Writing and photographs by Dean Andrews

An experienced Australian Seven Consulting Opals team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games included nine players that have represented the Opals in multiple major championships led by Lauren Jackson who is competing in her 10^th major championship. Opals in the 2024 Paris team joining LJ in this category are Cayla George (6), Steph Talbot (5), Marianna Tolo (5), Tess Madgen (4), Ezi Magbegor (4), Alanna Smith (3) and Sami Whitcomb (3) and Kristy Wallace (2).

The two youngest members of the Opals Olympic Games team, 21 year old Jade Melbourne and 19 year old Isobel Borlase both made their major championship debut in Paris. Melbourne and Borlase were both members of the Australian Gems team that won the silver medal at FIBA Under 19 World Cup 2022 and were roommates at that tournament. Rebecca Allen was named in the Opals team for the 2024 Paris Olympics and was set to represent her nation at a major championship for the fifth time but was a late withdrawal after suffering a hamstring injury in the Opals final warm-up game against Canada. Guard Amy Atwell played in both of Australia’s two warm-up games and was brought into the Olympic Games team to replace Allen.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is the 13^th time that a women’s basketball five on five tournament has been part of the Olympic Games program, having made its debut at the 1976 Olympics held in Montreal, Canada. USA rank first with nine gold medals including seven consecutive gold medals from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic to the 2020 Toko Olympics. Three nations have competed in the at least 10 editions of the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games with USA’s 12 appearances ranked first ahead of Australia and China in equal second place with 10 appearances each.

In their third time competing in the women’s five on five basketball tournament Australia won their first medal in 1996 in Atlanta, winning the bronze medal. The Opals won a medal at five consecutive Olympic Games, winning silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008 followed by bronze in 2012. In the past two Olympic Games the Opals have been knocked out in the quarter finals, finishing fifth at Rio in 2016 and eighth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  

12 nations are competing in the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games comprised of three groups, Group A, Group B and Group C with four nations each. The teams that finish first and second in each of the three groups progress to the quarter finals.  These six nations will be joined in the quarter finals by the two best third placed nations from the groups.

The Australian Opals suffered an upset loss 62-75 loss to Nigeria in their opening game of the women’s basketball five on five tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Against Canada in their second game on Thursday 1 August the Opals had a 70-65 victory. With each of the four nations in Group B having played two of their three games France have two wins, Nigeria and Australia each have one win and Canada are yet to win a game.

Australia’s third and final Group B game is at 9.00 pm Sunday 4 August Paris time, 5.00 am Monday 5 August AEST against France who have qualified for the quarter finals. In the earlier Group B game Canada play Nigeria at 1.30pm Sunday 4 August Paris time, 9.30 pm AEST.

In the first Group B game on Sunday 4 August Paris time Nigeria recovered from a four point half time deficit to defeat Canada 79-70 and have advanced to the Olympic quarter finals for the first time in their history.

Australia play France in the final group game of the Paris Olympics and know what result is required for them to progress to the quarter finals. The Opals need to defeat host nation France to advance to the quarter finals. An Opals victory would result in Australia, France and Nigeria having a record of two wins and one loss. Points differential in the head-to-head games between these three nations would be required to rank them from first to third in Group B. In head-to-head games between the three nations the points differential is currently France +21, Nigeria -8, and Australia -13. If Australia defeated France by four points or less the order would remain the same with France first, Nigeria second and Australia third. If Australia defeated France by six points or more they would finish second and Nigeria third. An Opals victory over France by 18 points or more would enable them to overtake France and finish first. A five point win by Australia would have them tied with Nigeria for points difference and a 17 point win would have Australia tied for points differential with France. In either of these two instances the team that had the higher total points scored in the head-to-head games would be ranked higher. If Australia is still tied they would win the tie-breaker against Nigeria or France due to having a higher world ranking.

An Australian loss to France would result in them finishing third in their group. Belgium, China and Australia would have each one win and two losses so points differential would be required to rank these three nations. Belgium’s point differential is 0 and China’s points differential is -1. Australia currently have a points differential of -8 and this would get worse with a loss to France, resulting in Australia being ranked third of the third placed nations and missing out on a quarter final berth.

The results of the last two Group B games will have a significant impact on the final Group B standings. It remains possible for the Opals to finish in any of the four positions in Group B, first, second, third or fourth. Australia play France in the final group game of the Paris Olympics so when they take the court they will know what result is required for them to progress to the quarter finals. The best case scenario for the Opals is that they defeat France and Canada defeat Nigeria. France and Australia would both finish the group phase with two wins and one loss. Due to winning the head-to-head game between the two nations Australia would finish first in Group B. The worst case scenario for the Opals is a loss to France and Canada defeating Nigeria by 20 points or less. This would result in the Opals finishing fourth in Group B, eliminating them from the Olympics.

The article below includes the following:

• General information on the 5 on 5 women’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris  Olympic Games 
• The final Group B standings if A) Australia defeats France in their final Group B game and B) If the Opals lose to France in their final Group B game
• Profiles for all 12 members of the Australian Opals 2024 Olympic Games team and Head Coach Sandy Brondello

Venue, Groups and nations competing in the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

France qualified for the women’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympic Games and the United States of America qualified due to being the gold medal winners at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 in Sydney. Results at four Qualifying Tournaments held in February 2024 determined which 10 nations joined US and France in the 12 nation field at the Paris Olympics. Three nations from each of the four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The 12 nations competing in the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games comprised of three groups, Group A, Group B and Group C with four nations each. 11 nations in the top 12 on the World Rankings competed at the Paris Olympic Games. The only nation ranked lower than 12^th in the field, is Germany ranked 19^th.

The draw for the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was conducted by Opals legend and 2006 World Championships MVP Penny Taylor on 19 March 2024 at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland. 12 nations comprised of three pools with four teams in each pool are competing in the tournament.

All 18 Group phase games for the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 3 August Paris time. The distance from Villeneuve-d’Ascq to Paris is approximately 230 kilometres.

The women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games commenced on Sunday 28 July and the Opals first game was against Nigeria on the following day, Monday 29 July. The teams that finish first and second in each of the three groups progress to the quarter finals.  These six nations will be joined in the quarter finals by the two best third placed nations from the groups. All games from the quarter finals onwards at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be played at Bercy Arena in Paris. The quarter finals for the women’s basketball 5 on 5 tournament are played on Wednesday August 7 Paris time and the semi finals are played on Friday August 9. Both medal games will be played on Sunday 11 August.

At the most recent completed major championship, World Cup 2022 held in Sydney, USA won the gold medal, China won the silver medal and Australia returned to the podium, winning the bronze medal. Entering the Paris 2024 Olympics these three nations hold the top three places on the FIBA Women’s World Rankings in the same order that they finished on the podium at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 in Sydney with USA first, China second and Australia third.

The groups and world rankings for nations competing in the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are listed below:

Group A              World Ranking              

Serbia                    10

Spain                     4

China                     2

Puerto Rico         11

Spain had a single figure winning margin in each of their three games and have finished on top of Group A with a points difference of +10. With two wins and one loss Serbia finished second and also advanced to the quarter finals. China finished third with one win, two losses and a points difference of -1. To qualify for the quarter finals China will need to have a better points difference than the third ranked nation in Group B. With three losses Puerto Rico have been knocked out in the group phase.

Group B              World Ranking              

Canada                 5

Nigeria                  12

Australia              3                                            

France                   7

The Group b standings are covered later in this post.                                       

Group C              World Ranking              

Germany              19

USA                        1                                            

Japan                    9

Belgium                6

Germany and USA each won their first two Group C games and play each other on Sunday 4 August to determine which nation finishes on top of Pool C. Belgium have defeated Japan in their third and final Pool C game by 27 points to finish third with one win, two losses and a points difference of 0 to qualify for the quarter finals. With three losses Tokyo 2020 silver medal winners Japan have been eliminated in the group phase.

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The 2024 Paris Olympics is the first time that two Australian women’s teams have competed at the Olympic Games. In the second edition of 3×3 being on the Olympic program the Australian Gangurrus made their debut Olympic appearance in the newer format of basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Milestones and Misses published player profiles on the four members of the Australian Gangurrus team for Paris and a guide to the women’s 3×3 tournament. A link to this post is below:

Player Profiles for the Australian women’s Gangurrus team and guide to the women’s 3×3 tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

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21 players with WNBL experience represented their nation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games comprised of 16 Australians and five players that have played in the WNBL as imports. The Australian Gangurrus quartet at the 2024 Paris Olympics was Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Ally Wilson. The five players with WNBL experience as an import that represented their nation in the traditional five on five format of basketball were Canadian trio Kayla Alexander, Bridget Carleton and Kia Nurse, Belgium point guard Julie Vanloo and United States guard Jackie Young.

With the University of Canberra Capitals in 2018/19 and 2019/20 Nurse played in back to back WNBL championships. In 2018/19 Nurse averaged 18.4 points (ranked 4th in the WNBL) per game, led the league with 3.1 three-pointers made per game and finished equal seventh in the WNBL’s MVP award. Nurse was selected in the All-WNBL First Team and won the Suzy Batokovic medal for being the WNBL’s MVP in 2019/20, led the league with 20.9 points and 2.8 three-pointers made per game and averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 3.6 free throws made (ranked 2nd in the WNBL) and 37.1 minutes (1st) per game.

