Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
Australian Opals vs United States of America |
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|---|---|---|
Women's FIBA World Cup, final. Time: Fulltime' |
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| Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain | ||
| Australia | USA | |
| 56 | SCORE | 73 |
| 15 | Q1 | 20 |
| 12 | Q2 | 15 |
| 11 | Q3 | 26 |
| 18 | Q4 | 12 |
The Australian Opals will put it all on the line in the gold medal match of the women’s basketball World Cup when they take on the world’s number one team, the USA. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5am (AEST).
The Opals has it easy across their first four games of the tournament as they claimed victories over Nigeria, Argentina, Turkey and then China in the quarter-finals.
Playing hosts of the tournament Spain was a whole different challenge yesterday though in the semi-finals and there were times during the third and fourth quarter where they looked well and truly out of the fight.
It came after a dominant start which had the Opals bolting away to a 15-point lead during the first quarter, but they lost their way on offence and only a run sparked by Liz Cambage got them over the line.
Cambage herself will need to be careful in the final game after running into foul trouble during the fourth quarter against Spain, picking up a technical and letting emotions get the better of her.
Cambage is the key and has been arguably the best player at the tournament so far, averaging almost 30 points per game and pulling down rebounds like no one else is on the floor.
The USA are the best team in the world for a reason though.
After taking out the Olympics in 2016, they have also made the final undefeated without a challenge. They were pushed at times in the semi-final by Belgium, but ultimately came out of it with a 16-point lead.
Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart were the keys and will be again against Australia, but between Brittney Griner and Tina Charles, they need to find a way to shut down Australia in the paint.
Prediction
The Opals will be gallant and brave, as they were in getting past Spain yesterday, but the USA are the world No.1 for a reason and should come away with a tight win when the pressure is on during the fourth quarter, unless Cambage can keep her emotions in check and play the game of her life.
USA by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the women’s basketball World Cup final from 5am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 5am (AEST)
Venue: Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now
Referees: Antonio Conde (Spain), Jung Yu (Chinese Taipei), Yohan Rosso (France)
Australia (expected)
Point guard: Katie Ezbery
Shooting guard: Cayla George
Small forward: Steph Talbot
Power forward: Bec Allen
Centre: Liz Cambage
Bench: Jenna O’Hea, Tess Madgen, Alanna Smith, Alex Bunton, Ezi Magbegor, Tess Lavey, Samantha Whitcomb
USA (expected)
Point guard: Sue Bird
Shooting guard: Diana Taurasi
Small forward: Breanna Stewart
Power forward: Brittney Griner
Centre: Tina Charles
Bench: Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Layisha Clarendon, Morgan Tuck, A’Ja Wilson, Elena Delle Donne, Nneka Ogwumike
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning and over the last week for our live coverage of the 2018 women's basketball World Cup. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. As AJ kind of mentioned below, it is time I get a bit of sleep... But I'll be back at 11:30am (AEST) for the Los Angeles Clippers and Sydney Kings. Hope to see you all then, but it's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
What is this sleep thing you speak of?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That's that. Well, the Australian Opals will more than settle for a silver medal at the end of the day here. They haven't disgraced themselves in the final, far from it, but to consider this team was knocked out of the Olympics at the quarter-final stage by Serbia, to then come through yesterday's game against Spain with a win and fight against the Americans today, there isn't a person who would think this has been a bad tournament for the Opals who will continue to improve ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. On the other hand, they will be bitterly disappointed with the way they have finished up this evening. Full credit has to go to the USA though today. They also had a dominating tournament and, coming into today, hadn't lost a game. They fully deserve their tournament victory and gold medal at the end of it all, the squad having strength right through their line-up. Australia - 56 USA - 73
AJ Mithen
Expert
Please get some sleep Scott. The people are worried.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Now a shot clock violation for the Opals. That pretty much sums up the sort of night they had on offence - hint, it hasn't been a good one. Australia - 50 USA - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Very little drama in this one. Both teams just going through the motions at this point. Australia - 50 USA - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Timeout Opals. Australia - 44 USA - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' This has been a tough night for the Opals, but all the air has gone out of the game now with both teams starting to empty the benches. Tuck one of those getting on the board now. Australia - 44 USA - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Australia now get a stop, then muck up the pass on transition. They get it back though and George misses the baseline jumper off the inbound. Australia - 42 USA - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Opals just about reduced to playing for pride now. The chance of getting back to the USA is all but gone. Magbegor with a bucket from the lane though and that was solid. Australia - 42 USA - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Australia give away an offensive foul now for an illegal screen from Ebzery. The USA with a missed three, but they grab the offensive board and then draw a foul themselves. From the inbound it's Wilson to Loyd and there is a whistle for an offensive foul this time. Australia - 40 USA - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' The USA now score on the fast break with Wilson on the end of the outlet pass to lay it in. Australia - 40 USA - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Cambage with a rejection this time before Ebzery brings it back up the floor and then drives, laying it in. Australia - 40 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' Australia with another turnover. They have really cost the Opals in the final. Australia - 38 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' Into the paint goes Talbot and she is no good on the hook, before the USA go with some excellent ball movement, but the three is no good. Australia - 38 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' Back underway. The Opals immediately into the paint and there is an off the ball foul with Cambage grabbed. Australia - 38 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
THREE QUARTER TIME Lavey down the lane now and she is blocked over the baseline. Misses follow at both ends, then Cambage misses as well. She has had a pretty rough night and it's the USA leading by what would appear to be a match-winning 23 points with ten minutes to go. Australia - 38 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 1' One from the strike, but another offensive rebound before Donne hits the step back shot at the high post. Australia - 38 USA - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 1' Long pass up the floor and it's Loyd drawing a foul this time. She will go to the free throw line. Australia - 38 USA - 58