to speak up for Stewart and Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually especially experienced against each rivals, having actually experienced Stewart in practice for three years as Hurricane teammates and paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest barrier for Magbegor and Smith is filthy trouble. Magbegor grabbed three first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Johnson possessed 2 in the very first quarter versus France, restricting their moments. Data backup George is actually a tough, trained player (she racked up 18 factors in 24 moments against Serbia) but no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a valid issue. Yet provided the experience Stewart and Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is actually choosing her third Olympic gold and Wilson her second, while Magbegor and Johnson are appearing in their very first Gamings-- I will count on the Crew United States super duo to help make the winning plays important in such a stressful situation to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium will be actually a harder rival for Group USA?Pelton: I am actually selecting Belgium, which gave the USA ladies their most difficult Olympic exam however. The Americans prevailed by 13 factors, although the scope was actually just seven entering into the 4th quarter of a group stage video game played in Lille, France, near the borderline along with Belgium. All this even with Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo especially having a hard time from midtown while missing 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 from 3, scoring 13 points with 7 aids (albeit with nine turnovers) as Belgium cruised previous Spain, the just other crew besides the USA that was actually unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the multitude nation along with the group on its edge and also a lot of satisfaction on the line, a hard protective staff in France wouldn't be actually a pushover, either, particularly if Marine Johannes can go off like she performed against Germany along with 24 factors off the seat and also with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Team USA played its finest basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on offense, may still be actually a concern. There are times when the lack of playing time with each other or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still noticeable. It goes without saying, there's a reason that Sue Bird just recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Basketball is the most awkward baseball she has ever played. After a little a slow-moving start, the united state inevitably led through 30 in the third quarter against Nigeria, but Reeve could not have actually enjoyed exactly how her crew made it possible for the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point video game prior to the ultimate buzzer. Through 4 games, the Americans' absence of 3-point firing have not definitely been actually treated, which may be a concern if enemies get hot coming from deep.Team USA can't overlook any one of the remaining staffs in the field, however along with a defensive identity and also aggressive expertise led through Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually shown it can easily put activities away when it needs to, something that ought to transfer over into the last 2 games.Pelton: On the flip side, I think the shooting is actually also factor to feel there is actually an additional equipment for the USA females. Jointly, the 12 players on the lineup have actually mixed to shoot thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this period. That will not gain a "Sprinkle Sis" nickname any time very soon, yet it's also far better than Staff U.S.A. has managed from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are overdue to heat up coming from lengthy assortment. Keep an eye out if they lastly do.