.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers women's university basketball and also the WNBA.Earlier dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate as well as Baltimore indigenous with more encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Headlines, Seat Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Program collection.Previously a professional with the Indiana Pacers.Built WARP score and also SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global competitors will reunite on Friday, as the United States females's basketball team faces the Australian Opals with an area in the 2024 Paris Video games' gold award suit on the line.Team United States, which is actually using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic wins, developed to the semifinals with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Following an upset reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung with each other three upright success, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. girls have actually been actually the gold specification for basketball around the world, gaining 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards and also nine total, Australia has been a historic powerhouse together with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in 5 of recent 7 Summer Games, take away three silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris marks the first time they've advanced past the quarterfinals considering that the 2012 Greater london Gamings.2012 likewise was the final opportunity the fabulous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the green as well as gold-- previously. While Crew USA has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her 5th Games and also first in 12 years. Jackson has actually consistently medaled in the competitors, and also though she has viewed minimal action up until now in France, she has a possibility to continue that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts six energetic WNBA gamers-- has lots of energy, but the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity against the united state senior national team, including 0-8 in Olympic competition. During the 5 Games in which they medaled, Australia dropped to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The squads final satisfied in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton malfunction some of the pressing inquiries moving in to the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit scores Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart talks along with Brian Windhorst after Staff U.S.A.'s 14-point get Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team United States switched up its beginning 5 against Nigeria, with Jackie Young instead of Diana Taurasi. Did the step correct its concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Youthful in place of Taurasi-- who had last come off the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the best technique. Along with 15 points against Nigeria, Youthful seems taking a task as Group United States's third marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Definitely, Youthful is the merely various other U.S. gamer balancing dual designs at 10.3 points per activity.) Young, some of three Sin city Aces players in the beginning 5, flaunted her 3-point capturing previously versus Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deep on Wednesday, it was her ability to obtain downhill and also strike coming from midrange that stuck out, alongside her hallmark defense in the backcourt. It took till the middle of the second one-fourth for the USA to definitely place its feet on the fuel against Nigeria, but Youthful's hostility and power on both ends must continue to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi seemed to accomplish well off the seat, where she boosted as a facilitator along with four assists.Pelton: I 'd like to observe starting point guard Chelsea Gray be a risk to score. She missed out on all 3 of her try efforts in the quarterfinals, delivering Gray to 1-of-13 until now throughout the Olympics. Amazingly, the united state outscored Nigeria by simply 2 aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all four various other starters had a plus-minus of plus-17 or much better while on the court.Still, as I mentioned in our final roundtable, the USA women can eliminate one non-scorer in the beginning five such a long time as she is taking another thing to the table. As well as Gray is with her playmaking, having actually right now totaled 22 supports against only three turn overs. So, I do not assume coach Cheryl Reeve needs to have to make more changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat troubles carry out the Australians position, as well as what could make all of them a hard matchup?Top stories of the week from Obtain unique access to lots of costs posts a year coming from best writers. u2022 Solak: Intriguing NFL QB sophomore class "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP war, various other awards "u2022 25 crucial players in CFP race" More ESPN+ content ".Philippou: WNBA fans are going to be effectively acquainted with this Opals team, which features the Seat Tornado's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus New York Freedom instructor Sandy Brondello responsible. Certainly not merely do the Opals possess the talent to contend versus Group USA. They have energy and fix following their unsatisfactory start to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually pleased along with her group's grace as well as grit over recent week, pair of qualities a challenger needs to have when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced assault boasts five gamers balancing at the very least 8.0 PPG, may injure opponents inside with Magbegor and also Smith yet likewise from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the most ideal in the Olympic industry as well as a lot higher than Crew USA's modest 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group along with 8 and also seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is deeper and also a lot more talented than any kind of group in the field except for the U.S. females. Our company can debate the greatest worldwide player at the Paris Gamings, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as sturdy prospects. Yet no group possesses a set of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and Johnson, both of whom will possess been on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not named to the group this time even with identical creation.) And also no group outside the USA possesses virtually as much WNBA knowledge throughout its roster.Given all that ability, it was actually stunning when Australia dropped its opening video game to Nigeria at that point rarely trump winless Canada. In their previous two video games, our experts have actually found the Opals we counted on, as they defeat outdoed France to develop to the knockout stage and led Serbia through as lots of as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron accepts. USA System and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can any individual cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if any individual is actually mosting likely to contain them, it's the duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson. Australia's post players rate 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and also 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every game and have the mobility to stand up for Stewart and Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is specifically experienced versus both rivals, having encountered Stewart virtual for 3 years as Tornado teammates and paired up along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The most significant obstacle for Magbegor and Smith is actually filthy difficulty. Magbegor grabbed three first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Smith had 2 in the first quarter versus France, restricting their moments. Back-up George is a hard, trained player (she racked up 18 factors in 24 moments against Serbia) but no place near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a valid concern. However provided the take in Stewart and also Wilson contend this phase-- Stewart is actually going for her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her second, while Magbegor and also Smith are actually looking in their first Games-- I will expect the Group U.S.A. tremendously duo to make the winning participates in required in such a stressful scenario to development to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and also Belgium will be actually a more durable opponent for Team USA?Pelton: I'm picking Belgium, which gave the USA females their hardest Olympic test however. The Americans prevailed by thirteen aspects, although the margin was actually just 7 entering the fourth quarter of a group stage video game played in Lille, France, near the border along with Belgium. All this in spite of Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo specifically struggling from midtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 tries. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up 13 aspects along with 7 helps (albeit along with 9 turn overs) as Belgium cruised past Spain, the simply other crew besides the united state that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the multitude nation along with the crowd on its own side as well as loads of take pride in vulnerable, a hard defensive staff in France wouldn't be a pushover, either, especially if Marine Johannes may blow up like she did versus Germany with 24 factors off the seat and with Gabby Williams breaking the ice on both ends.Has Crew United States played its own finest baseball yet?Philippou: In-game consistency, particularly on outburst, can still be actually a problem. There are opportunities when the shortage of participating in opportunity with each other or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still noticeable. It goes without saying, there is actually a reason that Sue Bird just recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Basketball is actually the most uncomfortable baseball she has ever before participated in. After a little a sluggish beginning, the U.S. eventually led by 30 in the 3rd quarter versus Nigeria, but Reeve couldn't have actually really loved how her staff permitted the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point game just before the final buzzer. By means of 4 activities, the Americans' absence of 3-point capturing have not really been treated, which might be a concern if enemies fume coming from deep.Team U.S.A. can not ignore any one of the staying teams in the business, however with a defensive identity and also offensive expertise led through Stewart and Wilson, it has shown it can easily put video games away when it needs to have to, something that should move over into the ultimate 2 games.Pelton: On the flip side, I think the shooting is additionally main reason to think there's yet another equipment for the united state ladies. Collectively, the 12 players on the roster have combined to fire 33% on 3-point efforts in the WNBA this season. That won't earn a "Splash Sis" label at any time quickly, however it's additionally better than Crew United States has dealt with coming from the briefer 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are outstanding to warm coming from lengthy variation. Keep an eye out if they eventually do.