.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's college basketball and the WNBA.Recently dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and Baltimore indigenous with additional encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Updates, Seat Moments and also Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Citizen Article Writer Co-author, Pro Baseball Program series.Previously an expert with the Indiana Pacers.Established WARP rating as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide rivals will certainly reunite on Friday, as the United States females's basketball group goes up against the Australian Opals with a spot in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold award match on the line.Team USA, which is using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic success, 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 strung all together three upright victories, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal selection over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. females have been actually the gold criterion for basketball across the globe, winning 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards and 9 total, Australia has actually been actually a historical powerhouse along with them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of recent 7 Summer Video games, take away three silvers and also two bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris marks the first time they've improved past the quarterfinals considering that the 2012 London Video games.2012 likewise was actually the final opportunity the epic Lauren Jackson dressed on the Olympic phase for the environment-friendly and also gold-- until now. While Staff USA possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Video games as well as initially in 12 years. Jackson has actually always medaled in the competitors, and also though she has seen limited action thus far in France, she has a chance to carry on that streak this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts six active WNBA gamers-- has lots of drive, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 all time versus the united state senior national crew, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competition. In the course of the five Video games through which they medaled, Australia lost to the united state either in the semifinals or the gold award contest. The squads last met in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break a number of the pressing questions heading into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart chats with Brian Windhorst after Staff U.S.A.'s 14-point get Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. changed up its starting five against Nigeria, along with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the action correct its problems in the backcourt?Philippou: Beginning Young in place of Taurasi-- that possessed final come off the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the best move. Along with 15 factors versus Nigeria, Youthful appears to be carving out a part as Team USA's 3rd marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Young is actually the simply various other U.S. player averaging dual figures at 10.3 aspects per activity.) Youthful, among 3 Las Vegas Aces gamers in the starting 5, flaunted her 3-point firing previously versus Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless coming from deep on Wednesday, it was her potential to obtain downhill as well as attack from midrange that stood out, together with her hallmark defense in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the 2nd one-fourth for the USA to actually place its feet on the gas against Nigeria, however Youthful's aggression as well as power on both ends should remain to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi appeared to perform effectively off the bench, where she stepped up as a company with four assists.Pelton: I would certainly adore to see beginning point player Chelsea Gray be a hazard to credit rating. She missed all three of her try attempts in the quarterfinals, bringing Gray to 1-of-13 thus far throughout the Olympics. Extremely, the united state outscored Nigeria through only pair of aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other starters had a plus-minus of plus-17 or better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our final roundtable, the USA ladies can easily conquer one non-scorer in the beginning 5 so long as she is actually delivering another thing to the desk. As well as Gray is along with her playmaking, having today totted 22 assists versus only 3 turn overs. So, I do not think coach Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create additional changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE through Getty ImagesWhat complications carry out the Australians posture, and also what could possibly create all of them a difficult matchup?Top tales of the full week coming from Obtain unique accessibility to lots of premium short articles a year from top article writers. u2022 Solak: Appealing NFL QB sophomore lesson "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP struggle, various other honors "u2022 25 crucial players in CFP nationality" Even more ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA fans are going to be actually effectively acquainted with this Opals team, which features the Seat Storm's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Right train Sandy Brondello at the helm. Certainly not merely do the Opals have the talent to complete versus Staff United States. They possess energy and resolve observing their frustrating beginning to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been pleased with her group's grace and guts over recent week, 2 premiums an enemy needs when facing the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced strike flaunts five gamers balancing at least 8.0 PPG, can hurt enemies inside along with Magbegor and Johnson but also from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the best in the Olympic industry as well as much more than Team USA's tiny 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while with the Sin City Aces, lead the team along with 8 and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Abstractly, Australia is actually deeper as well as a lot more proficient than any staff in the business barring the united state females. Our team can discuss the most ideal global player at the Paris Gamings, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and also Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful prospects. But no team possesses a pair of gamers just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and also Johnson, each of whom would certainly possess been on my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually certainly not named to the crew this season despite identical manufacturing.) As well as no crew outside the USA possesses virtually as a lot WNBA experience throughout its own roster.Given all that talent, it was astonishing when Australia lost its position game to Nigeria then barely trump winless Canada. In their past 2 video games, our experts've observed the Opals our company counted on, as they defeat outdoed France to advance to the knockout stage and led Serbia through as several as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja foods to Stewie for 3. LeBron approves. U.S.A. Network as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily anyone stop Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if any person is visiting have them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and Johnson. Australia's article gamers rank 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and also 4th (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity as well as possess the range of motion to speak up for Stewart and Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is actually particularly experienced versus both opponents, having actually encountered Stewart in practice for three years as Tornado colleagues and also matched up along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The greatest hurdle for Magbegor and Johnson is filthy trouble. Magbegor grabbed 3 first-half fouls versus Canada, as well as Johnson had 2 in the initial one-fourth versus France, limiting their moments. Back-up George is actually a hard, competent player (she scored 18 factors in 24 minutes versus Serbia) however nowhere near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic issue. But offered the encounter Stewart as well as Wilson contend this stage-- Stewart is actually going for her 3rd Olympic gold and also Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and Smith are showing up in their first Games-- I 'd anticipate the Crew USA super duo to help make the winning plays needed in such a high-pressure situation to innovation to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium will be actually a harder enemy for Crew USA?Pelton: I am actually opting for Belgium, which offered the U.S. women their most difficult Olympic test yet. The Americans prevailed by 13 aspects, although the frame was merely 7 entering the fourth quarter of a group phase activity played in Lille, France, near the perimeter with Belgium. All this regardless of Belgium going simply 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, along with Julie Vanloo particularly battling coming from midtown while missing out on 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring 13 factors along with seven aids (albeit with nine turnovers) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the just various other group besides the united state that was unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the bunch nation along with the group on its side and also a lot of satisfaction vulnerable, a hard defensive team in France wouldn't be a piece of cake, either, particularly if Marine Johannes can easily go off like she performed versus Germany along with 24 aspects off the bench and also with Gabby Williams breaking the ice on both ends.Has Team U.S.A. played its own greatest basketball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, especially on offense, can easily still be a problem. There are actually opportunities when the shortage of participating in opportunity with each other or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is still apparent. After all, there's a reason that Sue Bird lately stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that United States Baseball is actually the most uneasy baseball she has actually ever played. After a little bit of a slow-moving begin, the united state inevitably led through 30 in the third quarter against Nigeria, however Reeve couldn't have actually enjoyed just how her team permitted the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point game before the last buzzer. Via four activities, the Americans' shortage of 3-point firing have not really been solved, which might be a problem if rivals get hot from deep.Team USA can not ignore any of the continuing to be groups in the business, yet with a protective identity and offensive adeptness led by Stewart as well as Wilson, it has actually revealed it can put video games away when it needs to, one thing that must move over into the final pair of games.Pelton: On the other side, I presume the firing is likewise main reason to think there's yet another gear for the USA females. Jointly, the 12 players on the roster have actually incorporated to shoot 33% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this period. That won't make a "Burst Siblings" nickname at any time very soon, however it is actually also much better than Crew United States has actually handled coming from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are overdue to warm from long variety. Look out if they lastly perform.