In a clash that has been defined by dominance on one side and unwavering determination on the other, the United States and Australia are gearing up for their latest showdown on the international women’s basketball stage at the Olympics.
Set to face off in the semifinals on Friday, with a coveted spot in the gold medal game on the line, the Americans and the Opals are ready to renew their storied rivalry. Meanwhile, France and Belgium are poised to battle it out in the other semifinal matchup.
Throughout Olympic history, the Opals have fallen short in their quest to dethrone the U.S., succumbing to defeat in the gold medal game in 2000, 2004, and 2008. The Australian squad also faced heartbreak in the semifinals of the 1996 and 2012 Olympics, unable to overcome the powerhouse American team.
Diana Taurasi, a key figure in several of the U.S. victories over Australia, finds herself torn as she anticipates the upcoming clash. Married to former Australian basketball standout Penny Taylor, Taurasi acknowledges the divided loyalties that come with supporting two nations on the court.
“It’s going to be a home divided … I hope she wants Australia to win,” Taurasi expressed to The Associated Press. “You know, she has such an admiration for being Australian and for that team. And … being a part of it for so, so long … we know how hard that game is going to be. It’s never easy.”
Despite their history of defeat, the Opals refuse to cower in the face of the American juggernaut, drawing strength from their familiarity with the WNBA where many of their players compete alongside and against their U.S. counterparts.
“I think the fact that we have so many players that are familiar with them and that have played with and against them helps,” shared Australia guard Sami Whitcomb after the Opals’ triumph over Serbia in the quarterfinals. “I like how we match up. I think all you can do is play your best on the day and give your best on the day, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The intensity of the rivalry between Australia and the U.S. is further underscored by the involvement of legends like Lauren Jackson, who has been a central figure in the clashes between the two teams. Jackson’s physical encounter with Lisa Leslie in the 2000 Sydney gold medal game, which involved her pulling off Leslie’s hair extension, remains etched in the annals of Olympic folklore.
As the Opals and the Americans prepare to renew their rivalry on the basketball court, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in this enduring saga of competition, pride, and determination.
