Opals outclassed by superstar Team USA in semi-final thrashing

PARIS: The Opals all but conceded defeat at the beginning of the final quarter of their semi-final clash against the all-conquering USA, with coach Sandy Brondello sitting the majority of her starting five well before the 85-64 defeat was officially confirmed.

By three-quarter time the red hot gold medal favourites led 66-40 and Brondello pushed the eject button on the contest, perhaps wisely resting her stars for Sunday's bronze medal game against either France or Belgium.

The lead-up to the semi-final blockbuster was dominated by will she or won't she talk about the Opals' biggest star Lauren Jackson who, at 43, has been used sparingly through the tournament.

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Jackson would take the court but only for five largely anonymous minutes, with a player who used to be the world's most dominant no longer capable of taking a contest of this quality by the scruff of the neck.

Instead it was a newer generation of superstars doing the damage, with the powerful American team led by Breanna Stewart, who had 16 points and five assists.

The Americans, who extended their Olympic winning streak to 60 consecutive games, are trying to become the first team to win eight consecutive gold medals, breaking the tie with the American men's program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.

The Opals were still in the contest after the first quarter, with the US leading 20-16 as the two sides, familiar with each other due to the majority of them being regulars in the WNBA, played out a cagey opening. But the Americans took control in the second quarter, starting the period with a 12-0 run and blowing out their lead to 45-27 half-time.

Things didn't get any better for the Opals in the second half as they never challenged the Americans.

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Jackie Young added 14 points, Kahleah Copper 11 and A'ja WIlson 10 for the Americans.

Isobel Borlase led Australia with 11, and Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor each had 10.

In the end, the US once again denied the Australians a chance at a gold medal in what's been a one-sided affair between the teams. The Opals have never beaten America in Olympic competition, losing in the gold medal game in 2000, '04 and '08.

The Australians also lost to the US in the semifinals of the 1996 and 2012 Olympics.

- with reporting by AP