Kia Nurse playing for the Canberra Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2019

Young was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with the first pick overall at the 2019 WNBA Draft. In her first three WNBA seasons from 2019 to 2021 Young averaged between 6.0 and 12.5 points per game. Playing for Perth Lynx in 2021/22 Young ranked third in the WNBL with 17.8 points per game and was selected in the All-WNBL First Team. In 2022 Young won the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award, was an All-Star and a member of Las Vegas Aces championship winning team. In 2023 Young was an All-Star, averaged 17.9 points per game, was selected in the All-WNBA Second Team and won a second consecutive WNBA title with Las Vegas.

Jackie Young playing for the Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS), Traralgon on 6 February 2022

Seven Consulting Australian Opals team for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Games 2024 in Paris – 12 players

#          Player                                    2024 team                                          Position              

17           Amy Atwell                          Bendigo Braves (NBL1 South)           Guard/forward

20           Isobel Borlase                        Forestville Eagles (NBL1 Central)       Guard

15           Cayla George                                                                                Power forward/centre

25           Lauren Jackson                      Albury Wodonga Bandits (NBL1 East)  Power forward/centre

7              Tess Madgen                                                                                            Guard 

13           Ezi Magbegor                          Seattle Storm (WNBA)       Power forward/centre             

2              Jade Melbourne                     Washington Mystics (WNBA)         Point guard

11           Alanna Smith                          Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)             Forward

6              Steph Talbot                          Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)                   Forward

14           Marianna Tolo                                                                                         Centre

3              Kristy Wallace                    Indiana Fever (WNBA)                        Guard

32           Sami Whitcomb                       Seattle Storm (WNBA)                           Guard

Player profiles on all 12 members of the Seven Consulting Australian Opals 2024 Olympic Games team are included later in this post.

Coaches

Sandy Brondello               Head Coach

Cheryl Chambers              Assistant Coach

Paul Goriss                        Assistant Coach

Shannon Seebohm           Assistant Coach

A profile on Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello is included later in this article.

Five players in Australia’s team for Paris are making their Olympic Games debut, Melbourne, Borlase, Atwell, Whitcomb and Wallace. Six players from the Opals team three years ago for the Tokyo Olympics are suiting for their nation at the 2024 Games – Cayla George, Tess Madgen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot and Marianna Tolo.

In the lead up to the 2016 Olympic Games the Australian Basketball GOAT Lauren Jackson was forced into retirement on 31 March 2016 due to knee injuries. LJ made a basketball comeback in 2022, and amazingly 12 years after her fourth Olympic Games in London 2012 is set to represent the Opals at an Olympic Games for the fifth time at 43 years of age. Jackson will become the first women’s basketball player to represent Australia at five Olympic Games and two Boomers Patty Mills and Joe Ingles will become five time Olympians in Paris. Expanding the number of basketballers that have represented Australia at five Olympic Games from one to four with Andrew Gaze being the only player that has currently achieved the feat. Three of the four basketball players that have played in five Olympic Games for Australia have been a flagbearer for their nation at an Olympics this century, Gaze on home soil in Sydney 2000, Jackson in London 2012 and Mills at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

On 26 March 2024 an extended 26 player Seven Consulting Australian Opals squad was named for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. From 29 May to 24 July the Seven Consulting Australian Opals played nine games as part of their preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Due to WNBA commitments seven players in the extended Australian opals squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were unavailable for the Opals first seven warm-up games from late May to early July. The seven Australians that have played in the WNBA in 2024 are Rebecca Allen (Phoenix Mercury), Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb (both Seattle Storm), Jade Melbourne (Washington Mystics), Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx), Steph Talbot (LA Sparks) and Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever). Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello was unavailable for these two tours due to her WNBA commitments as Head Coach of the New York Liberty. Cheryl Chambers was the Seven Consulting Australian Opals Head Coach for the tours of China and Japan.

China are second on the FIBA women’s world rankings. 12 Australian based players from the Opals extended squad had a three game tour of China comprised of one game in Benxi City on 29 May followed by games in Shenyang City on 31 May and 2 June. The Seven Consulting Australian Opals won the series against China two games to one, having victories in the first two games before being defeated in game 3. The margin in each of the three games was in single figures and across the series the Opals outscored China by three points, 220-217.

Five changes were made to the Opals team for a tour of Japan with games against the National women’s team played at Hokkaido Sports Centre on 20 and 21 June. Seven players that were members of the Australian team for the China tour were also selected for the Japan tour – Cayla George, Darcee Garbin, Lauren Nicholson, Alice Kunek, Maddison Rocci, Isobel Borlase and Stephanie Reid. Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello told Basketball Australia “The recent China series was fantastic preparation for our team and to come away with two wins is a confidence boost. We always stress the importance of international game time and Japan will give the players and coaches an opportunity to continue to build for Paris.”1 The tour of Japan enabled the Opals to rotate more players through the team and gain additional experience playing against international opposition. In the two game Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024 series Japan had a 96-85 win in game 1 followed by a 95-87 victory against the Opals in game 2.

As part of Ford Ballin’ 24 held in Melbourne from 2 to 5 July the Seven Consulting Opals were one of six Australian national basketball teams that played multiple games against national basketball teams. The Australian teams that along with the Opals played in Ford Ballin’ 24 were the Boomers, the Gangurrus men’s and women’s 3×3 team and wheelchair teams Rollers (men’s) and Gliders (women’s). The Seven Consulting Opals games against China were held at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night 3 July and Friday night 5 July.

The Opals had convincing wins against China in both of their Ford Ballin’ 24 games at John Cain Arena, 94-66 in game 1 followed by 91-63 in game 2. Australian Opals centre Marianna Tolo commented on Ford Ballin’ 24 “It’s been so cool just to see everyone, you don’t ever get that chance to have the 3×3 teams, the Rollers, the Gliders, the Boomers there with us. It’s been really special but I think you can see how connected we are in that we always are hanging around each other and really enjoying our time together. So that’s been nice to see who helps get us on the court and to get us to where we need to go. And then having crowds turn up like we did tonight. Melbourne’s fantastic with their support of basketball and it’s really great to be able to come here and see that many people supporting us.”2

The Seven Consulting Australian Opals team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was announced on Sunday 7 July. Eight members of the Seven Consulting Australian Opals team for the Paris Olympic Games played in the WNBL in 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season – Amy Atwell, Isobel Borlase, Cayla George, Lauren Jackson, Tess Madgen, Jade Melbourne, Steph Talbot, Kristy Wallace and Sami Whitcomb. Four players in the Opals team for Paris played in Europe in 2023/24 –  Bec Allen (Spain), Marianna Tolo (Spain), Ezi Magbegor (Czech Republic) and Alanna Smith (Turkey).

In addition to the Olympic Games team of 12 players two training players Amy Atwell and Alice Kunek joined the Opals for their last two warm-up games in Spain before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In the Opals last warm-up game against Canada Allen suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out of the Olympics. Guard Amy Atwell played in both of Australia’s two warm-up games and was brought into the Olympic Games team to replace Allen.

Five players in Australia’s team for Paris made their Olympic Games debut, Melbourne, Borlase, Atwell, Whitcomb and Wallace. Six players from the Opals team three years ago for the Tokyo Olympics are suiting for their nation at the 2024 Games – Cayla George, Tess Madgen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot and Marianna Tolo.

In the lead up to the 2016 Olympic Games the Australian Basketball GOAT Lauren Jackson was forced into retirement on 31 March 2016 due to knee injuries. LJ made a basketball comeback in 2022, and amazingly 12 years after her fourth Olympic Games in London 2012 is set to represent the Opals at an Olympic Games for the fifth time at 43 years of age. Jackson will become the first women’s basketball player to represent Australia at five Olympic Games and two Boomers Patty Mills and Joe Ingles will become five time Olympians in Paris. Expanding the number of basketballers that have represented Australia at five Olympic Games from one to four with Andrew Gaze being the only player that has currently achieved the feat. Three of the four basketball players that have played in five Olympic Games for Australia have been a flagbearer for their nation at an Olympics this century, Gaze on home soil in Sydney 2000, Jackson in London 2012 and Mills at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Opals final two warm-up games before the Paris Olympic Games were friendlies in Segovia, Spain against Spain on 23 July and Canada on 24 July. The American based Opals and Australian based Opals met up in Europe and were able to train and prepare together for the first time since the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Belem Brazil in February. In addition to the 12 players in the Opals Olympic Games training two training players from the extended squad, Amy Atwell and Alice Kunek joined the team in Spain. Australia defeated fourth ranked Spain 75-66 and had a 74-77 loss to fifth ranked Canada. Bec Allen suffered a hamstring injury against Canada and was ruled out of the Olympics. Atwell was brought into Australia’s 12 player team for the Paris Olympics.

History of the Olympic Games women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games is the 13th consecutive Olympics that has included a women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament with this sequence having commenced at the 1976 Montreal Olympics held in Canada. The United States have finished on the podium at all 11 women’s basketball tournaments that they have competed in and rank first with nine gold medals won including finishing on the top step of the podium at the last seven consecutive Olympics from the 1996 Atlanta Games to the 2020 Tokyo Games. The only time that USA have not finished on the podium was the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games when the entire US team boycotted.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is the 10^th time Australia are competing in the women’s 5 on 5 OG basketball tournament. Australia made their women’s basketball Olympic Games debut in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the third time that women’s basketball was included on the Olympic program. Australia finished fifth at the 1984 Olympic Games and made it to the medal games at the following Olympics, finishing fourth in 1988 held in Seoul, South Korea.

