.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's college baseball as well as the WNBA.Formerly dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad and also Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning Information, Seat Times and also Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series.In the past a consultant along with the Indiana Pacers.Developed WARP score as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international opponents will certainly meet again on Friday, as the USA females's basketball staff confronts the Australian Opals with a location in the 2024 Paris Games' gold award match on the line.Team United States, which is actually using a touch of 59 successive Olympic wins, advanced to the semifinals with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Observing a distressed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung together three upright victories, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. girls have been actually the gold requirement for basketball across the world, succeeding seven consecutive Olympic gold awards as well as nine total, Australia has been a historical giant alongside them. The Opals have medaled in five of the past seven Summers months Games, take away 3 silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris marks the first time they've advanced past the quarterfinals because the 2012 Greater london Video games.2012 likewise was the final opportunity the fabulous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic phase for the eco-friendly and also gold-- previously. While Crew United States has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, appearing in her 5th Gamings and to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has constantly medaled in the competitors, and though she has observed limited activity thus far in France, she has a possibility to proceed that touch this weekend.Australia-- which boasts six energetic WNBA gamers-- has plenty of momentum, yet the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity against the USA elderly nationwide group, consisting of 0-8 in Olympic competitors. During the 5 Gamings in which they medaled, Australia shed to the U.S. either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The teams final complied with in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break down several of journalism concerns heading into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credits Jackie Young for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart chats along with Brian Windhorst after Group U.S.A.'s 14-point win over Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team USA switched over up its starting 5 versus Nigeria, with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Performed the move fix its own problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Young in place of Taurasi-- who had final go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the appropriate technique. With 15 factors against Nigeria, Young appears to be taking a duty as Team U.S.A.'s 3rd marker responsible for A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is the simply other USA player balancing double designs at 10.3 aspects per game.) Youthful, among three Sin city Aces players in the starting five, exhibited her 3-point shooting earlier against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless coming from deeper on Wednesday, it was her capability to receive downhill and also hit coming from midrange that stood out, in addition to her hallmark protection in the backcourt. It took until the center of the 2nd one-fourth for the U.S. to actually place its feet on the fuel versus Nigeria, but Youthful's aggressiveness as well as energy on both ends should remain to pay dividends. And Taurasi seemed to do well off the seat, where she boosted as a company along with four assists.Pelton: I will like to view beginning point player Chelsea Gray be actually a danger to rating. She missed all 3 of her go attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 until now in the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the U.S. outscored Nigeria through only two aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or even far better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our last roundtable, the USA ladies can easily eliminate one non-scorer in the beginning 5 such a long time as she is bringing something else to the desk. As well as Gray is along with her playmaking, having actually right now completed 22 assists versus simply three turn overs. Therefore, I do not believe trainer Cheryl Reeve needs to make further changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat issues carry out the Australians posture, and what could make them a challenging matchup?Top tales of the week from Receive unique accessibility to countless premium short articles a year from top writers. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB student training class "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP struggle, various other awards "u2022 25 most important players in CFP ethnicity" More ESPN+ web content ".Philippou: WNBA supporters will be effectively knowledgeable about this Opals squad, which features the Seat Tornado's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne as well as Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Right train Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not merely carry out the Opals have the talent to contend versus Crew U.S.A.. They possess drive as well as fix observing their unsatisfactory beginning to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually felt free to with her crew's grace and also guts over the past full week, pair of high qualities an opponent needs to have when facing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced strike includes five players balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, may injure opponents inside with Magbegor and also Smith however also coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the most effective in the Olympic field as well as considerably greater than Group USA's puny 30.8%. Whitcomb and also Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group with eight and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is much deeper and extra accomplished than any kind of crew in the business except for the united state girls. Our experts may discuss the most effective global player at the Paris Gamings, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as tough candidates. But no staff possesses a set of players as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and Johnson, both of whom would possess performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually not called to the team this period regardless of similar production.) As well as no group outside the USA possesses nearly as a lot WNBA experience throughout its roster.Given everything ability, it was actually shocking when Australia dropped its opening game to Nigeria then barely defeat winless Canada. In their past 2 games, our team have actually found the Opals our experts anticipated, as they beat outdoed France to advance to the knockout stage and led Serbia through as a lot of as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja foods to Stewie for three. LeBron permits. United States 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. However if anybody is heading to contain all of them, it's the duo of Magbegor and also Johnson. Australia's post players position second (Magbegor, 2.4) as well as fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every video game and have the wheelchair to defend Stewart and also Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is especially experienced versus each rivals, having faced Stewart in practice for three years as Hurricane allies and also matched up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest obstacle for Magbegor and also Johnson is actually nasty trouble. Magbegor grabbed three first-half fouls versus Canada, and Smith possessed 2 in the first fourth versus France, confining their minutes. Backup George is a difficult, proficient gamer (she racked up 18 aspects in 24 moments versus Serbia) however nowhere near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up a valid issue. But offered the take in Stewart and Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is opting for her third Olympic gold and Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor as well as Smith are appearing in their first Games-- I will anticipate the Group U.S.A. very duo to create the winning plays essential in such a stressful circumstance to advance to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium would be actually a tougher rival for Group USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which gave the U.S. women their most difficult Olympic exam however. The Americans prevailed by thirteen factors, although the margin was simply seven getting into the 4th quarter of a group phase video game played in Lille, France, near the borderline with Belgium. All this despite Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, along with Julie Vanloo specifically battling coming from downtown while missing 10 of her 11 tries. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up thirteen factors along with seven helps (albeit along with 9 turn overs) as Belgium navigated past Spain, the simply other crew besides the USA that was actually unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the multitude country along with the group on its own edge as well as a lot of take pride in vulnerable, a difficult protective crew in France definitely would not be a piece of cake, either, particularly if Marine Johannes can go off like she carried out against Germany along with 24 aspects off the bench and with Gabby Williams breaking the ice on each ends.Has Staff USA played its own greatest baseball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, particularly on offense, may still be actually a concern. There are actually opportunities when the shortage of playing time with each other or even Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still apparent. It goes without saying, there's a reason Sue Bird just recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that United States Basketball is the best unpleasant baseball she has actually ever before participated in. After a little bit of a slow start, the USA ultimately led by 30 in the 3rd fourth versus Nigeria, but Reeve couldn't have actually liked exactly how her group enabled the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point activity just before the final buzzer. With four activities, the Americans' shortage of 3-point capturing hasn't truly been corrected, which could be a problem if enemies fume coming from deep.Team USA can't overlook any one of the continuing to be groups in the business, but with a defensive identification as well as offensive prowess led through Stewart and Wilson, it has actually presented it can easily put games away when it needs to have to, one thing that needs to transfer over in to the last two games.Pelton: On the other hand, I believe the shooting is also factor to believe there's yet another gear for the USA women. Collectively, the 12 gamers on the lineup have actually mixed to fire thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this period. That will not get a "Sprinkle Sis" nickname any time very soon, yet it is actually also far better than Staff U.S.A. has taken care of coming from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually outstanding to warm up from long assortment. Look out if they eventually carry out.