[3] The Americans qualified by virtue of being the defending Olympic champions, after defeating Spain in the 2016 gold medal game.

This was the eleventh meeting between Australia and the United States in the World Cup, with the USA leading the head-to-head 10–0.

The teams entered the game with an even deeper familiarity with one another due to extensive WNBA connections, which went beyond the fact that many USA and Australian players had played in the league's 2018 season.

Rebecca Allen (Australia) and Tina Charles (USA) were New York Liberty teammates in that season.

Five individuals who played significant roles in the Seattle Storm's victory in the 2018 WNBA Finals were involved in this game—American players Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, and Breanna Stewart, Australian player Sami Whitcomb, and Storm head coach and USA assistant Dan Hughes.