The latest chapter of a classic Olympic rivalry will be written in the early hours of Saturday morning when the Opals face the USA in Paris.
The winner of the Semi Final will advance to the Gold Medal game and play the winner of France and Belgium with the losers of the Semi’s meeting in the Bronze Medal Game.
The USA are on a jaw dropping 59-game Olympic winning streak, dating back to 1992, so the Opals will need to create some incredible history of their own to halt the nine-time goal medallists.
Australia and the USA have met in Olympic competition eight times, their first clash was in Los Angeles in 1984.
An Opals team featuring Jenny Cheeseman, Robyn Maher, Kathy Foster and Julie Nykiel was defeated 81-47 in the pool rounds.
The nations met twice, four years later in Atlanta, first in the pool rounds where the USA were 96-79, winners, then in the Semi Final where the Opals 93-71 defeat sent them to the Bronze Medal game where they defeated Ukraine to capture Australia’s first ever Olympic basketball medal.
Michele Timms was the star for Australia in both fixtures against the USA scoring 26 points then 27 in the semi.
The rivalry grew even bigger four years later in Sydney where the countries faced off for the first time ever in the Gold Medal game.
Despite a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds from a 19-year-old Lauren Jackson, the USA prevailed, 76-54.
It was a sign of things to come as the world powerhouse and the emerging Opals, who would go on to claim the 2006 FIBA World Cup, contested the following two deciders in Athens 2004 and Beijing in 2008 with Australia claiming a silver medal at both Games.
They would meet again in London, this time in the Semi Final, and despite leading at three quarter time, Australia was overrun, 86-73. Liz Cambage scored a game-high 19 points with Jackson grabbing 17 boards. Tina Charles (14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) was the star for the winners.
Australia registered its first-ever win over their rivals on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics in a warm-up game in Las Vegas, 70-67, on the back of 17 points from Ezi Magbegor, but when they met weeks later in a Quarter Final match up the USA proved too strong winning, 79-55.
Breanna Stewart dominated with 23 points with Brittney Griner teaming 15 points with 8 rebounds while Opals Leilani Mitchell and Cayla George combined for 25 points.
Watch the game live and free from 1.20am AEST on 9Now.
