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22 September, 2022
01 October
Friend or foe? WNBA duo Brittney Griner and Alanna Smith representing Australia and USA at Sydney 2022
15/10/2021
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Friend or foe? WNBA duo Brittney Griner and Alanna Smith representing Australia and USA at Sydney 2022

PHOENIX (USA) - Brittney Griner and Alanna Smith are sisters in arms in the WNBA as Phoenix Mercury teammates.

Come next September, however, pats on the back will be replaced by hard boxouts, contact on the boards and fouls as Griner's USA takes on Australia at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney.

It won't be a first because the two competed against each other in the Women's World Cup Final in Spain in 2018.
Griner has a good idea of what to expect, too, if the two countries meet again.

"When I say that they are the toughest bunch I have ever played with or against, they really take tough to a different level," the two-time Women's World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medalist said.

 

As tough as Australia have been over the years, there won't be anyone picking them to beat the USA and reach the top of the podium judging from the last 15 years, a span of time when the USA have not lost a single game.

Not since their 75-68 setback to Russia on September 21, 2006, at the Women's World Cup in Brazil have the Americans lost in international competition. They have captured three world titles since, and four Olympic gold medals.

That same tournament in 2006 also turned out to be the Opals' finest hour as they marched to the title, knocking off the Brazilians in the Semi-Finals and then the Russians in the championship game.

On their way to the top of the podium this summer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the USA got on top of Australia early and won at a canter, 79-55.

Such is the mindset of the Opals, however, that losing to the USA next year if the two teams meet is not something they are contemplating.

"We're a talented group," Smith warned. "I really believe in our players and believe we have the talent and the drive to get a W over the US.

"Two, I think a lot of us have played a lot against the US players, so we have a lot of experience of playing against them in the WNBA and also in international competitions and three, I think we just have a lot of motivation to do so. They are not invincible and we're ready to come out and play against them. And we really, really want that win. It's our drive."

When Griner first took on Australia at the World Cup, it was in Turkey in 2014. The team from Down Under gave the USA their hardest game of the tournament, in the Semi-Finals. The Opals trailed, 61-55, early in the fourth quarter, before Griner and Co. won, 82-70.

"Any time we play the Opals, it's always a great game," Griner said. "It's always a hard game as well. Playing them on their home turf, I just imagine one helluva game. It's going to be pretty amazing."

Smith says she and her Opals teammates will be at home and that should serve them well.

"Playing at home, there is a lot of motivation to achieve a podium finish because we are playing in front of our fans, we are playing in our home country. So we are representing on home soil and for that, we just want to play really well for the people of Australia and represent our country well."

Oh, there's one other reason why it's going to be hard to face the Opals.

It's the Australia uniform.

"When they wear those onesies, it's hard to grab them," Griner joked. "You can't hold on to them. You can't grab or do anything. You have to play them pretty honest."

FIBA