28 Jul
    11 Aug 2024

    Bronze Medal Game Preview: Heartbreak or happiness for Cats and Opals?

    4 min to read
    Preview

    Belgium and Australia are both looking to bounce back from their respective Semi-Finals disappointment. Who will endure more heartbreak and who will leave on a high clutching bronze?

    PARIS (France) - The last step of the podium is up for grabs when Belgium and Australia try to find one last big effort to finish the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 on a high by taking bronze.

    There might be an added significance for the Cats since they are chasing a historical maiden medal in only their second-ever appearance in the Games.

    Will Belgium and their fans celebrate a historic outcome?

    The Cats have been backed by tremendous support at the event and the fans will be hoping they can deliver another slice of history - although they will still be hurting from that epic overtime loss to France.

    Australia are out to recover from their heavy Semi-Finals loss to USA and match their last medal success at the Games when they won bronze at London 2012.

    Lauren Jackson of Australia is looking for a fifth medal

    Lauren Jackson will be seeking a fabulous fifth Olympic medal, having won silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008, as well as that bronze in London. If Australia manage to do it, this would match their impressive third-place finish at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022.

    Read more about Jackson moving up the All-Time Olympic list

    Battle of the Legends: Jackson and Taurasi duel in all-time Olympic charts

    Key matchup

    Elise Ramette vs Jade Melbourne

    All eyes will be on some of the biggest hitters like Emma Meesseman or Sami Whitcomb, for example. But in a game where energy at the end of the competition is a factor, what about the clash between these two breakout performers?

    Jade Melbourne represents the present and the future for Australia

    Coming into the Games, neither guards were expected to play major minutes - let alone significant roles that would be truly fundamental to their team's run to the last four.

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    Both started in the Semi-Finals, with Belgium looking better whenever Ramette was on the floor. Meanwhile, Melbourne was outstanding for her country in the Quarter-Finals.

    X-factor

    How much gas is left in the Belgian tank - physically and mentally?

    That was one of the toughest losses that Belgium have had to ensure in recent times when they were beaten in overtime by France. It was shattering. However unlike their one-point Quarter-Finals tear-jerker at Tokyo 2020 when they lost to Japan and went home, this time they have a second opportunity.

    Will the Cats be able to pick themselves up physically and mentally?

    Instead of leaving in despair and with a bitter taste in their collective mouths, they can still make history yet again. And, considering where they were after going 0-2 at the start of the competition, that would taste so, so sweet.

    But what has that loss against France taken out of them? Potentially a lot. With a much shorter rotation than the Opals (as was the case against France too), do Belgium have enough physically and perhaps mentally to recover?

    Maybe even the coaches and players won't truly know or find out until this game is in progress.

    Stats don't lie

    Cayla George has shown Australia bench depth with 18 pts in the Quarter-Finals

    The lack of Belgian depth is also highlighted statistically since they average only 10.2 points per game, while Australia have a massive 26.2 in comparison.

    Past matchups

    They have only ever played each other twice previously, with both teams having taken one victory apiece. It was the Cats who drew first blood when they won a Group phase game at Tokyo 2020 by the commanding margin of 85-70.

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    However, Australia gained revenge in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 with a similarly eye-catching 86-69 success - although their opponents were missing marquee baller Emma Meesseman who was sidelined with an injury.

    FIBA

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