Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 1:16 PM

The bitter rivalry between the Australian and US women's basketball teams has bubbled to the surface again following last night's gold medal match.

Australia turned in its worst performance of the Games to lose by 27 points, but the celebration by American centre Lisa Leslie has upset the Opals.

Leslie wore her gold medals from the three previous Olympic Games on the medal podium and Australian point guard Kristie Harrower says it annoyed the Opals.

"That was the first thing everyone noticed, the three gold medals already around her neck and we said 'what its that for' and we just looked at each other and said a few things in Australian language, and I won't make those comments here but we just couldn't believe it, could not believe it," Harrower said.