Australia have competed in the 5 on 5 women’s basketball tournament at 10 of the past 11 Olympic Games with the only exception being the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain when they didn’t qualify. In five consecutive Olympics from 1996 to 2012 the Opals won medals comprised of silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008 and bronze in 1996 and 2012. In the last two completed Olympic Games Australia have been defeated in the quarter finals, finishing fifth in 2016 and eighth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Australian Opals Group B games

Australia are in Group B at the women’s 5 on 5 basketball tournament of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  In their first game of the tournament on Monday 29 July the world number three ranked Opals played 12^th ranked Nigeria. The Opals starting line up was Jade Melbourne and Sami Whitcomb in the back court along with Steph Talbot, Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor in the front court. All five Opals starters have played in the WNBA in 2024 and a duo, Magbegor and Whitcomb are teammates at Seattle Storm. At the mid-season break Smith and Magbegor each rank in the WNBA’s top five for blocks, top 20 for rebounds, steals and field goal accuracy.

The Opals were able to build an early 13-5 lead against Nigeria. Momentum quickly shifted with Nigeria going on 1 36-15 run for the rest of the first half to lead by 13 points at the main break 41-28. The Opals were able to reduce Nigeria’s lead to two points with over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Nigeria were able to respond and went on to win by 13 points, 75-62. Critical factors in Australia’s upset loss were making eight of 18 free throws and committing 26 turnovers to Nigeria’s 15.  In a starting role Smith was the Opals best player, scoring 15 points at 67% from the field and  took seven rebounds. Talbot registered a rebound-assists double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists to set game-highs in both categories.   

On 1 August the Opals defeated Canada 70-65 to square their ledger at one win and one loss. Key factors in Australia’s victory were a 42-31 rebound advantage and shooting at 48% from the field, a significant advantage over Canada’s accuracy of 35%. Guard Sami Whitcomb shot at 70% from the field, scored an equal game-high 19 points, made a game-high 10 assists, took five rebounds and made two steals in a brilliant all-round game. Five Opals were in double figures for scoring with Whitcomb being joined in this category by Tolo, George and Talbot with 11 points each along with Magbegor with 10 points.

The Group B standings after each nation has played two games is:

                                           W           L             PD         Points

1. France                         2             0             +42        4
2. Nigeria                        1             1             -8          3
3. Australia                     1             1             -8          3
4. Canada                       0             2             -26         2

France have won each of their first two Group B games at the Paris Olympics against Canada and Nigeria by 21 points with the exact same score, 75-54. With one day remaining in the group phase of the women’s basketball five on five tournament France rank first with a points difference of +42, just ahead of the United States +39.

Over their first two games France have had more than double the total assists of their opponents 46-22. In both games France have restricted their opponent to a field goal accuracy of 32%. France have had a significant advantage in this area, having a field goal accuracy of 43% against Canada and 52% against Nigeria. On home soil in Paris Gabby Williams has been superb as a starter starting for France to average 13.0 points, 6.5 assists and 5.5 steals per game to lead France in all three categories. Williams is shooting proficiently to have a field goal accuracy of 60%.

Although Australia won the bronze medal at the most recent major championship, FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 in Sydney in the Group game between the two nations France defeated the Opals 70-57.   

The final Group B game is:

Australia vs France at   9.00 pm Sunday 4 August Paris time, 5.00 am Monday 5 August AEST

Result of the final Group B games and impact on the standings

If two or more teams are tied with the same number of wins in their group the result in the head to head games between these two nations will determine which of these nations finish higher. If three teams are tied and each have one win and one loss, the points differential in the head-to-games between these three nations will determine the final order.  

• Australia defeat France

Group B Standings would be

                             W            L              PD for tie-breaker

France           2             1             +21#

Nigeria          2             1             -8

Australia      2             1             -13#

4     Canada         0             3

#The points difference from the game between Australia and France would need to be added to the above numbers.

France, Nigeria and Australia would all be tied on two wins and one loss. In head-to-head games between the three nations the points differential is currently France +21, Nigeria -8, and Australia -13. If Australia defeated France by four points or less the order would remain the same if France first, Nigeria second and Australia third. If Australia defeated France by six points or more they would finish second and Nigeria third. An Opals victory over France by 18 points or more would enable them to overtake France and finish first. Canada would finish fourth in Group B and would be eliminated from the Olympics at the group phase.

A five point win by Australia against France would have them tied with Nigeria for points difference and a 17 point win would have Australia tied for points differential with France. In either of these two instances the team that had the higher total points scored in the head-to-head games would advance. If Australia is still tied they would win the tie-breaker against Nigeria or France due to having a higher world ranking.

• France defeat Australia

Group B Standings would be

                                       W            L             

1. France                   3             0            
2. Nigeria                  2             1       

3.     Australia              1             2            

4.       Canada               0             3            

Australia would finish third in Group B with a record of one win and two losses. To progress to the quarter finals the Opals would need to be one of the two best third placed nations. Australia currently have an overall points difference of -8. With a loss to France this points differential would get worse. China have finished third in Group A with one win and two losses and have a points difference of -1 which is better than Australia’s. For the Opals to progress to the quarter finals they would need to have a better points difference than the third placed team in Group C.   

Australian Opals player profiles for the 2024 Olympic Games

Player profiles are included in alphabetical order of the players surname.

WNBA games played are as at 21 July 2024.

# represents the number the player is wearing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Amy Atwell

#17                                             Position:  Guard/Forward              

Date of Birth 30 June 1998     Height 183cm                   

Junior Club                                Willetton Tigers (Western Australia)     

WNBL debut: 2022/23             WNBL games played: 49 (All with Perth Lynx)

WNBL team 2022/23 to 2024/25: Perth Lynx

2023 & 2024 NBL1 team: Bendigo Braves (South)

WNBA debut: 2022

WNBA regular season games: 4 (All with Los Angeles Sparks in 2022)

Olympic Games:                2024

World Cup:                      Nil

Amy Atwell grew up in South Perth and played junior basketball with Willetton Tigers. As a junior player Atwell represented Western Australia at Australian National Championships.

At 18 years of age Atwell moved away from Perth and her family to attend the University of Hawaii and play college basketball. Before playing her first college game Atwell injured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and required a knee reconstruction, Atwell missed the entire season due to injury which resulted in 2016/17 being classified as a redshirt season. Although Atwell was unable to play she still travelled for every road trip and did her rehabilitation with University of Hawaii athletic trainer Erin Tillman. During the rehabilitation process Atwell was unable to do most on-court activities but continued to work on her shooting which paid dividends. 

In her freshman season for University of Hawaii in 2017/18 Atwell played 23 games and had one start. During the 12 April 2022 episode of The Dribble podcast published by The West Australian Atwell commented “Even coming back from that ACL I was playing and felt physically good but I didn’t have all that trust back and I actually ended up tearing my meniscus that next off-season and had to have another two surgeries. So that next 18 months after my ACL I was still kind of battling knee injuries had a couple more surgeries in there and still trying to find that groove and get back into it. So it wasn’t really until the year before COVID, that season I really found my feet again and felt like the same basketball player I was before I tore my ACL.” Atwell’s ACL injury and COVID extended her time at University of Hawaii from four years to six years.

In 2017/18 and 2018/19 Atwell was a core rotation player for University of Hawaii, in 51 games over these two seasons she averaged 4.4 points and 12.7 minutes per game. During the 2017/18 season Perth Lynx teammate Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard was a teammate of Atwell’s at Hawaii. After regaining confidence in her knee Atwell averaged 10.6 points and 22.0 minutes per game starting 13 of 27 games in 2019/20 and was named the Big West Conference Best Sixth Player.

During the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons Atwell started all 47 games and emerged as a star for University of Hawaii. In 2020/21 Atwell started all 17 games for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball team and averaged 12.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 29.1 minutes per game. Atwell was selected in the 2020/21 Big West Conference Second-team.

Atwell scored at least 20 points in a game 13 times from 30 games in 2021/22. In a University of Hawaii home game Atwell scored a game-high and season-high 33 points shooting at 52.6% from the field and took 10 rebounds in a 73-66 victory against CSU Bakersfield on 22 January 2022. During her exceptional 2021/22 season Atwell averaged 17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 31.8 minutes per game for the University of Hawaii. In 2021/22 the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Basketball team won the Big West regular season championship and also won the Big West tournament, defeating UC Irvine 59-48 in the final. Atwell was named in the Big West Conference First-Team in 2021/22 and was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first University of Hawaii player to receive this award. Atwell played 125 games for University of Hawaii, averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 21.5 minutes per game and made 205 three-pointers to set a new career record for her college.

At pick 27 in the 2022 WNBA Draft Los Angeles Sparks selected Atwell who made history by becoming the first West Australian to be selected in a WNBA draft. West Australians to play in the WNBA after being recruited as free agents include 2006 World Championships gold medallist Tully Bevilaqua and two-time World Cup medallist and 2022/23 Perth Lynx teammate Sami Whitcomb. In a WNBA pre-season game against Phoenix Mercury Atwell scored 19 points and made six of six three-pointers. Atwell started in LA Sparks season opener for the 2022 WNBA regular season in a road game against Chicago Sky on 6 May. Atwell was waived by the LA Sparks on 7 June. Atwell played four regular season games for the Sparks averaging 0.8 points and 8.0 minutes per game.

