.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's university basketball as well as the WNBA.Previously dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous with further encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Information, Seat Moments and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Author Co-author, Pro Baseball Program set.Formerly a consultant along with the Indiana Pacers.Cultivated WARP ranking and SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international competitors are going to meet again on Friday, as the USA females's basketball group takes on the Australian Opals with a place in the 2024 Paris Games' gold award suit on the line.Team USA, which is using a touch of 59 successive Olympic success, improved to the semifinals along with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Observing a distressed reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung all together three upright triumphes, including Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA ladies have actually been the gold criterion for baseball across the planet, winning seven successive Olympic gold medals and 9 general, Australia has actually been a historic goliath together with all of them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of the past 7 Summertimes Gamings, take away three silvers and 2 bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris marks the first time they have actually developed past the quarterfinals since the 2012 Greater london Gamings.2012 additionally was actually the last opportunity the famous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the environment-friendly and gold-- previously. While Crew U.S.A. has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, appearing in her fifth Video games as well as initially in 12 years. Jackson has regularly medaled in the competitors, and also though she has actually found restricted action thus far in France, she has a possibility to continue that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts six energetic WNBA gamers-- has lots of drive, however the Opals are 0-20 all time against the U.S. elderly national team, consisting of 0-8 in Olympic competitors. During the 5 Games in which they medaled, Australia lost to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The teams final fulfilled in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break down a number of the pressing inquiries moving into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart speaks along with Brian Windhorst after Crew U.S.A.'s 14-point draw Nigeria to progress to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. changed up its beginning 5 against Nigeria, along with Jackie Youthful instead of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the action fix its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful instead of Taurasi-- who possessed last go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the right action. With 15 points versus Nigeria, Young seems carving out a job as Staff U.S.A.'s 3rd scorer behind A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is the simply other USA gamer balancing dual designs at 10.3 factors per video game.) Young, one of 3 Las Vegas Aces gamers in the beginning 5, flaunted her 3-point firing previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless coming from deeper on Wednesday, it was her capacity to get downhill as well as strike from midrange that stood apart, alongside her trademark self defense in the backcourt. It took till the center of the second quarter for the U.S. to actually put its own foot on the gasoline versus Nigeria, however Young's hostility and power on each ends ought to remain to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi appeared to do well off the bench, where she boosted as a facilitator with four assists.Pelton: I 'd adore to observe beginning point guard Chelsea Gray be actually a threat to score. She skipped all three of her go attempts in the quarterfinals, delivering Gray to 1-of-13 so far during the Olympics. Remarkably, the united state outscored Nigeria by merely two factors in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other beginners possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even better while on the court.Still, as I discussed in our final roundtable, the united state ladies may beat one non-scorer in the beginning 5 so long as she is actually delivering another thing to the table. As well as Gray is along with her playmaking, having right now totted 22 supports against only 3 turnovers. Thus, I do not presume coach Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create additional changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat troubles perform the Australians posture, and also what might create them a hard matchup?Top stories of the full week from Acquire special accessibility to thousands of premium write-ups a year from top authors. u2022 Solak: Fascinating NFL QB student course "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP battle, other honors "u2022 25 crucial players in CFP ethnicity" Additional ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA enthusiasts will certainly be actually well accustomed to this Opals team, which includes the Seattle Tornado's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus Nyc Freedom instructor Sandy Brondello responsible. Not merely carry out the Opals possess the ability to complete versus Group United States. They possess drive as well as resolve following their unsatisfying begin to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually satisfied with her crew's poise as well as guts over recent week, two premiums a challenger requires when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced attack includes five gamers balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, may hurt enemies inside with Magbegor as well as Smith however also from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the very best in the Olympic area as well as a lot higher than Group U.S.A.'s tiny 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Sin City Aces, lead the group along with 8 and 7 treys, respectively.Pelton: Theoretically, Australia is actually deeper and also even more proficient than any sort of crew in the business save for the united state females. We may discuss the greatest worldwide player at the Paris Video Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful prospects. Yet no team has a pair of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, both of whom would have performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not named to the group this period despite comparable development.) And also no team outside the USA possesses virtually as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its roster.Given the only thing that ability, it was stunning when Australia lost its position game to Nigeria then barely beat winless Canada. In their previous 2 games, we have actually found the Opals our team expected, as they defeat outdoed France to develop to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia through as numerous as 28 in an askew quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron authorizes. USA Network as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can anyone cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. But if anybody is going to include them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and also Smith. Australia's post gamers rate second (Magbegor, 2.4) as well as fourth (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every game as well as possess the movement to defend Stewart as well as Wilson on the perimeter. Magbegor is actually specifically experienced versus each challengers, having faced Stewart virtual for 3 years as Tornado colleagues and also compared with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest hurdle for Magbegor and also Johnson is filthy issue. Magbegor grabbed 3 first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Johnson possessed 2 in the very first quarter versus France, limiting their moments. Back-up George is actually a tough, proficient player (she racked up 18 points in 24 moments versus Serbia) however nowhere near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a legitimate worry. However given the encounter Stewart and Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is selecting her 3rd Olympic gold and also Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and also Smith are seeming in their first Gamings-- I 'd anticipate the Crew U.S.A. extremely duo to make the winning plays essential in such a high-pressure situation to innovation to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium would be a harder rival for Crew USA?Pelton: I am actually going with Belgium, which provided the united state ladies their toughest Olympic exam but. The Americans prevailed by 13 aspects, although the scope was just seven getting in the 4th one-fourth of a group phase video game played in Lille, France, near the edge with Belgium. All this in spite of Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo especially having a hard time from midtown while skipping 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 from 3, scoring thirteen factors with 7 aids (albeit with nine turnovers) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the just other staff besides the U.S. that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the multitude nation along with the group on its own edge and loads of satisfaction vulnerable, a hard protective team in France definitely would not be actually a pushover, either, specifically if Marine Johannes can easily go off like she did versus Germany with 24 points off the bench and along with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on each ends.Has Team U.S.A. played its own greatest basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on offense, may still be actually an issue. There are actually opportunities when the shortage of playing opportunity together or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is still evident. After all, there's a main reason why Sue Bird just recently mentioned on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Baseball is the absolute most uneasy baseball she has ever participated in. After a little bit of a sluggish begin, the united state ultimately led through 30 in the third one-fourth versus Nigeria, yet Reeve couldn't have actually enjoyed exactly how her team permitted the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point game just before the ultimate buzzer. Via four activities, the Americans' lack of 3-point shooting have not definitely been remedied, which could be an issue if challengers get hot from deep.Team United States can not neglect some of the staying staffs in the business, but with a protective identification as well as aggressive prowess led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually revealed it can place video games away when it needs to, something that ought to transmit over right into the last pair of games.Pelton: On the other hand, I believe the capturing is actually also reason to strongly believe there's another gear for the united state girls. Together, the 12 players on the lineup have actually combined to fire thirty three% on 3-point efforts in the WNBA this season. That won't get a "Splash Sis" nickname any time quickly, but it is actually likewise far better than Crew United States has handled coming from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and also Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are past due to warm from long selection. Keep an eye out if they eventually do.