.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers ladies's university baseball and the WNBA.Recently covered UConn as well as the WNBA Connecticut Sunlight for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad and also Baltimore indigenous with further encounter at the Dallas Morning News, Seat Moments as well as Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Elderly Person Article Writer Co-author, Pro Baseball Syllabus set.Formerly an expert with the Indiana Pacers.Created WARP rating and also SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo global competitors will definitely meet again on Friday, as the USA ladies's baseball staff confronts the Australian Opals along with an area in the 2024 Paris Games' gold medal suit on the line.Team U.S.A., which is actually riding a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic victories, advanced to the semifinals with an 88-74 overcome Nigeria on Wednesday. Complying with a dismayed loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung with each other 3 upright triumphes, featuring Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal selection over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the USA ladies have actually been the gold criterion for basketball around the planet, succeeding 7 consecutive Olympic gold medals and nine overall, Australia has been actually a historic goliath along with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in 5 of recent 7 Summertimes Games, take away three silvers as well as pair of bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris notes the first time they've developed past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 London Games.2012 additionally was the last time the legendary Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the green and also gold-- previously. While Team U.S.A. has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Video games as well as to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has always medaled in the competitors, and also though she has found restricted action up until now in France, she possesses a possibility to continue that streak this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts 6 energetic WNBA players-- has lots of momentum, however the Opals are 0-20 perpetuity against the united state elderly nationwide team, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competitors. In the course of the five Games through which they medaled, Australia dropped to the USA either in the semifinals or even the gold medal competition. The teams last fulfilled in 2020, when the Americans prevailed 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and also Kevin Pelton break down several of journalism inquiries moving in to the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credits Jackie Youthful for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart chats with Brian Windhorst after Group USA's 14-point sway Nigeria to evolve to the semifinals.Team U.S.A. shifted up its starting 5 against Nigeria, along with Jackie Youthful in place of Diana Taurasi. Performed the relocation correct its issues in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful instead of Taurasi-- that possessed final go over the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the best technique. With 15 aspects versus Nigeria, Youthful appears to be carving out a part as Team USA's 3rd marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is actually the simply other U.S. gamer balancing double designs at 10.3 points every game.) Young, one of three Las Vegas Aces gamers in the beginning five, exhibited her 3-point shooting previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. Yet while she went scoreless coming from deep on Wednesday, it was her capacity to obtain downhill and also hit from midrange that stuck out, along with her hallmark self defense in the backcourt. It took up until the center of the 2nd quarter for the U.S. to definitely place its own foot on the fuel versus Nigeria, however Young's hostility and also energy on both ends should remain to pay dividends. As well as Taurasi appeared to accomplish effectively off the seat, where she stepped up as a company with 4 assists.Pelton: I would certainly love to observe starting point guard Chelsea Gray be actually a threat to score. She skipped all three of her try attempts in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 thus far during the course of the Olympics. Extremely, the united state outscored Nigeria by only pair of aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all four other beginners had a plus-minus of plus-17 or even far better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our last roundtable, the USA females may conquer one non-scorer in the beginning five so long as she is actually taking another thing to the desk. And Gray is actually along with her playmaking, having actually now completed 22 helps versus merely 3 turnovers. Thus, I do not presume instructor Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create additional changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat troubles do the Australians present, as well as what could create all of them a challenging matchup?Top stories of the week from Obtain unique access to countless superior posts a year from leading authors. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP battle, various other honors "u2022 25 crucial gamers in CFP race" More ESPN+ information ".Philippou: WNBA enthusiasts are going to be actually properly aware of this Opals team, which features the Seattle Tornado's Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and also Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Liberty trainer Sandy Brondello at the helm. Not simply carry out the Opals have the skill to complete versus Crew USA. They possess energy as well as willpower observing their disappointing start to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been pleased along with her group's poise and guts over recent week, pair of top qualities an opponent needs to have when experiencing the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced attack flaunts 5 gamers balancing a minimum of 8.0 PPG, can injure enemies inside along with Magbegor and Smith however also from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is the very best in the Olympic field as well as much greater than Team U.S.A.'s tiny 30.8%. Whitcomb as well as Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while along with the Sin City Aces, lead the crew along with eight and also seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Abstractly, Australia is much deeper and also even more talented than any type of crew in the field save for the united state women. Our experts may discuss the most ideal worldwide gamer at the Paris Gamings, with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) as well as Satou Sabally (Germany) as solid applicants. Yet no staff has a set of players like the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor and also Smith, each of whom will possess gotten on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was certainly not named to the crew this time despite similar development.) As well as no group outside the united state possesses nearly as a lot WNBA experience throughout its own roster.Given everything talent, it was actually stunning when Australia dropped its own opening video game to Nigeria then rarely defeat winless Canada. In their past 2 video games, our company have actually viewed the Opals we counted on, as they beat outdoed France to advance to the knockout stage and led Serbia through as lots of as 28 in a lopsided quarterfinal victory.A' Ja foods to Stewie for 3. LeBron accepts. U.S.A. System as well as Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily anyone stop Breanna Stewart as well as A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if any individual is actually mosting likely to include them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and Johnson. Australia's message gamers place 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and 4th (Johnson, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks every activity and also possess the movement to defend Stewart and Wilson on the perimeter. Magbegor is especially experienced against both enemies, having actually encountered Stewart in practice for three years as Hurricane teammates and matched up along with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest hurdle for Magbegor and Johnson is actually filthy issue. Magbegor picked up 3 first-half fouls against Canada, and Johnson possessed 2 in the 1st quarter versus France, limiting their mins. Backup George is a tough, knowledgeable gamer (she scored 18 points in 24 minutes against Serbia) however no place near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a legitimate issue. Yet provided the take in Stewart and Wilson have at this stage-- Stewart is actually selecting her third Olympic gold as well as Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor as well as Johnson are actually looking in their 1st Video games-- I would certainly anticipate the Staff U.S.A. super duo to make the winning participates in essential in such a high-pressure circumstance to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France and Belgium would certainly be a harder enemy for Crew USA?Pelton: I'm selecting Belgium, which offered the united state ladies their hardest Olympic test however. The Americans prevailed through 13 factors, although the margin was just seven getting in the 4th one-fourth of a team phase video game played in Lille, France, near the edge along with Belgium. All this in spite of Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point firing, with Julie Vanloo especially straining from midtown while skipping 10 of her 11 efforts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point player went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up thirteen aspects with seven helps (albeit with 9 turnovers) as Belgium navigated previous Spain, the only other crew besides the united state that was unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the lot country along with the crowd on its own edge as well as loads of pleasure on the line, a challenging protective crew in France would not be a piece of cake, either, specifically if Marine Johannes can go off like she performed against Germany with 24 aspects off the seat and also with Gabby Williams leading the way on each ends.Has Group United States played its best baseball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, specifically on offense, may still be a problem. There are actually times when the lack of playing opportunity all together or Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still evident. After all, there is actually a reason Sue Bird lately stated on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Basketball is actually the absolute most uneasy basketball she has ever before played. After a little bit of a slow-moving start, the USA eventually led through 30 in the 3rd fourth against Nigeria, but Reeve couldn't have adored exactly how her crew made it possible for the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point game before the ultimate buzzer. Through 4 video games, the Americans' shortage of 3-point firing have not truly been solved, which can be a problem if rivals get hot coming from deep.Team United States can not neglect some of the staying crews in the business, but with a protective identity and also aggressive prowess led through Stewart as well as Wilson, it has actually revealed it may put activities away when it needs to, something that needs to move over right into the final two games.Pelton: On the flip side, I believe the capturing is additionally explanation to strongly believe there's one more gear for the united state girls. Together, the 12 gamers on the roster have incorporated to fire thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this season. That won't make a "Dash Sis" label at any time soon, but it's also far better than Staff USA has actually taken care of from the briefer 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and also Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually past due to heat up coming from long selection. Watch out if they finally carry out.