Atwell was one of three Seven Consulting Opals FIBA Asia Cup 2023 team members in the Perth Lynx starting line-up for the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season along with Chloe Bibby and Lauren Scherf. In a Round 12 road game against the Melbourne Boomers Atwell scored a game-high 27 points and took four rebounds in Perth’s 91-82 victory at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January. Atwell shot the ball proficiently to make seven of 14 three-pointers against Melbourne at an accuracy of 50%. Atwell was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week for Round 12, her second selection of the season, having previously been selected in Round 2.

Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

Amy Atwell in a Perth Lynx team huddle against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023

Perth Lynx finished fourth at the end of the 2022/23 regular season and lost both games of their semi final series to eventual champions Townsville Fire. Atwell played all 23 games for Perth Lynx in 2022/23 including 21 as a starter and averaged 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals (ranked equal 17^th in the WNBL) per game. Atwell made 52 of 146 three-pointers at an accuracy of 35.6% and her 2.3 three-pointers made per game ranked equal fourth in the WNBL.

Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023

At the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series Wuhan Stop on 6 and 7 May 2023 Atwell and Bibby both made their debut for the Australian 3×3 women’s Gangurrus team. Australia finishing second at the Wuhan stop, being defeated by China 13-21 in the final.

During the 2023 NBL1 season Atwell was a starter on the Bendigo Braves team that went undefeated during the NBL1 South season to win the conference championship and also won all three games at the NBL1 National Finals to win the national title. In 17 games for Bendigo Braves Atwell averaged 25.8 points (ranked second in NBL1 South) and 7.4 rebounds per game. In the Bendigo Braves second game of the 2023 NBL1 National Finals held in Joondalup, Western Australia Atwell made eight of 15 three-pointers at an accuracy of 53.3% and scored 44 points against the Northside Wizards in a 112-73 victory. Atwell was selected in the 2023 NBL1 National Finals All-Star Five. Atwell and Perth off-season recruit Anneli Maley were teammates on the bronze medal winning Australian Opals team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney and were also teammates on the Opals five game tour against the Chinese National women’s team in late August and early September.    

On 19 May 2023 Perth Lynx announced that Atwell had signed with the club for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Perth Lynx Head Coach Ryan Petrik told WNBL Media “The entire organisation loved having Amy back home last year, and showed real match-winning abilities on multiple occasions. Amy clearly has size, length, and floor spacing ability which makes her dangerous every second she’s on the floor. We can’t wait to see what she can do with a year of pro experience under her belt.”3

Of the players that ranked in the top six for minutes per game for the Lynx in 2022/23 Atwell was the only one that suited up for the club again in 2023/24. Atwell was Perth’s vice-captain for 2023/24. From 13 December to 14 January Atwell scored at least 21 points in six of her eight games. Against the UC Capitals Atwell scored a game-high and season-high 36 points, made seven of 14 three pointers at an accuracy of 50%, made all three free throws, had five rebounds, made three assists and two steals on 27 December 2023 in a 98-90 home victory at Bendat Basketball Centre.

Perth had 11 wins and 10 losses during the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season to finish fourth on the ladder at the end of the regular season. Perth defeated reigning WNBL Champions Townsville Fire two games to nil in a semi final to make the Grand Final against the Southside Flyers. Against Townsville in the semi final Atwell averaged 26.5 points per game, made nine of 15 three-pointers at an accuracy of 60% and averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.

In game 1 of the semi final Atwell put on a long range shooting exhibition setting a new finals record by making a phenomenal nine of 14 three-pointers at an accuracy of 64.3%. Atwell’s nine 3PM ranked second in the all-time history of the WNBL, only surpassed by Belinda Snell with 12 3PM for Sydney Flames at West Coast Waves on 22 January 2005. In Perth’s 101-79 game 1 Grand Final victory against Southside at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville Atwell had a field goal accuracy of 56.3%, scored a game-high 30 points and took four rebounds. Perth were defeated in the next two games and lost the Grand Final series to Southside one game to two.

During the 2023/24 WNBL season Atwell started all 26 games for Perth Lynx and averaged 18.8 points (ranked 2nd in the @WNBL), 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 3.1 three-pointers made (1st) & 4.6 free throws made (1st) per game to earn selection in the All-WNBL Second Team.

Amy Atwell playing for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 31 January 2024

Atwell attended Phoenix Mercury’s 2024 WNBA training camp alongside fellow Australian Opals squad member Bec Allen. Atwell played both of Phoenix’s pre-season game but along with fellow Australian Jaz Shelley was waived by the club on 11 May. 

in 2024 Atwell played her second consecutive NBL1 South season with Bendigo Braves and was teammates with her partner Ally Wilson. In a road game against Knox Raiders on 15 June Atwell played a phenomenal game to have a field goal accuracy of 54.3%, scored a game-high and season high 50 points and took 11 rebounds. During the 2024 NBL1 South season Atwell played 12 games for the Bendigo Braves and averaged 27.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

On 26 March 2024 Atwell was selected in the Australian Opals extended 26 player squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Atwell was a member of the Australian Opals for a Japan tour in June. During game 1 of the Mitsui Fudosan Cup on June 20 Atwell made an impact off the bench to score a team-high 21 points and took three rebounds playing 17 minutes and 54 seconds court-time. In the Opals second game of Ford Ballin’ 24 Atwell made four of six field goal attempts at an accuracy of 66.7%, scored a team-high 17 points and made three steals playing 15 minutes court-time in a 91-63 victory against China at John Cain Arena on 5 July.

Atwell wasn’t included in the 12 player Australian Opals team for the 2024 Paris Olympics when it was announced on Sunday 7 July. Atwell was one of two training players along with forward Alice Kunek that joined the Opals in their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Allen suffered a hamstring injury in the Opals game against and was subsequently ruled out of the Paris Olympic Games due to her injury. Atwell was called into the Opals Olympic Games team to replace Allen. In the Opals first two Group B games of the Paris Olympics against Nigeria and Canada respectively Atwell did not play any court time. 

Atwell has signed to play a third consecutive WNBS season for Perth Lynx in 2024/25 and will be teammates with two members of the Australian Gangurrus Olympic Games team, her partner Ally Wilson and Anneli Maaley.

WNBL Achievements:            All-WNBL Second Team 2023/24

Isobel Borlase

#20                                           Position: Guard   

DOB 12 September 2004         Height 180cm                   

Junior Club                               Forestville Eagles (South Australia)     

WNBL debut: 2021/22              WNBL games played: 38 (All with Adelaide Lightning)

2023/24 & 2024/25 WNBL team: Adelaide Lightning

2024 team: Forestville Eagles (NBL1 Central)

Selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 20 at the 2024 WNBA Draft

WNBA games played: Nil

Olympic Games:                          2024

World Cup:                                   Nil

Isobel Borlase grew up in Adelaide, started playing basketball at seven years of age and played all her junior basketball with the Forestville Eagles. At the 2019 Under 16 Australian Junior Championships held in Darwin in July Borlase played phenomenal basketball to rank first overall at the tournament in points and rebounds per game and was a member of the South Australia Metro team that finished second, losing in the final to Vic Metro. Borlase was a member of the South Australian Metro women’s under 18 team that won the gold medal at the 2021 Australian Junior Championships held in Werribee during mid-April. In SA Metro’s 76-64 victory against Vic Metro in the final Borlase scored 22 points, took a game-high 16 rebounds, made a game-high five assists and had an equal team-high two steals.

19 year old Borlase is from a sporting family, Isobel’s mother Jenny Borlase (nee Kennett) played 70 games of netball for Australia, playing as a goal shooter and goal attack. Jenny was a member of three Australian teams that won the gold medal at World Netball Championships – 1991, 1995 and 1999. Isobel’s father Darryl played 246 Australian Rules football games in the SANFL (South Australian National Football League) for the Port Adelaide Magpies and played in four SANFL premierships including being captain of the 1998 premiership side. Isobel’s two older siblings have had success in their chosen sports, oldest sibling, sister Ella has competed for Australia in Surf Life Saving and older brother James is on the list of Australian Rules football club Adelaide Crows and played four AFL games in 2023.

Isobel commenced a scholarship at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (BA CoE) in early 2021 and represented the BA CoE at senior level in state leagues. Borlase, fellow Opals OQT 2024 team member Jade Melbourne and Nyadiew Puoch were members of the Australian Gems silver medal winning team at the 2021 FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup held in Hungary from 7-15 August. As a member of the Australian Gems gold medal winning team at Under 18 Women’s Asia Cup 2022 Borlase excelled to average 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.8 steals and 25.7 minutes per game. At the tournament Borlase ranked fourth overall for points per game, equal fourth for steals, fifth for assists, sixth for rebounds, second for field goal accuracy and was selected in the Tournament’s All-Star Five.

Having been a member of Adelaide Lightning’s Academy Borlase already had familiarity with the club before participating at WNBL level. During summer of the 2021/22 WNBL season Borlase had gone home to Adelaide from the Centre of Excellence and was doing some training with Adelaide Lightning’s WNBL team. With the Lightning squad impacted by COVID Borlase was added as a replacement player. At 17 years of age Borlase made her WNBL debut for Adelaide Lightning against Sydney Flames on 20 January 2022 in a road game. Playing eight minutes and 45 seconds court-time Borlase made her only field goal attempt, scored two points and made two assists. It was the only game that Borlase played for the 2021/22 WNBL season.

