.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers women's university basketball and also the WNBA.Formerly dealt with UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and Baltimore indigenous with additional encounter at the Dallas Morning News, Seat Moments and also Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elder Writer Co-author, Pro Baseball Syllabus collection.Formerly a professional with the Indiana Pacers.Developed WARP ranking and also SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide opponents will meet again on Friday, as the USA girls's baseball group confronts the Australian Opals along with a spot in the 2024 Paris Video games' gold award suit on the line.Team United States, which is actually using a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic triumphes, developed to the semifinals along with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Adhering to a distressed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung together 3 straight victories, including Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA females have been the gold specification for baseball throughout the world, winning 7 successive Olympic gold medals and 9 total, Australia has been a famous giant together with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of the past seven Summer seasons Games, take away three silvers as well as two bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris notes the first time they have actually developed past the quarterfinals since the 2012 London Gamings.2012 likewise was actually the last time the fabulous Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic phase for the eco-friendly and gold-- until now. While Group USA has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, appearing in her fifth Video games and also to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has actually regularly medaled in the competitors, and though she has viewed minimal activity thus far in France, she has a possibility to carry on that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 energetic WNBA gamers-- has plenty of momentum, but the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity versus the U.S. elderly nationwide crew, including 0-8 in Olympic competitors. During the 5 Video games in which they medaled, Australia shed to the united state either in the semifinals or the gold award competition. The teams final met in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou as well as Kevin Pelton break a few of the pressing inquiries heading right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart talks along with Brian Windhorst after Group United States's 14-point get Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. changed up its own starting five against Nigeria, with Jackie Youthful instead of Diana Taurasi. Performed the relocation fix its own concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Young instead of Taurasi-- that had last come off the bench at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the ideal relocation. With 15 points against Nigeria, Young appears to be carving out a function as Team United States's third scorer responsible for A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart. (Certainly, Young is actually the only other U.S. player averaging double figures at 10.3 points every activity.) Young, among three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the starting five, flaunted her 3-point firing previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deep-seated on Wednesday, it was her capacity to acquire downhill as well as attack coming from midrange that stuck out, alongside her trademark protection in the backcourt. It took until the center of the 2nd fourth for the USA to definitely place its feet on the fuel against Nigeria, however Youthful's hostility and energy on each ends ought to remain to pay dividends. And Taurasi appeared to accomplish effectively off the seat, where she boosted as a facilitator with 4 assists.Pelton: I will adore to observe beginning point player Chelsea Gray be a threat to credit rating. She missed out on all 3 of her try efforts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 so far in the course of the Olympics. Amazingly, the U.S. outscored Nigeria through only pair of points in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other beginners possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even much better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our final roundtable, the U.S. women can overcome one non-scorer in the beginning 5 as long as she is taking another thing to the desk. And also Gray is along with her playmaking, having today amounted to 22 assists against only three turn overs. So, I don't think coach Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create additional changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE by means of Getty ImagesWhat troubles carry out the Australians position, and also what might make them a tough matchup?Top stories of the full week from Receive exclusive accessibility to 1000s of superior write-ups a year coming from leading writers. u2022 Solak: Appealing NFL QB sophomore training class "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP fight, various other honors "u2022 25 essential players in CFP ethnicity" Even more ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA fans will definitely be properly knowledgeable about this Opals team, which features the Seattle Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne as well as Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Liberty train Sandy Brondello responsible. Certainly not simply carry out the Opals possess the ability to contend against Group U.S.A.. They have energy and also willpower following their unsatisfactory begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been felt free to with her crew's grace and also grit over recent week, two premiums an enemy requires when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced strike includes 5 players balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can hurt adversaries inside along with Magbegor and also Johnson but likewise coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the best in the Olympic area as well as considerably more than Group U.S.A.'s modest 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while along with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the group along with eight as well as seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually deeper and extra gifted than any type of crew in the field save for the USA girls. Our company may question the very best worldwide player at the Paris Video Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and also Satou Sabally (Germany) as solid candidates. But no crew possesses a pair of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, both of whom will have performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was certainly not named to the crew this time even with identical development.) As well as no team outside the U.S. has virtually as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its roster.Given everything talent, it was stunning when Australia lost its position activity to Nigeria at that point rarely beat winless Canada. In their past pair of games, our experts've observed the Opals we counted on, as they defeat topped France to develop to the knockout phase as well as led Serbia by as many as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron accepts. USA Network and also Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily any individual quit Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. But if anyone is actually visiting contain all of them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor as well as Smith. Australia's article gamers rank 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every activity as well as have the movement to speak up for Stewart as well as Wilson on the boundary. Magbegor is particularly experienced versus both challengers, having faced Stewart in practice for three years as Storm teammates as well as compared along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The greatest hurdle for Magbegor and also Johnson is actually nasty trouble. Magbegor picked up three first-half fouls against Canada, as well as Smith possessed 2 in the 1st one-fourth versus France, restricting their moments. Backup George is a tough, skillful player (she scored 18 aspects in 24 mins against Serbia) but no place near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a legitimate problem. However offered the encounter Stewart and also Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is going for her 3rd Olympic gold as well as Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and also Johnson are appearing in their very first Video games-- I would certainly expect the Team USA very duo to create the winning participates in essential in such a stressful scenario to breakthrough to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would be a tougher enemy for Group USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which gave the USA girls their most difficult Olympic exam but. The Americans prevailed by thirteen points, although the frame was only 7 entering into the fourth one-fourth of a group stage game played in Lille, France, near the border with Belgium. All this despite Belgium going simply 5-of-27 in 3-point shooting, with Julie Vanloo particularly having a hard time from downtown while overlooking 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring thirteen factors with 7 helps (albeit along with nine turnovers) as Belgium cruised previous Spain, the only various other staff besides the U.S. that was actually unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the host nation along with the group on its own side and loads of pleasure on the line, a hard protective team in France definitely would not be a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes can blow up like she performed against Germany with 24 factors off the bench and also along with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on each ends.Has Crew USA played its absolute best basketball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, particularly on outburst, may still be an issue. There are actually opportunities when the lack of playing opportunity with each other or even Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is still noticeable. It goes without saying, there is actually a reason why Sue Bird lately mentioned on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that United States Baseball is one of the most awkward basketball she has actually ever participated in. After a bit of a sluggish begin, the U.S. eventually led by 30 in the third one-fourth against Nigeria, yet Reeve could not have adored just how her group allowed the D'Tigress to create it a 14-point game before the last buzzer. Via four activities, the Americans' shortage of 3-point capturing have not actually been actually remedied, which can be a concern if opponents get hot from deep.Team U.S.A. can't disregard any one of the remaining staffs in the field, yet with a defensive identity and also aggressive expertise led by Stewart and Wilson, it has actually presented it can place activities away when it requires to, one thing that ought to move over into the final two games.Pelton: On the other hand, I believe the firing is also factor to feel there is actually another equipment for the united state women. Together, the 12 gamers on the lineup have integrated to shoot 33% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That will not gain a "Dash Siblings" nickname at any time very soon, but it's likewise far better than Team United States has handled from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are past due to heat up coming from lengthy variety. Keep an eye out if they ultimately carry out.