Team USA ended Nigeria’s feel-good story by easily dismantling them, while Australia crushed Serbia. Now, the two teams will face off for a spot in the women’s 5×5 basketball gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The game is set for Friday, August 9 at 11:30 a.m. ET (NBC).
The United States remains undefeated, while Australia suffered an opening game loss to Nigeria, which served as a wake-up call for the Opals. Despite showing flaws in handling the ball, resulting in 26 turnovers against D’Tigress, the Opals made it out of Group B with tough wins over Canada and France. They secured a spot in the semifinals after defeating Serbia and now aim to challenge Team USA’s streak of consecutive Olympic wins.
In the quarterfinals, Team USA had a comfortable lead early and even had the luxury of giving playing time to less experienced players in the final quarter. The odds of the semifinal game being competitive are slim, as it would require a perfect performance from the Opals and an off night from Team USA.
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have been dominant in the frontcourt, with Wilson averaging 20.3 points and 10 rebounds, and Stewart contributing 18.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. The Opals will rely on Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot, and Ezi Magbegor to slow them down, especially after Smith’s stellar performance against Serbia.
Limiting Sami Whitcomb’s playmaking will be key for the Opals on the defensive end, as she is averaging 14.8 points and six assists per game. Team USA, on the other hand, boasts depth on offense.
Game Information
United States vs. Australia
When: Friday, August 9 at 11:30 a.m. ET
Where: Bercy Arena in Paris, France
How to watch: NBC
