.Alexa PhilippouCloseAlexa PhilippouESPNCovers girls's college baseball and the WNBA.Earlier covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant.Stanford graduate and also Baltimore indigenous with further take in at the Dallas Early Morning News, Seat Times and also Cincinnati EnquirerKevin PeltonCloseKevin PeltonESPN Senior Article Writer Co-author, Pro Baseball Syllabus set.Previously a specialist along with the Indiana Pacers.Established WARP rating as well as SCHOENE systemAug 8, 2024, 09:49 AM ETTwo worldwide competitors will meet again on Friday, as the USA girls's baseball crew goes up against the Australian Opals with a place in the 2024 Paris Games' gold medal suit on the line.Team USA, which is using a touch of 59 consecutive Olympic success, developed to the semifinals along with an 88-74 triumph over Nigeria on Wednesday. Following an upset loss to Nigeria in their Olympic opener, the Opals have strung with each other three straight victories, consisting of Wednesday's 85-67 quarterfinal choice over Serbia.Editor's Picks2 RelatedWhile the U.S. ladies have been actually the gold criterion for baseball around the world, gaining 7 consecutive Olympic gold medals and 9 overall, Australia has actually been actually a historical goliath along with them. The Opals have medaled in 5 of recent 7 Summers months Gamings, take away 3 silvers and 2 bronze, although their semifinal operate in Paris denotes the first time they have actually advanced past the quarterfinals given that the 2012 London Gamings.2012 likewise was the last time the famous Lauren Jackson wore on the Olympic phase for the eco-friendly and also gold-- previously. While Staff United States possesses 42-year-old, six-time Olympian Diana Taurasi, the Opals possess Jackson, 43, showing up in her fifth Gamings as well as to begin with in 12 years. Jackson has actually consistently medaled in the competition, and also though she has seen limited action until now in France, she possesses an odds to proceed that touch this weekend.Australia-- which flaunts 6 active WNBA players-- possesses plenty of drive, yet the Opals are actually 0-20 perpetuity against the united state elderly national staff, featuring 0-8 in Olympic competition. In the course of the 5 Gamings through which they medaled, Australia lost to the USA either in the semifinals or even the gold medal competition. The teams last satisfied in 2020, when the Americans dominated 79-55. ESPN's Alexa Philippou as well as Kevin Pelton malfunction a number of journalism questions moving right into the matchup.play1:05 Breanna Stewart credits Jackie Young for jump-starting Group USABreanna Stewart speaks along with Brian Windhorst after Team USA's 14-point draw Nigeria to advance to the semifinals.Team USA switched over up its starting 5 versus Nigeria, along with Jackie Youthful instead of Diana Taurasi. Did the step fix its own concerns in the backcourt?Philippou: Starting Young in place of Taurasi-- that had last come off the seat at the Olympics in 2004-- was actually the best move. Along with 15 points against Nigeria, Youthful seems taking a role as Crew United States's third marker responsible for A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. (Without A Doubt, Youthful is actually the merely various other USA player balancing double figures at 10.3 aspects every video game.) Youthful, some of three Sin city Aces players in the beginning 5, exhibited her 3-point capturing earlier versus Germany, going 5-of-8. But while she went scoreless from deep on Wednesday, it was her ability to receive downhill and also attack coming from midrange that stuck out, in addition to her hallmark defense in the backcourt. It took until the middle of the 2nd fourth for the U.S. to definitely put its own foot on the fuel against Nigeria, however Youthful's hostility as well as power on each ends must continue to return. And Taurasi appeared to accomplish well off the bench, where she boosted as a company with four assists.Pelton: I will love to observe beginning point player Chelsea Gray be a danger to score. She overlooked all three of her try attempts in the quarterfinals, bringing Gray to 1-of-13 thus far during the Olympics. Incredibly, the U.S. outscored Nigeria through just pair of aspects in Gray's 17:27, while all 4 various other starters possessed a plus-minus of plus-17 or even much better while on the court.Still, as I discussed in our last roundtable, the U.S. women may eliminate one non-scorer in the starting five so long as she is actually delivering another thing to the desk. And also Gray is along with her playmaking, having actually now amounted to 22 supports versus only three turn overs. Therefore, I do not think coach Cheryl Reeve needs to have to create more changes.Photo through Garrett Ellwood/NBAE using Getty ImagesWhat complications do the Australians position, as well as what could create them a challenging matchup?Top stories of the full week coming from Acquire unique accessibility to lots of costs write-ups a year coming from best writers. u2022 Solak: Interesting NFL QB student class "u2022 MLB: Legendary AL MVP struggle, other honors "u2022 25 most important gamers in CFP race" Additional ESPN+ material ".Philippou: WNBA supporters are going to be actually effectively knowledgeable about this Opals team, which includes the Seattle Hurricane's Ezi Magbegor and also Sami Whitcomb, Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, Los Angeles Triggers' Stephanie Talbot, Washington Mystics' Baggage Melbourne and also Indiana Fever's Kristy Wallace, plus New york city Liberty instructor Sandy Brondello responsible. Not simply do the Opals have the ability to complete versus Group U.S.A.. They have energy and also fix following their unsatisfying begin to the Olympics. Brondello has actually been actually pleased along with her staff's grace as well as grit over the past week, pair of premiums an enemy needs to have when dealing with the Americans.The