This may be the only match when Mystics players are on different sides!
The Canada and Australia women’s national basketball teams face off in a Group B match today in the 2024 Olympics. Here is the preview.
Game info
When: Thursday, Aug. 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET
Where: Decathlon Arena in Lille, France
How to watch: Peacock in the USA
What to watch for
Both Team Canada and the Opals are 0-1 in group play. While the Canadians are not one of the stronger teams in their group, the Opals were stunned by D’Tigresses of Nigeria in their first group stage match.
While the majority of the eyes in the women’s basketball world, both here in America and the rest of the world, will see if the Belgian Cats can pull off “Mission Impossible” against the USA Basketball women’s national team later this evening, this is the game of the day for Washington Mystics fans. Yes, I’m saying that even with Julie Vanloo playing for Belgium.
That’s because we will see Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards and guard Jade Melbourne face off against each other for Team Canada and the Opals, respectively.
So far, Melbourne may have the better game statistically than Edwards. She scored 11 points in the loss to Nigeria. Edwards came off the bench in Canada’s loss to France and scored just one point. I’d imagine that she is likely coming off the bench again today.
Like the Cats in Group C, both Team Canada and the Opals are effectively in a must-win situation. The winner should be in good position to make the quarterfinals, though it’s not guaranteed. The loser, especially if Australia loses, is in danger of an early exit because the Opals’ last game is against Les Bleues. Even if France loses to Nigeria, they are playing at home and are still one of the world’s best in their own right.
My feeling is that Australia should win this one, but it will be a competitive game from start to finish. Even though I think the bookies at DraftKings Sportsbook have it wrong with Team USA vs. the Cats, they do have it right between the Opals and Team Canada with Australia as 7.5 favorites and an over/under of 141.
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