OSTRAVA (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - No contest in women's basketball captures the imagination like a game between Australia and the United States.
The Americans are the number one team in the FIBA World Rankings for Women but Australia aren't far behind in third and right now, the Aussies are the defending world champions.
Both teams are loaded with superstars.
As good as Australia have been over the years, they have never beaten a USA team at a FIBA World Championship for Women.
The Americans are 8-0 against the Opals in the competition, dating back to 1967.
The last time the two met in a World Championship was 2002 in China, in the Semi-Finals, and the Americans won 71-56.
Point guard Sue Bird played on that American team.
On Wednesday, she will run onto the floor again for the USA against the Australians.
She spoke to FIBA.com.
Sue, your team has won all its games so far in the Czech Republic, but so have Australia. How excited are you about Wednesday's Group E encounter?
Sue Bird: I think we're all looking forward to it. We know that Australia's the team to beat. They're the defending world champions. It's going to be a great gauge to see where we are.
How does it feel to go from being Australian Lauren Jackson's Seattle Storm and Spartak Moscow Region teammate to her rival?
Sue Bird: As far as the opponents go in terms of the friendships, Diana (Taurasi) and Penny (Taylor) are teammates (Phoenix Mercury), Lauren and I are teammates and Belinda Snell has been on Phoenix before. You can go on for days in this tournament and find players that have played against each other, with each other. I think we're all competitive when we step on the court and as soon as it's over, we're friends again so it is what it is.
You've been with the national team for a long time. How is this team different from the other USA sides that you have played for?
Sue Bird: First and foremost for me, I'm one of the older players now so that definitely changes it from my perspective. With that, we don't have as much experience as we had previously. We have enough balance in that we players that are older that have done it before and show the younger players the ropes and the younger ones are hungry and they're bringing a whole different kind of energy. It's different, but that doesn't mean it's better or worse.
You can see Team USA's match-up with Australia live on FIBATV.com.
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