During the 2022 NBL1 season Borlase represented the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Wildcard games. Against the Joondalup Wolves in a road game on 30 July Borlase scored a team-high 25 points, took five rebounds, made three assists and had three steals in the CoE’s 79-59 victory. Borlase shot at 75% from the field and was phenomenal from long range, making seven of eight three-pointers at an accuracy of 87.5%.

In 14 games for the BA CoE in 2022 Borlase averaged 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Throughout the season Borlase was an accurate shooter, having a field goal accuracy of 48.7% and a free-throw accuracy of 85%. Borlase scored at least 18 points in a game six times.

On 27 September 2022 Adelaide Lightning announced that Borlase had signed with the club for two seasons. Adelaide Lightning Head Coach Nat Hurst told wnbl.basketball “Not only are we bringing home a local, but she is also a future star of this league and the Opals so to have her back where it all started is amazing. She is so strong and athletic and her style suits exactly what we want to put on the floor. I’m excited to watch her grow this season.”4

Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

Entering the season with just one game of WNBL experience Borlase was one of the revelations of the 2022/23 WNBL season and as a teenager in the number 5 singlet for Adelaide was able to remain composed and play efficient basketball despite playing against far more experienced opponents. Off the bench in Adelaide’s opening game of the 2022/23 season on the road against Southside Borlase made an immediate impact to score a game-high 25 points at an incredible 83.3% from the field, take a game-high nine rebounds, make three assists and two steals. In four of her last six games of the season Borlase scored at least 19 points. Due to a back injury Borlase missed Adelaide’s last three games of the season.

Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers on 13 November 2022 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville

During the 2022/23 WNBL season Borlase started eight of her 17 games and was able to learn from playing alongside and training against Adelaide captain Steph Talbot who in 2022/23 won the WNBL’s Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second time in her career. In 2022/23 Borlase ranked in the WNBL’s top 25 for points, blocked shots and steals per game whilst having a field goal accuracy of 55.0% – ranked seventh in the league among players that had at least 10 field goal attempts. For her phenomenal season Borlase won two awards at the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL Awards – the Breakout Player of the Year Award and the Sixth Woman of the Year Award.

At the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup 2023 held in Madrid, Spain from 15-23 July Borlase ranked first for the Gems with 14.9 points, 2.3 steals and 32.7 minutes per game, ranked equal first with 4.0 assists and second with 5.9 rebounds. Borlase was effective from long range at the tournament, making 19 of 37 three-pointers at an accuracy of 51.4% to lead the Gems for three-point accuracy and three-pointers made.

On 11 September 2023 Adelaide announced that Rachael Sporn had decided to un-retire her number 14 Adelaide singlet and pass the number on to Borlase. Sporn told WNBL Media “Izzy will be able to adorn a number which already has great meaning for her and she has shown that she will have longevity in her career in the WNBL and beyond. Even at such a young age, Izzy is a wonderful role model on and off the basketball court. Izzy has many attributes that I admire, namely a great work ethic and integrity. I am so looking forward to seeing no.14 in the Lightning colours again!”5

In her second WNBL season Borlase was going to be given additional responsibility with Adelaide however this was amplified due to Talbot missing the first 12 rounds of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season as she recovered from a knee reconstruction in February 2023. In Borlase’s first four games of 2023/24 she scored at least 20 points three times and took at least five rebounds in all four games. On the road against Perth in Round 10 on 7 January Borlase scored a game-high and career-high 31 points shooting at 58.3% from the field, took five rebounds and made two steals. Due to suffering a minor ankle injury in Adelaide’s road victory against Townsville on 20 January Borlase missed the Lightning’s home game against UC Capitals on 28 January.

Isobel Borlase shooting a free throw for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers on 17 December 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville

During the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL regular season Borlase earnt selection in the WNBL’s Team of the Round four times, rounds 1, 3, 7 and 10. In 2023/24 Borlase played 20 of a possible 21 games for Adelaide Lightning and averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 31.1 minutes per game. Among players that played at least five games in 2023/24 Borlase ranked fourth in the WNBL for steals per game, eighth in points, equal 10th in blocks and 14^th in minutes. Borlase scored at least eight points in 19 of her 20 games. Borlase has signed with Adelaide until the end of the 2024/25 season.

At 19 years of age Borlase was selected in the 2023/24 All-WNBL First Team. Borlase was the second teenager to be selected in an All-WNBL Team in the past decade. The previous player to achieve this feat was fellow guard Shyla Heal being selected in 2020 All-WNBL Second Team at 19 years of age. Borlase is the sixth player to earn All-WNBL selection as a teenager in the past 25 years, joining Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, Erin Phillips, Liz Cambage and Heal in this select group.  

During Unwrapped: The Pick and Roll Podcast, Episode 11 published on 14 March 2024 Adam Webster asked “Being named to the All-WNBL First Team is no easy feat given your peers and those who ended up on the Second Team. What was that moment like to be recognised as one of the five best players in the league this season?” Borlase responded “Yeah, it was pretty amazing. If I’m being completely honest I was pretty shocked, I definitely thought there was some other players in the league that maybe could have had better seasons. I was really grateful for that and second season I definitely wouldn’t have thought I would be in that position.”  

Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers on 17 December 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville

Borlase and close friend Nyadiew Puoch were both eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft due to being international players that turned 20 years of age in 2024 and have not attended college in the United States of America. With their second pick at the 2024 WNBA draft Atlanta Dream chose Borlase with pick 20. With their first pick Atlanta had chosen Puoch with pick 12.

After the 2024 WNBA draft Atlanta Dream General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dan Padover commented at a press conference “Borlase is a professional player, has some great Australian national team experience, tough guard, has size for a guard, she is going to continue to develop her outside game. The skill set she has at that position we think bodes well for this league.” 

In 2024 Borlase has represented her junior club the Forestville Eagles at senior level in NBL1 Central. In the Eagles second Round 6 game on the road against Woodville Warriors on Saturday night 27 April Borlase scored a game-high 26 points at an accuracy of 48% from the field, took nine rebounds, made an equal team-high three assists and had three steals in a 78-58 victory. Borlase was effective from long-range against Central Districts, making a game-high four three-pointers from seven attempts at an an accuracy of 57% and won the Anzac Round Medal for her superb performance. Borlase played six games for Forestville in 2024 and is averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

The meteoric rise of Isobel Borlase to achieve several significant milestones at 19 years of age

On 13 January 2023 Borlase was selected in the Australian Opals extended 26 player squad for 2023 and was one of two Adelaide Lightning players included along with Talbot. Borlase attended an Opals Training Camp that was held in Canberra from 31 March to 5 April 2023. Due to a back injury Borlase was restricted to being a spectator for much of the camp, however she was able to learn more about the Opals program and got to know fellow Opals squad members better. Borlase commented to Basketball Australia in May 2023 on her goals for the future “Being able to represent the Opals at an Olympics or World Cup would be probably top of my list, and then I guess wherever it takes me, go to the WNBA, Europe, but that’s a little way down the track.”6 

Borlase was selected in the Australian Opals 12 player team for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 to be held in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February. In Australia’s second game of the tournament against Germany on 10 February Borlase made her Opals debut, being substituted into the game with two minutes and 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Borlase made an immediate impact, making a three-pointer after 16 seconds on the court. Borlase made a layup and a jump shot to score seven points in just two minutes and 28 seconds court time for the second term. In the Opals 85-52 victory against Germany Borlase scored 10 points, ranked equal second for the Opals. With the victory the Opals booked their ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

For the Seven Consulting Opals third and final game of OQT 2024 against Serbia Borlase was a starter along with Whitcomb, Allen, Magbegor and Tolo. Borlase scored 12 points – ranked second for the Opals and made an equal team-high four assists along with Melbourne. Borlase shot the ball adeptly in Australia’s 75-73 victory, making four of eight field goals at an accuracy of 50% and two of five three-pointers at 40%. In just her second international game at senior level for the Opals Borlase was named the TCL Player of the Game for her outstanding performance against Serbia.

In the first major championship of her senior career Borlase commenced both of the Opals first two games of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on the bench and played between five and 10 minutes in each game. In the Opals 70-65 victory against Canada in their second game Borlase scored two points and took three rebounds playing eight minutes court time. 

WNBL Achievements:              All-WNBL First Team 2023/24

Breakout Player of the Year Award 2022/23

                                                Sixth Woman of the Year Award 2022/23

Cayla George              

#15                                            Position: Forward/Centre        

DOB  1 May 1989                      Height 193cm                    

Junior Club                                Eastern Mavericks (South Australia) 

WNBL debut: 2005/06               WNBL games played: 351   

2023/24 & 2024/25 WNBL team: Sydney Flames         

WNBA debut: 2015

WNBA regular season games:     121 games   WNBA playoff games: 14                                   

Olympic Games (3):                  2016, 2020, 2024

World Cup (3):                          2014 – bronze medal, 2018 – silver medal, 2022 – bronze medal

George made her WNBL debut with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) at 16 years of age in 2005/06. In her second WNBL season with the AIS in 2006/07 George averaged 13.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game to win the WNBL’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award. George has been extremely consistent throughout her career and in all 14 WNBL seasons from 2006/07 onwards has averaged at least 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

After playing three seasons for the AIS George returned to South Australia and played two WNBL seasons for Adelaide Lightning from 2008/09 to 2009/10. George ranked in the league’s top four for rebounds per game in both seasons for Adelaide and won the club’s Most Valuable Player award in the latter season.

