.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's college basketball as well as the WNBA.Formerly dealt with UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and also Baltimore native with more experience at the Dallas Morning Headlines, Seat Times as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elderly Person Author Co-author, Pro Baseball Syllabus set.In the past a specialist along with the Indiana Pacers.Cultivated WARP rating and also SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international rivals will definitely meet again on Friday, as the USA girls's basketball group faces the Australian Opals with a location in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold award match on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic success, developed to the semifinals along with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Complying with a dismayed reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung together 3 upright success, 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 across the world, succeeding 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards and also nine overall, Australia has actually been actually a historical goliath together with them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of recent 7 Summer Gamings, taking home 3 silvers and also 2 bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris marks the very first time they have actually advanced past the quarterfinals because the 2012 London Gamings.2012 likewise was actually the last opportunity the fabulous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the eco-friendly and gold-- previously. While Crew U.S.A. possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, seeming in her 5th Video games and also to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has constantly medaled in the competition, as well as though she has actually found restricted activity so far in France, she possesses an opportunity to proceed that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 active WNBA players-- possesses plenty of energy, however the Opals are 0-20 all time against the U.S. elderly nationwide staff, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competitors. During the course of the five Games in which they medaled, Australia dropped to the U.S. either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The squads last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou as well as Kevin Pelton break down some of the pressing questions moving right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit scores Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart talks with Brian Windhorst after Staff United States's 14-point win over Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team United States shifted up its own beginning 5 versus Nigeria, with Jackie Young instead of Diana Taurasi. Did the relocation fix its own issues in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Young instead of Taurasi-- that possessed last go over the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was the best technique. With 15 factors versus Nigeria, Youthful looks taking a role as Group United States's 3rd scorer responsible for A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Definitely, Young is actually the merely other U.S. player averaging double figures at 10.3 aspects every activity.) Young, some of three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the starting five, displayed her 3-point shooting previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her ability to acquire downhill and also hit coming from midrange that attracted attention, along with her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took until the center of the 2nd one-fourth for the USA to actually place its own feet on the gasoline versus Nigeria, but Youthful's aggressiveness as well as energy on each ends ought to remain to pay dividends. And Taurasi seemed to be to perform effectively off the seat, where she stepped up as a facilitator along with four assists.Pelton: I would certainly adore to view starting point player Chelsea Gray be actually a threat to credit rating. She missed all three of her chance attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 so far during the Olympics. Incredibly, the united state outscored Nigeria through simply two factors in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our final roundtable, the USA ladies can get over one non-scorer in the starting 5 such a long time as she is delivering another thing to the desk. And also Gray is with her playmaking, having actually now totted 22 assists against just three turnovers. Thus, I don't believe trainer Cheryl Reeve requires to make further changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty ImagesWhat issues carry out the Australians posture, and what can create them a difficult matchup?Top accounts of the full week from Acquire unique access to thousands of costs articles a year coming from leading writers. u2022 Solak: Intriguing NFL QB student course "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP fight, other honors "u2022 25 crucial gamers in CFP nationality" Even more ESPN+ web content ".Philippou: WNBA supporters will certainly be properly accustomed to this Opals team, which features the Seattle Storm's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Liberty instructor Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not simply do the Opals possess the skill to compete against Staff United States. They possess drive and fix following their frustrating begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually pleased with her team's poise and also guts over the past week, 2 high qualities a rival requires when encountering the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced strike flaunts five gamers averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can easily hurt opponents inside with Magbegor and also Smith but additionally from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the best in the Olympic area and a lot greater than Group United States's modest 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while along with the Sin City Aces, lead the staff along with eight and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is much deeper and much more accomplished than any kind of crew in the business barring the USA women. Our experts can discuss the greatest global player at the Paris Games, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful candidates. However no group has a set of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, both of whom would certainly possess performed my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not named to the team this season in spite of identical creation.) And also no crew outside the united state possesses almost as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its roster.Given all that talent, it was shocking when Australia dropped its opening game to Nigeria at that point barely beat winless Canada. In their previous 2 games, our experts have actually seen the Opals our experts counted on, as they defeat bested France to develop to the knockout phase and led Serbia through as many as 28 in an unbalanced quarterfinal victory.A' Ja meals to Stewie for three. LeBron approves. U.S.A. Network and also Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can any person stop Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. However if anybody is mosting likely to contain them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and also Johnson. Australia's blog post players rank 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every video game and have the range of motion to defend Stewart as well as Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is actually especially experienced against both enemies, having actually dealt with Stewart virtual for three years as Storm colleagues and matched up along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The largest challenge for Magbegor as well as Johnson is actually foul issue. Magbegor grabbed three first-half fouls versus Canada, and also Johnson possessed two in the initial one-fourth versus France, limiting their minutes. Back-up George is actually a difficult, experienced player (she scored 18 points in 24 mins against Serbia) but no place near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic concern. However given the encounter Stewart and Wilson contend this stage-- Stewart is opting for her third Olympic gold and Wilson her second, while Magbegor and Johnson are actually looking in their 1st Games-- I will expect the Team USA super duo to create the winning participates in required in such a stressful scenario to development to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium would be actually a tougher enemy for Team USA?Pelton: I'm opting for Belgium, which offered the U.S. women their most difficult Olympic examination yet. The Americans dominated through thirteen factors, although the margin was just 7 entering the fourth one-fourth of a team phase activity played in Lille, France, near the perimeter along with Belgium. All this regardless of Belgium going merely 5-of-27 in 3-point shooting, with Julie Vanloo specifically struggling coming from midtown while missing 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up thirteen points with 7 supports (albeit with nine turn overs) as Belgium travelled past Spain, the only various other crew besides the USA that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the bunch country along with the group on its own side and loads of take pride in vulnerable, a tough protective staff in France wouldn't be actually a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes may go off like she performed against Germany along with 24 factors off the seat and along with Gabby Williams breaking the ice on both ends.Has Team United States played its own best basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, especially on outburst, can still be actually a concern. There are opportunities when the lack of playing opportunity together or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still obvious. It goes without saying, there is actually a main reason why Sue Bird recently claimed on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Baseball is the most unpleasant baseball she has ever before participated in. After a little bit of a slow-moving start, the USA inevitably led through 30 in the third fourth versus Nigeria, yet Reeve could not have really loved just how her staff made it possible for the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point activity just before the last buzzer. By means of 4 video games, the Americans' absence of 3-point firing have not definitely been actually treated, which might be a concern if rivals fume from deep.Team U.S.A. can't disregard any of the staying crews in the business, but along with a protective identity and also offensive expertise led by Stewart and also Wilson, it has actually revealed it can place video games away when it requires to, something that ought to transmit over in to the last 2 games.Pelton: On the other hand, I think the capturing is actually also factor to believe there is actually yet another gear for the U.S. females. Jointly, the 12 players on the lineup have mixed to fire 33% on 3-point attempts in the WNBA this season. That won't gain a "Burst Siblings" label whenever very soon, yet it's additionally much better than Team USA has actually handled from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually overdue to heat up coming from long range. Look out if they finally do.