PARIS, France — Thanks in part to a 15-point effort from the Seattle Storm's Sami Whitcomb, the Australia women's basketball team has advanced to the semifinals at the Paris Olympics.
Australia, whose team also features the Storm's Ezi Magbegor and Lauren Jackson, who won multiple MVP trophies and has her number retired by the Storm, defeated Serbia 85-67 on Wednesday morning.
Magbegor scored four points and pulled down six rebounds, while Jackson did not appear in Wednesday's win. Jackson, 43, has won four Olympic medals for Australia during her lengthy basketball career.
Alanna Smith of the Women's National Basketball League's (WNBA) Minnesota Lynx led Team Australia in scoring with 22 points.
Australia will meet the United States, which won over Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon. The U.S. has won the gold medal in each of the past seven Olympic Games and hasn't lost in an Olympics since 1992.
The Australia-USA matchup would feature three current Seattle Storm players and Jackson, as Storm star Jewell Loyd is part of the American squad in Paris. Former Storm players Jade Melbourne and Steph Talbot also play for Team Australia.
Also on the U.S. team are former Storm star Breanna Stewart and former University of Washington star Kelsey Plum.
Australia's semifinal game is on Friday.