In 2010/11 and 2011/12 George played in the WNBL for Logan Thunder and had Olaf Lange as a Head Coach. Lange’s wife Sandy Brondello was an Assistant Coach of Logan and is the current Head Coach of the Australian Opals. George led the WNBL with 9.2 rebounds per game in 2010/11 and ranked third in this category with 10.3 rebounds per game in 2011/12.

After seven consecutive seasons playing in the WNBL from 2005/06 to 2011/12 Cayla played in Europe for French clubs during the next two Australian summers, playing for Pay d’Aix Basket in 2012/13 and for Nantes Rezé Basket in 2013/14.

Following two seasons in France George returned to the WNBL to play for Townsville Fire in 2014/15. Cayla had a phenomenal season to average a then career-high 17.4 points per game – ranked fourth in the league and averaged 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game to rank third in the latter two categories. George shot at 48.9% from the field and 42.1% for three-pointers to set new career-highs in both categories. George finished runner-up in the 2014/15 WNBL MVP Award on 107 votes, behind Canberra Capitals centre Abby Bishop and just ahead of Townsville team-mate Suzy Batkovic on 105 votes. Geroge was selected in the 2014/15 WNBL All-Star Five. In the 2014/15 Grand Final Townsville defeated Bendigo 75-65 to win the club’s first WNBL Championship.

George played three seasons for Townsville and in each season Townsville won the WNBL Championship. Winning back to back WNBL Championships in 2014/15 and 2015/16 and after George missed the 2016/17 season the Fire won a third title in four seasons in 2017/18. In each season Townville had a formidable frontcourt duo of George and Batkovic. 

Cayla George playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

George played for Uniqa Sopron in Hungary during 2016/17 and helped the club win their 11th Hungarian championship with the club defeating Szekszard three games to one in the final. George played 26 games for Uniqa in the Hungarian League, led her team in rebounding and blocked shots and ranked fourth for scoring.

From 2015 to 2018 George played three WNBA seasons, 2015 and 2017 with Phoenix Mercury coached by current Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello and 2018 for Dallas Wings. George decided to focus on national commitments in 2016 and didn’t play in the WNBA to maximise her chances of being selected in the Opals Rio Olympic Games team. George played a total of 95 WNBA games from 2015 to 2018 and averaged between 10.0 and 13.0 minutes per game in all three seasons. 

George was part of the Australian Opals starting line-up at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on home soil in Queensland. Australia defeated England 99-55 in the gold medal game, George scored an equal game-high 16 points and took 10 rebounds to be the only player in the gold medal game that registered a double-double.

At the 2018 World Cup George played a significant role in the Opals defeating Spain in the semi final. With scores tied at 64 apiece with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter George scored the next five points of the game comprised of two free-throws and a corner three to gain the ascendancy for the Opals who went on to win the semi final 72-66.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games George played a crucial role to ensure that the Opals defeated Puerto Rico by the required margin in their final group game to advance to the quarter finals. At the Tokyo Olympic Games George was superb, leading the Australian Opals for scoring (13.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg) per game, ranked equal second for steals and third for assists.

From 2018/19 to 2022/23 George played five consecutive WNBL seasons and a total of 106 games for the Deakin Melbourne Boomers. Guy Molloy was the Boomers Head Coach in George’s first four seasons with the club and Chris Lucas was the Head Coach in 2022/23. Current Australian Opals captain Tess Madgen joined George at the Boomers in 2020 and in the following season George and Madgen were starters on the Boomers team that won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship. From 2019/20 to 2021/22 George is one of only two players along with Opals team-mate Steph Talbot to earn All-WNBL selection in all three seasons, being named in the All-WNBL first team in 2020 and the All-WNBL second team in 2019/20 and 2021/22.

Cayla George playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre in a pre-season game on 5 October 2019

Playing for the Mackay Meteorettes during the 2021 NBL1 North season George averaged 22.4 points, 16.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game to win the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

During the 2021/22 WNBL season for the Championship winning Melbourne Boomers George averaged 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds (ranked 2nd in the WNBL), 3.1 assists, 0.9 blocked shots (equal 6th) and 31.7 minutes (12th) per game. Three of the starters from the Boomers 2021/22 WNBL Championship winning team are representing the Opals at OQT 2024, George, Madgen and Ezi Magbegor.

During the 2022 NBL1 season George played 15 games for the Cairns Dolphins and averaged 23.3 points, 16.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. George ranked second in NBL1 North for rebounds per game, third in assists, fourth in scoring and was selected in the NBL1 North All-Star Five.

In May 2020 George told Milestones and Misses “Honestly, playing for the Opals is like my favourite thing to do ever, wearing the green and gold is something that is just like so humbling and so rewarding and it is just the biggest adrenaline rush ever, especially when there is so much pressure on the Opals because of the legacy before us and I love that pressure. I love that I am a part of that legacy, I love that we have expectations on us and yes that can sometimes be really daunting but that pressure, when you succeed with that type of pressure on you it is just like euphoria, it is just incredible, back in 2018 when we won the silver medal, when we beat Spain to make the gold medal game, like that type of euphoria.”

George is the only player to represent the Australian Opals at all five major championships from 2014 to 2022. At four of these five major championships George ranked in the top three for the Opals in rebounding with the exception being the 2016 Olympic Games. The Opals finished on the podium at all three World Cups during this time, winning the silver medal in 2018 and the bronze medal in 2014 and 2022. George played a significant role in the Opals defeating host nation Spain in the semi final at the 2018 World Cup. George represented Australia at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. At the 2022 World Cup held in Sydney George ranked second for the Opals in rebounds per game and fifth in points. In October 2022, Cayla and her husband Kailou became parents to a daughter, Pearl.

Entering the 2022/23 season George had played 306 WNBL games and had set an incredibly high benchmark with her level of performance to earn All-WNBL selection four times in her career. Amazingly George raised the bar even higher during her 15^th WNBL season in 2022/23 to deliver the best season of her phenomenal WNBL career and set new career-highs for points, assists and steals per game. As the Melbourne Boomers captain in 2022/23 George averaged 18.5 points (ranked 2^nd in the WNBL), 11.3 rebounds (1^st), 4.4 assists (10^th), 1.7 steals (equal 9^th), 1.1 blocked shots (3^rd), and 36.9 minutes (1^st) per game. George won the Suzy Batkovic Medal as league MVP, was selected in the All-WNBL First Team and was a joint winner along with Tiffany Mitchell of the Michele Timms medal for being the Boomers MVP.

Cayla George taking a rebound for Melbourne Boomers in the fourth quarter against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

Cayla George playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2022

George returned to the WNBA to play for reigning champions Las Vegas Aces in 2023. George played 32 regular season games for Las Vegas who finished first in the 2023 standings with 34 wins and six losses. Las Vegas progressed to the WNBA Finals against second seeded New York Liberty who have Sandy Brondello as their Head Coach. The home side won the first three games of the WNBA Finals resulting in Las Vegas leading two games to one. Two of the Aces starters – point guard Chelsea Gray and centre Kiah Stokes each missed game 4 due to foot injuries. George had the first playoff start of her WNBA career in game 4. On the road against New York on 18 October in game 4 of the WNBA Finals George scored a WNBA playoff career-high 11 points, had 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a game-high 3 steals in the Aces 70-69 road victory. George became the 11^th Australian to be part of a WNBA Championship winning team. On 1 February 2024 the Las Vegas Aces thanked Cayla George.

On 8 June 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that George had signed a three year deal with them. Madgen signed a two year deal with Sydney and Guy Molloy was appointed the Flames Head Coach.  In the Sydney Flames Round 4 road game against Bendigo George broke Rachael Sporn’s record for most career rebounds in the WNBL. With her fifth rebound of the first quarter against Bendigo George increased her career rebounds tally to 3,230, breaking Sporn’s record of 3,229 rebounds. Playing for Sydney George earnt back to back WNBL Team of the Round selections in Round 11 and 12.  In an 87-84 Round 11 home victory against Perth George scored a game-high 28 points, took a team-high 10 rebounds and made three assists.

Cayla George taking a rebound for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024

In Sydney’s second last regular season game of the 2023/24 season George became the 10^th player in league history to reach 350 WNBL games, achieving this milestone in a Flames home game against Southside at Qudos Bank Arena on 18 February. Throughout the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season George moved up on several All-Time stat leader lists. George ranks first for All-Time career rebounds in the WNBL, fourth for points, sixth for blocks, 10^th for games and 12^th for assists which highlights her versatility and sustained excellence. George played all 21 games for Sydney in 2023/24 and averaged 12.5 points, 9.6 rebounds (4^th), 3.8 assists (11^th), 1.4 blocks (2^nd) and 1.6 steals (6^th). George will be plying her second consecutive season with the Sydney Flames in 2024/25.

Cayla George shooting a jump shot for Sydney Flames against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres, Parkville on 20 December 2023

After Sydney’s WNBL season concluded George joined Cathay Life Tigers and competed in the WSBL championship in Taiwan. George was a starter on the Cathay Life Tigers team that had a 90-86 overtime victory in Grand Final game 4 against Taiyuan Textile to win the GF 3 games to 1. In Cathay Life Tigers game 4 overtime victory George scored 16 points, took a game-high 22 rebounds, made three assists and two blocks. Across the four game Grand Final series George was phenomenal, averaging 17.8 points, 16.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game to win the WSBL Finals MVP.

