.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers women's university baseball as well as the WNBA.Formerly dealt with UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sunshine for the Hartford Courant.Stanford grad and also Baltimore native along with further encounter at the Dallas Early Morning Updates, Seattle Times and Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Author Co-author, Pro Baseball Program collection.Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers.Created WARP rating as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide competitors will meet again on Friday, as the USA females's baseball group takes on the Australian Opals along with a place in the 2024 Paris Video games' gold award suit on the line.Team USA, which is riding a streak of 59 consecutive Olympic wins, advanced to the semifinals along with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Adhering to an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have actually strung together 3 upright victories, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal decision over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. women have been the gold specification for baseball across the planet, gaining seven consecutive Olympic gold medals as well as 9 overall, Australia has actually been actually a historical goliath along with all of them. The Opals have actually medaled in five of the past seven Summers months Games, taking home three silvers and two bronze, although their semifinal run in Paris denotes the first time they've improved past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 London Gamings.2012 also was the final time the legendary Lauren Jackson suited up on the Olympic stage for the eco-friendly and gold-- until now. While Team USA has 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals have Jackson, 43, showing up in her 5th Video games as well as to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has consistently medaled in the competition, and though she has seen minimal action until now in France, she possesses a possibility to continue that touch this weekend.Australia-- which boasts 6 active WNBA gamers-- possesses lots of drive, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 all time versus the USA elderly nationwide crew, including 0-8 in Olympic competition. During the course of the five Video games through which they medaled, Australia shed to the united state either in the semifinals or even the gold medal contest. The teams last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kevin Pelton break several of journalism concerns heading right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credit histories Jackie Young for jump-starting Team USABreanna Stewart talks along with Brian Windhorst after Team USA's 14-point sway Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team USA shifted up its own starting five versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Young in place of Diana Taurasi. Performed the technique repair its own concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Youthful in place of Taurasi-- that possessed final go over the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the appropriate relocation. With 15 factors versus Nigeria, Youthful seems taking a role as Team United States's third marker behind A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Certainly, Young is the just various other USA gamer balancing double designs at 10.3 aspects per video game.) Young, one of three Las Vegas Aces players in the beginning 5, displayed her 3-point firing previously against Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deeper on Wednesday, it was her capacity to receive downhill as well as attack from midrange that stood out, alongside her trademark defense in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the 2nd one-fourth for the united state to truly place its own foot on the gas versus Nigeria, however Youthful's aggressiveness as well as power on each ends should continue to pay dividends. And Taurasi seemed to carry out properly off the bench, where she stepped up as a company along with four assists.Pelton: I would certainly adore to view beginning point player Chelsea Gray be actually a danger to score. She missed out on all 3 of her go tries in the quarterfinals, taking Gray to 1-of-13 up until now during the course of the Olympics. Incredibly, the united state outscored Nigeria through only 2 aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even far better while on the court.Still, as I stated in our final roundtable, the united state ladies can easily beat one non-scorer in the starting 5 so long as she is carrying another thing to the table. And also Gray is with her playmaking, having now totaled 22 assists against only three turnovers. So, I do not assume coach Cheryl Reeve needs to create more changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE by means of Getty ImagesWhat issues perform the Australians pose, as well as what could make all of them a difficult matchup?Top tales of the week coming from Receive special access to hundreds of premium short articles a year from best writers. