.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers females's university baseball and also the WNBA.Previously dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and also Baltimore indigenous along with further experience at the Dallas Early Morning Updates, Seat Moments and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elder Author Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series.Formerly a specialist along with the Indiana Pacers.Developed WARP ranking and also SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo international competitors are going to meet again on Friday, as the USA females's baseball staff faces the Australian Opals with a place in the 2024 Paris Gamings' gold award suit on the line.Team United States, which is riding a streak of 59 successive Olympic victories, advanced to the semifinals along with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Adhering to a dismayed reduction to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung with each other 3 upright triumphes, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal choice over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA females have been the gold requirement for basketball all over the world, winning 7 consecutive Olympic gold awards as well as 9 overall, Australia has actually been actually a famous goliath alongside them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of the past 7 Summertimes Games, take away 3 silvers and also pair of bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris notes the very first time they've improved past the quarterfinals considering that the 2012 London Gamings.2012 additionally was actually the last opportunity the epic Lauren Jackson wore on the Olympic phase for the green and gold-- until now. While Group U.S.A. has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Games as well as initially in 12 years. Jackson has consistently medaled in the competitors, and also though she has found minimal activity so far in France, she possesses an odds to proceed that streak this weekend.Australia-- which boasts six energetic WNBA players-- possesses lots of drive, but the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity versus the U.S. elderly national group, including 0-8 in Olympic competitors. Throughout the 5 Video games through which they medaled, Australia lost to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold award competition. The teams final fulfilled in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break down several of journalism questions moving right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit ratings Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Staff USABreanna Stewart speaks along with Brian Windhorst after Staff U.S.A.'s 14-point draw Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team United States switched over up its starting five against Nigeria, along with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Carried out the relocation correct its issues in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful in place of Taurasi-- that possessed last come off the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the right step. With 15 points versus Nigeria, Youthful looks carving out a job as Crew USA's third marker behind A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart. (Undoubtedly, Youthful is the merely other U.S. player averaging dual designs at 10.3 points per game.) Youthful, among 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 from deeper on Wednesday, it was her capability to receive downhill as well as strike from midrange that stood apart, along with her hallmark protection in the backcourt. It took till the middle of the second quarter for the united state to definitely put its foot on the gas against Nigeria, but Youthful's hostility as well as energy on each ends should remain to return. And also Taurasi appeared to perform properly off the seat, where she improved as a facilitator along with 4 assists.Pelton: I would certainly adore to observe starting point player Chelsea Gray be actually a hazard to rating. She skipped all 3 of her try attempts in the quarterfinals, carrying Gray to 1-of-13 thus far during the course of the Olympics. Extremely, the U.S. outscored Nigeria by only pair of points in Gray's 17:27, while all four other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or even better while on the court.Still, as I pointed out in our last roundtable, the U.S. females can overcome one non-scorer in the starting 5 so long as she is carrying another thing to the desk. As well as Gray is along with her playmaking, having actually now totted 22 assists against simply 3 turnovers. So, I don't presume instructor Cheryl Reeve needs to make additional changes.Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty ImagesWhat problems do the Australians position, and what could make all of them a challenging matchup?Top accounts of the week from Obtain exclusive access to thousands of costs articles a year from leading article writers. u2022 Solak: Intriguing NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Impressive AL MVP war, other honors "u2022 25 crucial players in CFP race" Even more ESPN+ web content ".Philippou: WNBA fans will certainly be well aware of this Opals squad, which includes the Seat Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Stimulates' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne as well as Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Freedom train Sandy Brondello responsible. Certainly not simply carry out the Opals possess the talent to complete against Team U.S.A.. They have drive and willpower observing their disappointing beginning to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually satisfied with her group's poise and also grit over recent week, two qualities a rival needs when encountering the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced attack boasts five gamers averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can easily hurt opponents inside with Magbegor and also Smith however likewise coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the best in the Olympic area and considerably more than Team United States's puny 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champion while along with the Sin City Aces, lead the team along with eight and seven treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually much deeper and also even more gifted than any sort of staff in the field except for the U.S. women. We can debate the very best international gamer at the Paris Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as powerful applicants. But no staff has a pair of players just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, each of whom would possess been on my WNBA All-Star team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was not called to the staff this time even with comparable production.) As well as no team outside the U.S. has almost as much WNBA knowledge throughout its own roster.Given everything talent, it was shocking when Australia shed its own opening video game to Nigeria at that point barely beat winless Canada. In their previous pair of games, our company've observed the Opals our team anticipated, as they defeat outdoed France to advance to the knockout phase and led Serbia through as lots of as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja dishes to Stewie for 3. LeBron permits. United States System as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 May any person cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if anybody is actually going to contain them, it's the duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson. Australia's blog post players position 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every video game and have the range of motion to defend Stewart and also Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually especially experienced versus both rivals, having actually experienced Stewart virtual for 3 years as Hurricane colleagues as well as paired up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest hurdle for Magbegor and also Smith is actually foul problem. Magbegor grabbed 3 first-half fouls against Canada, and also Smith possessed pair of in the initial quarter versus France, confining their minutes. Backup George is a tough, competent player (she racked up 18 factors in 24 moments versus Serbia) but no place near as sports on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic issue. But given the experience Stewart and Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is selecting her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her second, while Magbegor and Johnson are actually looking in their 1st Gamings-- I will expect the Team USA tremendously duo to produce the winning plays essential in such a stressful scenario to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium will be actually a harder rival for Group USA?Pelton: I'm choosing Belgium, which gave the USA women their hardest Olympic examination yet. The Americans prevailed through thirteen aspects, although the scope was actually simply seven entering the fourth quarter of a group stage game played in Lille, France, near the border along with Belgium. All this despite Belgium going simply 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, along with Julie Vanloo especially having a hard time from downtown while missing 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 from 3, scoring 13 factors with seven aids (albeit with 9 turn overs) as Belgium navigated past Spain, the simply various other crew besides the united state that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the host nation along with the group on its side and also loads of pleasure vulnerable, a complicated protective group in France would not be actually a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes can easily go off like she carried out versus Germany with 24 points off the seat and with Gabby Williams leading the way on each ends.Has Staff USA played its ideal baseball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, specifically on outburst, may still be a problem. There are actually times when the shortage of playing opportunity together or even Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is still noticeable. Besides, there's a reason why Sue Bird lately stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Baseball is actually the absolute most uneasy baseball she has ever before participated in. After a bit of a slow start, the U.S. ultimately led by 30 in the 3rd one-fourth against Nigeria, however Reeve could not have enjoyed exactly how her crew enabled the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point activity prior to the ultimate buzzer. Through four video games, the Americans' absence of 3-point shooting hasn't actually been actually treated, which can be a problem if opponents fume coming from deep.Team United States can't forget any of the staying groups in the business, but along with a defensive identification and also offensive prowess led by Stewart and Wilson, it has actually revealed it can put video games away when it requires to, something that should move over into the last 2 games.Pelton: On the other side, I assume the firing is also main reason to believe there's one more equipment for the U.S. girls. Together, the 12 gamers on the roster have actually integrated to fire thirty three% on 3-point efforts in the WNBA this period. That won't make a "Dash Siblings" label at any time very soon, yet it's also better than Crew USA has actually managed 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 warm from lengthy variety. Look out if they ultimately perform.