Playing off the bench George played only three minutes in the Opals loss to Nigeria in their opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In the Opals second game against Canada George was substituted in for the first time midway through the second quarter and had an immediate impact to make the next basket of a game, a three-pointer 16 seconds later to tie the scores. On the half-time buzzer George made her second three-pointer of the game to extend Australia’s lead to six points. Midway through the last quarter George made two field goals within a minute, making a two point shot from outside the paint followed by a three-pointer. In the Opals 70-65 victory against Canada Geroge made a team-high three three-pointers from four attempts at an accuracy of 75% and scored 11 points – ranked equal second for Australia playing 19 minutes and 26 seconds court time.

WNBL Achievements:               All-WNBL First Team 2014/15, 2020, 2022/23

                                                  All-WNBL Second Team 2019/2020, 2021/22

                                                  Suzy Batkovic Medal 2022/23

                                                  Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award 2006/07

                                                  WNBL leading rebounder 2022/23

                                                  WNBL record holder for most career rebounds

                                                  WNBL Championship 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18 (with Townsville Fire), 2021/22 (with Melbourne Boomers)

WNBA Achievements:           WNBA Championship 2023 (with Las Vegas Aces)

Lauren Jackson

#25                                               Position: Forward/Centre        

DOB  11 May 1981                        Height 195cm            

Junior Club                                    Albury Cougars (NSW) 

WNBL debut: 1997                        WNBL games played: 211

2023/24 WNBL Team: Southside Flyers

2024 Team: Albury Wodonga Bandits (NBL1 East)

WNBA debut: 2001         WNBA team from 2001 to 2012: Seattle Storm

WNBA regular season games: 317         WNBA playoff games: 31

Olympic Games (5):                         2000- silver medal, 2004 – silver medal, 2008 – silver medal, 2012 – bronze medal, 2024

World Cup (5):                                 1998 – bronze medal, 2002 – bronze medal, 2006 – gold medal, 2010, 2022 – bronze medal

Lauren Jackson was born and grew up in Albury, New South Wales. Both of Lauren’s parents, dad Gary and mum Maree played basketball for Australia. Maree represented Australia at the FIBA World Championship for Women twice – 1975 in Columbia and 1979 in South Korea. Lauren started playing junior basketball at five or six years of age and progressed to play her first representative game for Albury at around 10 years of age and then played for NSW Country at junior level from the Under 14’s up.

At 14 years of age Jackson was offered a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) but didn’t take up the scholarship until a couple of years later at the start of year 11 in 1997. Jackson represented Australia at under-age level at several tournaments including as a member of the silver medal winning Gems team at the 1997 World Junior Championships held in Brazil in July. Jackson ranked ninth overall at the tournament in scoring per game and third for rebounds despite being 16 years old, three years younger than some of the other players.

In 1997 Jackson made her debut for the Australian Opals, Tom Maher was the Head Coach. Jackson was a member of the Australian Opals team that won a bronze medal at the 1998 World Championships held in Germany. It was the first time that Australia had a won a medal at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Championships. Jackson ranked third for the Opals in scoring and fourth for rebounds.

From 1998 to 2012 Jackson represented the Opals with distinction at eight consecutive major championships comprised of four Olympic Games and four World Championships. Jackson was the captain of the Opals in four consecutive major championships from 2006 to 2012 and was Australia’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Jackson won seven medals at major championships with the Australian Opals including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil where she finished runner-up in the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award to teammate Penny Taylor.

At six major championships Jackson ranked in the top three overall in scoring per game including ranking first three times – 2002 and 2006 World Championships as well as 2004 Olympic Games. Jackson has also ranked in the top four overall in rebounding per game at major championships five times.

From 1997 to 1998/99 Jackson played three consecutive seasons with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). In her debut season in 1997 Jackson won the WNBL’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year award. The AIS created history in 1998/99 by winning their first WNBL Championship and Jackson won the first WNBL MVP award of her career.

From 1999/2000 to 2003/04 Jackson played five consecutive seasons with the Canberra Capitals and averaged more than 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to earn selection in the WNBL All-Star Five in all five seasons. Jackson played in back-to-back WNBL Championships with Canberra in 2001/02 and 2002/03 and was named the Grand Final MVP in both seasons. Jackson won the WNBL MVP Award three times with the Capitals – 1999/2000, 2002/03 and 2003/04.

In the 2001 WNBA Draft on 20 April Seattle Storm selected Jackson with the first pick overall. Forward/centre Jackson played 12 consecutive seasons with Seattle Storm from 2001 to 2012, was selected in the All-WNBA First team seven times and won the WNBA MVP Award three time – 2003, 2007 and 2010. In 2007 Jackson won the WNBA’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Awards in the same season – a feat that as at the end of the 2023 season has only been achieved by five players in league history. Jackson played in the Storm’s first two WNBA championships in 2004 and 2010 alongside point guard Sue Bird and won the 2010 WNBA Finals MVP Award. Jackson played 317 regular season games for Seattle and averaged 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game.

Jackson has also played in several other leagues in Europe and Asia, playing in Russia for Spartak Moscow Region from 2007 to 2011 and in Spain for Ros Caseras Valencia in 2011/12. Playing for Samsung Bichumi in the Women’s Korean Basketball League Jackson won the league MVP Award in 2007. In 2013 Jackson played for Heilongjiang Shenda in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.

In 2005/06 and 2009/10 Jackson played in WNBL Championships with the Canberra Capitals and won the Grand Final MVP Award. Jackson also played for the Capitals in 2014/15 however injuries restricted her to six games. Due to a knee injury Jackson missed the 2014 World Championships. Jackson was signed by the Canberra Capitals for the 2015/16 WNBL season but due to a knee injury didn’t play a game in 2015. On New Years Eve 2015 Jackson was released from her Capitals contract. Jackson continued to work with Australian Opals staff in an attempt to play at the 2016 Olympics, however in March she realised that her knee injury would prevent her from achieving this. At the start of the Opals first training camp in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics Jackson announced her retirement on 31 March.

In late May 2016 Jackson joined WNBL club, Melbourne Boomers in an off-court executive role as Commercial Operations Manager. Jackson has two sons, Harry born in early 2017 and Lenny born in late 2018. Basketball Australia appointed Jackson as Head of Women in Basketball in June 2019. On 26 March 2020 FIBA announced that Australia had won the bid to host the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup with Sydney being the host city. In her role with Basketball Australia Jackson was involved in the planning and publicity of the 2022 World Cup. 

In 2022 Jackson made her basketball return as a player with the Albury Wodonga Bandits in a Round 3 NBL1 East road game on 23 April. In her return game Jackson scored a team-high 21 points playing 22 minutes and 29 seconds court-time against the Central Coast Crusaders. Albury Wodonga play their home games at a venue named in LJ’s honour – the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and in the first game of her comeback on this court Jackson dominated with 31 points and 24 rebounds in a 97-80 victory against Manly Warringah.

The Bandits won the 2022 NBL1 East Grand Final and Jackson won the league’s regular season Most Valuable Player Award. Including finals Jackson played 14 games for the Bandits during the 2022 NBL1 East season, averaging 31.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.

In late July 2022 Jackson attended an Australian Opals training camp in New York City and played in both of the Opals practice matches against Canada. On 10 August 2022 Jackson was one of the 12 players selected in the Opals team for World Cup 2022. At 41 years of age Jackson would get to compete in her ninth major championship just over a decade after being a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2012 London Olympic Games. 

Jackson signed with Southside Flyers for the 2022/23 WNBL season and had Opals Assistant Coach Cheryl Chambers as a Head Coach. In the fourth game of her WNBL return against Perth Lynx on the road on 8 December Jackson made two of five three-pointers at 40%, scored a game-high 25 points, took an equal game-high 12 rebounds and made an equal team-high two steals in an 83-74 victory. In her 14^th game of the season Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opening minute of Southside Flyers home game at John Cain Arena on 4 February 2023 against Sydney Flames. Jackson was efficient during the 2022/23 WNBL season to average 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21.7 minutes court-time per game for the Flyers.

Fans getting a photograph with Lauren Jackson after Southside Flyers game against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 10 December 2022

On 2 October 2023 Jackson said “I’m not done yet” and signed with Southside for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season. Jackson told WNBL Media “I honestly didn’t know if I would be ready for the WNBL this season, but I am fitter than I was last year, it’s the best I have felt in a long time. The rehab has gone really well, and the club has seen me on court, and they know I am ready. That’s why we’re here again.”7 

Lauren Jackson making a field goal in Southside Flyers WNBL game against UC Capitals at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2024

In Southside’s road victory against Melbourne Boomers on 21 January 2024 Jackson played the 200^th game of her WNBL career. Jackson built match conditioning and form as the season progressed and scored at least 15 points in 10 of Southside’s 13 games from 6 January to 10 March. In game 3 of Southside’s semi final series against the Melbourne Boomers Jackson put on a shooting exhibition to make 15 of 22 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 68.2%, this included LJ making three of six three-pointers and several turn around jump shots. In Southside’s 93-77 victory Jackson scored a game-high and season-high 38 points and took a game-high 11 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season.