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB sophomore training class "u2022 MLB: Epic AL MVP battle, various other honors "u2022 25 crucial gamers in CFP race" More ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA fans are going to be actually well accustomed to this Opals squad, which includes the Seat Storm's Ezi Magbegor as well as Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Johnson, Los Angeles Sparks' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Jade Melbourne and also Indiana High temperature's Kristy Wallace, plus The big apple Right instructor Sandy Brondello responsible. Not simply perform the Opals have the ability to compete versus Team USA. They have energy and fix observing their frustrating begin to the Olympics. Brondello has been actually pleased along with her crew's poise and also guts over recent week, 2 top qualities a rival needs to have when encountering the Americans.The Opals, whose well balanced attack flaunts 5 players averaging at least 8.0 PPG, can easily harm adversaries inside along with Magbegor and Smith however also coming from the 3-point arc. Their 36.9% 3-point clip is actually the most ideal in the Olympic field and also much higher than Group U.S.A.'s modest 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the staff along with 8 and also seven treys, respectively.Pelton: Theoretically, Australia is actually deeper and also a lot more accomplished than any sort of crew in the field except for the USA girls. Our team may discuss the very best international gamer at the Paris Gamings, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and Satou Sabally (Germany) as solid prospects. Yet no team possesses a pair of gamers like the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, each of whom would possess performed my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was certainly not called to the team this time even with comparable manufacturing.) And no group outside the united state possesses virtually as a lot WNBA expertise throughout its own roster.Given all that ability, it was actually astonishing when Australia lost its opening video game to Nigeria then rarely defeat winless Canada. In their previous 2 activities, our team've observed the Opals we expected, as they trump exceeded France to advance to the knockout phase and led Serbia by as several as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja recipes to Stewie for three. LeBron approves. U.S.A. System and also Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 May anyone cease Breanna Stewart as well as A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. Yet if anybody is actually going to contain them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and Johnson. Australia's article players rate 2nd (Magbegor, 2.4) and fourth (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity and also possess the movement to defend Stewart and Wilson on the border. Magbegor is actually particularly experienced versus both challengers, having faced Stewart virtual for three years as Tornado colleagues and matched up with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The biggest barrier for Magbegor and also Johnson is filthy issue. Magbegor got 3 first-half fouls versus Canada, and also Smith possessed pair of in the first one-fourth versus France, confining their minutes. Backup George is a difficult, trained player (she scored 18 factors in 24 minutes against Serbia) but nowhere near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton brings up an authentic problem. However provided the take in Stewart and also Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is choosing her 3rd Olympic gold and also Wilson her 2nd, while Magbegor and also Johnson are actually appearing in their very first Games-- I 'd expect the Crew U.S.A. extremely duo to help make the winning participates in necessary in such a high-pressure condition to advancement to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would be actually a harder enemy for Group USA?Pelton: I am actually picking Belgium, which offered the united state ladies their toughest Olympic exam but. The Americans prevailed through 13 points, although the scope was merely 7 getting into the 4th one-fourth of a team stage video game played in Lille, France, near the borderline along with Belgium. All this regardless of Belgium going only 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, with Julie Vanloo specifically having a hard time from downtown while missing 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, scoring 13 factors along with 7 aids (albeit with 9 turnovers) as Belgium travelled past Spain, the only other staff besides the U.S. that was actually unbeaten in pool play.Philippou: As the bunch nation with the crowd on its own edge and plenty of pride vulnerable, a complicated defensive crew in France definitely would not be a piece of cake, either, particularly if Marine Johannes can go off like she performed versus Germany along with 24 points off the bench as well as with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Team United States played its own absolute best basketball yet?Philippou: In-game uniformity, specifically on outburst, can still be an issue. There are times when the lack of playing opportunity all together or Reeve's tweaking with rotations/combinations is actually still apparent. Besides, there is actually a reason why Sue Bird recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that USA Baseball is the absolute most uneasy basketball she has actually ever before participated in. After a bit of a slow begin, the U.S. inevitably led through 30 in the 3rd quarter versus Nigeria, yet Reeve couldn't have enjoyed just how her group made it possible for the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point video game just before the final buzzer. Via 4 video games, the Americans' absence of 3-point firing hasn't actually been fixed, which can be a problem if rivals get hot from deep.Team United States can't disregard any one of the remaining staffs in the business, yet along with a defensive identification as well as offensive adeptness led through Stewart as well as Wilson, it has presented it may put activities away when it needs to, one thing that needs to transmit over right into the last two games.Pelton: On the other hand, I presume the shooting is likewise reason to strongly believe there is actually yet another gear for the USA girls. Together, the 12 gamers on the lineup have integrated to shoot thirty three% on 3-point efforts in the WNBA this season. That will not earn a "Sprinkle Siblings" label any time quickly, but it is actually likewise much better than Staff U.S.A. has actually taken care of coming from the much shorter 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) as well as Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually outstanding to heat from lengthy array. Keep an eye out if they finally carry out.