Opals, whose balanced strike boasts 5 players averaging a minimum of 8.0 PPG, may harm enemies inside with Magbegor and also Johnson but likewise 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 Group United States's paltry 30.8%. Whitcomb and Cayla George, a 2023 WNBA champ while with the Las Vegas Aces, lead the staff along with eight as well as 7 treys, respectively.Pelton: On paper, Australia is actually deeper as well as much more accomplished than any sort of staff in the field save for the USA females. Our experts may dispute the most ideal international player at the Paris Games, along with Emma Meesseman (Belgium) and also Satou Sabally (Germany) as strong candidates. But no group has a pair of gamers just as good as the Opals' frontcourt duo of Magbegor as well as Johnson, each of whom would possess gotten on my WNBA Dream team this year. (Magbegor, a 2023 All-Star, was actually not called to the crew this period in spite of similar production.) As well as no team outside the U.S. possesses almost as much WNBA experience throughout its roster.Given the only thing that talent, it was astonishing when Australia lost its own position activity to Nigeria then scarcely beat winless Canada. In their previous two activities, our company have actually found the Opals our experts counted on, as they trump topped France to advance to the knockout stage as well as led Serbia through as several as 28 in an uneven quarterfinal victory.A' Ja foods to Stewie for 3. LeBron accepts. USA System and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yI8kbWNUpsu2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024 Can easily any person cease Breanna Stewart and also A'ja Wilson?Pelton: No. But if anyone is going to include them, it is actually the duo of Magbegor and also Smith. Australia's blog post players rank second (Magbegor, 2.4) as well as 4th (Smith, 1.8) in the WNBA in blocks per activity and possess the range of motion to defend Stewart as well as Wilson on the perimeter. Magbegor is actually particularly experienced against both rivals, having dealt with Stewart virtual for 3 years as Tornado colleagues and compared with Wilson in the 2022 WNBA semifinals.The most significant barrier for Magbegor and Smith is nasty issue. Magbegor got three first-half fouls versus Canada, and Smith possessed two in the first fourth versus France, confining their moments. Back-up George is actually a challenging, skilled gamer (she scored 18 aspects in 24 moments against Serbia) but no place near as athletic on defense.Philippou: Pelton raises a valid issue. However given the encounter Stewart as well as Wilson have at this phase-- Stewart is actually going for her third Olympic gold and also Wilson her second, while Magbegor and also Smith are looking in their very first Games-- I would certainly expect the Staff USA super duo to help make the winning plays important in such a high-pressure condition to innovation to the final.Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesWhich of France as well as Belgium would certainly be a tougher enemy for Crew USA?Pelton: I am actually picking Belgium, which provided the united state women their hardest Olympic examination but. The Americans dominated by thirteen aspects, although the margin was just seven getting in the 4th quarter of a group phase game played in Lille, France, near the border with Belgium. All this regardless of Belgium going just 5-of-27 in 3-point capturing, along with Julie Vanloo especially having a hard time from midtown while overlooking 10 of her 11 attempts. On Wednesday, the Mystics point guard went 3-of-5 coming from 3, racking up 13 points with 7 aids (albeit with 9 turnovers) as Belgium travelled previous Spain, the only other staff besides the united state that was unbeaten in swimming pool play.Philippou: As the host nation with the crowd on its own edge as well as plenty of pleasure vulnerable, a complicated protective staff in France definitely would not be actually a pushover, either, especially if Marine Johannes can easily go off like she did versus Germany with 24 points off the seat and with Gabby Williams blazing a trail on both ends.Has Team United States played its greatest basketball yet?Philippou: In-game congruity, particularly on offense, can easily still be actually a problem. There are times when the shortage of playing time together or even Reeve's tweaking along with rotations/combinations is actually still evident. Nevertheless, there is actually a reason why Sue Bird recently pointed out on Carmelo Anthony's podcast that U.S.A. Baseball is one of the most annoying basketball she has actually ever played. After a little bit of a slow beginning, the USA ultimately led through 30 in the third fourth versus Nigeria, however Reeve could not have actually really loved just how her group enabled the D'Tigress to make it a 14-point activity just before the last buzzer. With 4 games, the Americans' lack of 3-point capturing hasn't actually been actually treated, which may be an issue if rivals fume from deep.Team U.S.A. can't disregard any one of the continuing to be groups in the field, yet along with a defensive identity and also offensive expertise led through Stewart as well as Wilson, it has shown it may put activities away when it requires to, one thing that ought to transfer over in to the final two games.Pelton: On the other hand, I presume the capturing is actually likewise explanation to think there is actually one more equipment for the united state women. Collectively, the 12 players on the lineup have actually combined to shoot thirty three% on 3-point tries in the WNBA this time. That will not make a "Sprinkle Siblings" nickname at any time very soon, yet it's additionally much better than Crew U.S.A. has taken care of coming from the briefer 3-point line in FIBA play.Taurasi (1-of-7) and Jewell Loyd (2-of-10) are actually outstanding to warm up from long array. Watch out if they finally perform.