.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's university basketball as well as the WNBA.Recently covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunlight for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad and Baltimore indigenous with further encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Information, Seattle Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Article Writer Co-author, Pro Baseball Program collection.Previously a professional with the Indiana Pacers.Created WARP rating and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international opponents will definitely meet again on Friday, as the United States ladies's baseball team confronts the Australian Opals with a location in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold medal match on the line.Team U.S.A., which is riding a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic victories, improved to the semifinals with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Following a dismayed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung with each other 3 upright triumphes, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. girls have actually been the gold criterion for basketball throughout the world, succeeding 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards and nine total, Australia has actually been actually a historical powerhouse along with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of the past seven Summer Video games, take away 3 silvers and also two bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris marks the first time they have actually advanced past the quarterfinals considering that the 2012 Greater london Games.2012 likewise was actually the final time the epic Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic phase for the eco-friendly and also gold-- until now. While Group United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Gamings as well as first in 12 years. Jackson has always medaled in the competition, and though she has found limited activity thus far in France, she possesses an odds to continue that streak this weekend.Australia-- which includes 6 active WNBA gamers-- has loads of energy, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 all time versus the USA senior nationwide crew, including 0-8 in Olympic competition. In the course of the five Gamings in which they medaled, Australia lost to the united state either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The squads last complied with in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou as well as Kevin Pelton break a few of the pressing inquiries moving in to the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit reports Jackie Young for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart chats with Brian Windhorst after Crew U.S.A.'s 14-point sway Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team United States switched up its starting 5 versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Youthful instead of Diana Taurasi. Did the move correct its own concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Young instead of Taurasi-- who possessed final go over the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was the correct relocation. With 15 aspects versus Nigeria, Young looks carving out a task as Staff USA's third marker responsible for A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Definitely, Youthful is actually the simply other united state player balancing dual figures at 10.3 points per game.) Young, among 3 Sin city Aces gamers in the starting five, flaunted her 3-point capturing previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless coming from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her potential to get downhill and attack from midrange that stood out, along with her trademark self defense in the backcourt. It took till the middle of the second fourth for the U.S. to actually put its foot on the fuel against Nigeria, however Young's hostility and electricity on both ends ought to continue to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi seemed to perform well off the seat, where she stepped up as a facilitator with four assists.Pelton: I would certainly really love to find beginning point guard Chelsea Gray be actually a risk to rating. She skipped all 3 of her go tries in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 until now during the Olympics. Remarkably, the USA outscored Nigeria by simply pair of factors in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or far better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our final roundtable, the united state females can beat one non-scorer in the beginning 5 as long as she is carrying another thing to the table. As well as Gray is with her playmaking, having now totaled 22 helps versus just 3 turnovers. Therefore, I do not think instructor Cheryl Reeve needs to create further changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty ImagesWhat complications perform the Australians pose, and also what can create all of them a challenging matchup?Top accounts of the week from Get special accessibility to thousands of premium posts a year from best authors. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB sophomore class "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP battle, various other awards "u2022 25 essential players in CFP race" More ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA followers will certainly be effectively accustomed to this Opals squad, which features the Seattle Storm's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and also Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus Nyc Right coach Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not only do the Opals have the talent to compete versus Group United States. They have drive as well as willpower observing their frustrating begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been pleased along with her group's poise and guts over recent week, 2 top qualities an opponent requires when dealing with the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced assault includes five players averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can hurt enemies inside with Magbegor as well as Smith but likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the most effective in the Olympic field as well as much higher than Team U.S.A.'s paltry 30.8%. Whitcomb and also Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group with eight and also seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually deeper and a lot more talented than any staff in the business save for the united state females. Our company can easily question the best global gamer at the Paris Video Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and also Satou Sabally (Germany) as tough candidates. But no crew has a pair of gamers just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Smith, both of whom would certainly have performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not called to the staff this time in spite of similar creation.) And also no team outside the USA possesses almost as much WNBA experience throughout its roster.Given all that skill, it was astonishing when Australia lost its opening activity to Nigeria at that point barely trump winless Canada. In their previous 2 games, our company've observed the Opals our company expected, as they beat outdoed France to develop to the knockout phase as well as led Serbia through as numerous as 28 in a lopsided quarterfinal victory.A' Ja meals to Stewie for three. LeBron permits. USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 May any person quit Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if anyone is mosting likely to include all of them, it's the duo of Magbegor and Smith. Australia's blog post players rank second (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every game and also possess the flexibility to defend Stewart and also Wilson on the border. Magbegor is particularly experienced versus each enemies, having encountered Stewart in practice for three years as Storm colleagues as well as paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest difficulty for Magbegor and also Smith is foul problem. Magbegor picked up 3 first-half fouls against Canada, as well as Smith had 2 in the initial fourth versus France, confining their mins. Backup George is a hard, experienced gamer (she scored 18 points in 24 mins versus Serbia) yet no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up a valid worry. But offered the take in Stewart as well as Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is selecting her third Olympic gold and also Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and Johnson are actually looking in their very first Games-- I 'd count on the Group USA extremely duo to create the winning participates in required in such a high-pressure circumstance to innovation to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium would be actually a more durable opponent for Staff USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which gave the USA women their most difficult Olympic examination yet. The Americans prevailed through thirteen aspects, although the margin was only seven entering the 4th quarter of a team phase game played in Lille, France, near the border along with Belgium. All this even with Belgium going merely 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo specifically straining coming from midtown while skipping 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 from 3, racking up 13 factors along with 7 supports (albeit with nine turn overs) as Belgium cruised past Spain, the simply various other group besides the USA that was actually unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the host country along with the group on its side and a lot of pride on the line, a difficult protective group in France wouldn't be actually a piece of cake, either, especially if Marine Johannes may blow up like she performed against Germany along with 24 aspects off the seat and also along with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Crew United States played its greatest baseball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on offense, can easily still be a problem. There are actually times when the lack of playing opportunity all together or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still apparent. Nevertheless, there's a reason why Sue Bird lately pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that United States Basketball is the absolute most awkward basketball she has actually ever before participated in. After a little a sluggish start, the united state ultimately led by 30 in the 3rd one-fourth versus Nigeria, but Reeve could not have really loved how her crew permitted the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point activity prior to the ultimate buzzer. By means of four activities, the Americans' absence of 3-point capturing hasn't definitely been actually treated, which could be a concern if enemies get hot from deep.Team USA can not ignore any one of the staying teams in the business, however along with a protective identity as well as aggressive expertise led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has shown it may place video games away when it requires to, one thing that ought to transmit over in to the last pair of games.Pelton: On the flip side, I think the shooting is actually additionally factor to feel there is actually an additional equipment for the U.S. ladies. Together, the 12 players on the roster have actually combined to fire thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That won't get a "Sprinkle Sis" nickname whenever soon, yet it's likewise far better than Group United States has managed from the shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are past due to warm coming from long assortment. Look out if they lastly carry out.