Above – Lauren Jackson with her back to the basket in Southside Flyers semi final game 3 against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 6 March 2024

Below – Jackson making a turn around jump shot for Southside Flyers in semi final game 3 against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville on 6 March 2024

After losing game 1 of the 2023/24 Grand Final at home to Perth Lynx Southside won the next two games to win the WNBL championship two games to one. Jackson was a member of a WNBL championship winning team for the seventh time in her career and the first time since winning the title with the Capitals in 2009/10. Jackson played 25 of Southside’s 27 games in 2023/24 and averaged 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 22.9 minutes per game

Lauren Jackson about to shoot a free-throw in Southside Flyers WNBL game against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024

Jackson has won the WNBL’s Grand Final MVP Award four times which is the league’s All-time record and has won the WNBL’s regular season MVP Award four times – ranked second on the All-time list behind Suzy Batkovic (who the medal is named after) with six.

Before the Paris Olympic Games Jackson had scored 575 points in her Olympic Games career to be ranked first on the women’s all-time list. At the Paris Olympics Jackson at 43 years of age became the oldest player male or female to represent their nation in basketball at an Olympic Games. In the Opals opening game against Nigeria Jackson made two of two three-pointers and scored six points. 

WNBL Achievements:             Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award 1997      

             Most Valuable Player Award 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2003/04

        WNBL All-Star five 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04

        WNBL Leading scorer 1998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04

        WNBL Championship 1998/99 (with Australian Institute of Sport), 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2005/06 and 2009/10 (with Canberra Capitals), 2023/24 (with Southside Flyers)

        Grand Final MVP 2001/02, 2002/03, 2005/06 and 2009/10

WNBA Achievements:             Most Valuable Player Award 2003, 2007, 2010

WNBL Championship 2004, 2010 (both with Seattle Storm

Finals MVP 2010

Defensive Player of the Year 2007

All-WNBA First Team 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010

All-WNBA Second Team 2008

WNBA All-Defensive First Team 2007, 2009

WNBA All-Defensive Second Team 2005, 2008, 2010

WNBA All-Star 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

Tess Madgen                       

#7                                                Position: Guard

DOB  12 August 1990                  Height 180cm 

Junior Club                                   Eastern Mavericks (South Australia)             

WNBL debut: 2008/09                 WNBL games played: 257

2023/24 WNBL Team: Sydney Flames

WNBA debut: 2015             WNBA regular season games: 8 (All with Phoenix Mercury in 2015)

Olympic Games (2):                      2020, 2024

World Cup (2):                               2018 silver medal, 2022 bronze medal

Tess Madgen grew up in Williamstown, a small town in the Barossa Valley, South Australia and has two brothers that also played basketball, older brother Ben and younger brother Jack. Tess played junior basketball for the Eastern Mavericks alongside Australian Opals teammate Cayla George. At 18 years of age Madgen made her WNBL debut with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2008/09 and played a total of 38 games in two seasons for the AIS. Tess’ older brother Ben played basketball in the NBL and in 2012/13 playing for the Sydney Kings led the league in scoring and was named in the All-NBL First team. Younger brother Jack switched from basketball to Australia Rules Football and played 49 games as a defender for Collingwood in the AFL.   

After graduating from the AIS Tess played two WNBL seasons for Bendigo Spirit in 2010/11 and 2011/12, averaging more than 15.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in each season. In both 2010/11 and 2011/12 Madgen ranked in the WNBL’s top 10 for points and three-pointers made per game.

At the inaugural FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Championships 2012 held in Athens, Greece from 23 to 26 August Madgen was a member of the Australian team along with fellow Opals OQT 2024 team member Sara Blicavs, Katie Ebzery and Alice Kunek. Australia won their first seven games of the tournament to progress to the semi finals. After having an 18-19 loss in a semi final against USA Australia defeated Ukraine 18-17 in the third place game to win the bronze medal. 

From 2012/13 to 2015/16 Madgen played four consecutive WNBL seasons for the Boomers who were rebranded from Bulleen to Melbourne in her second season with the club. In all four seasons for the Boomers Madgen averaged more than 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against SEQ Stars at the State Basketball Centre on 8 November 2015

During 2014/15 Madgen played 22 games for the Melbourne Boomers and averaged 16.0 points (ranked 8th in the WNBL), 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists (equal 2nd) and 1.7 three-pointers made (7^th) per game. Madgen had a career-high field goal accuracy of 46.4% and made 36 of 88 three-pointers at an accuracy of 40.9% – ranked 10^th in the WNBL among players that had at least 10 three-point attempts. Madgen was recognised for her brilliant 2014/15 season for the Melbourne Boomers with selection in the All-WNBL First Team.

In 2015 Madgen had a short stint in the WNBA playing eight games with Phoenix Mercury alongside George with current Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello as the Head Coach. Madgen played in Poland for AZS UMCS Lublin in 2016/17 but in the fourth quarter of the club’s first finals game for the season suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and required a knee reconstruction.

After rehabilitating from her knee injury Madgen made her basketball return during Australia’s 2018 winter season playing 10 games for the Dandenong Rangers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).

Madgen made her Australian Opals debut at the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championships against New Zealand and also represented Australia at the 2013 and 2015 Oceania Championships. After narrowly missing selection for Australian Opals teams at major championships including the 2016 Rio Olympics Madgen made her major championships debut as part of the Australian Opals silver medal winning team at the 2018 World Cup in Spain. Madgen played all four games for the Australian Opals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In 2018/19 Madgen returned to the WNBL and played two seasons for JCU Townsville Fire, in the latter season Shannon Seebohm who is a current Assistant Coach of the Opals was Townsville’s Head Coach. In 2018/19 Madgen averaged 4.0 assists per game, ranked seventh in the WNBL. 

Tess Madgen playing for Townsville Fire against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 18 November 2018

Madgen returned to the Melbourne Boomers for the 2020 WNBL season and playing predominantly as a point guard averaged 13.6 points (ranked 14th^nd in the WNBL), 5.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists (2^nd) per game to earn selection in the All-WNBL second team.

With the return of point guard Lindsay Allen to the Boomers for the 2021/22 season Madgen played mainly as a shooting guard/small forward. After playing junior basketball together with the Eastern Mavericks Madgen and George have gone on to play WNBL basketball, WNBA basketball and represent the Opals together. In April 2022 Madgen and George along with a third member of the Opals 2024 Olympic Games team Ezi Magbegor were starters on the Melbourne Boomers team that won the 2021/22 WNBL Championship.

Tess Madgen playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022

At the World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade, Serbia in February 2022 Madgen averaged 2.3 assists per game, ranked equal fourth for the Opals. During the three game series held in New South Wales against Japan in late May 2022 Madgen and George were the two most experienced members of the Opals team and played an important role with their leadership. After Game 2 against Japan Madgen commented “I think I play better when I try and help everyone else so I am just focussing on that at the moment and trying to make it enjoyable, trying to build this new culture, we are doing a really great job across the board.”

During the 2022 NBL1 South season Madgen played 16 games for the Bendigo Braves, averaging 28.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Madgen ranked second in the NBL1 South women’s conference in scoring and third in assists. The Bendigo Braves made the Grand Final and Madgen was selected in the NBL1 South women’s All Star 5.

Tess Madgen shooting a free throw for Bendigo Braves against the Ringwood Hawks in the 2022 NBL1 South Grand Final on 3 September 2022 at the State Basketball Centre

On 8 September 2022 at the Opals final training camp on the Gold Coast before the World Cup Head Coach Sandy Brondello announced that Madgen had been appointed as the Opals captain for the 2022 World Cup. Madgen spoke to the Opals playing group and staff commenting “Obviously our leadership group right from the beginning wanted to lead by empowering everyone to be a leader and that’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I’m going to be the best captain I can be, it’s a huge honour and I’m really overwhelmed. I love you guys, let’s do this.” 

In Australia’s second group game of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney against Mali Madgen scored 13 points, made four of five field goals at an accuracy of 80% and made an equal game-high five assists. In the Opals fourth group game they played Canada who had won their first three games of the tournament. In the last four minutes of the second quarter Madgen made two three-pointers to help the Opals go on a 19-0 run to turn a 19-33 deficit into a 38-33 lead at half-time. The Opals went on to defeat Canada 75-72. In the Opals final group game against Japan Madgen made a game-high six assists and took six rebounds.

The Opals met Canada again in the bronze medal game and won in convincing fashion, 95-65 to win the bronze medal. Opals captain Madgen played all eight games for the tournament off the bench and ranked third for Australia with 2.9 assists per game.

Due to suffering a knee injury during the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 Madgen was restricted to just one game for the Melbourne Boomers during the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season. A week after Madgen played for the Boomers against Southside in a home game on 4 January it was announced that she would miss the rest of the season.

 On 18 May 2023 the Sydney Flames announced that Madgen had signed a two season deal with the club. George signed a three year deal with Sydney and Guy Molloy was appointed the Flames Head Coach. 

After joining Northern Kahu mid-season in the 2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship in New Zealand Madgen set a single game scoring record for the Tauihi league in the final round of the 2023 regular season with 37 points. Madgen was a member of Northern Kahu’s 2023 Tauihi championship winning team.

During the first nine rounds of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Madgen was restricted by knee soreness and only played three games. The last of these three games on the road against the UC Capitals on 8 December was Madgen’s 250^th game of her WNBL career and earnt her WNBL Life Membership. In her milestone game Madgen scored 21 points and made three assists in Sydney’s fightback two point victory against the UC Capitals and was selected in the WNBL’s Round 6 Team of the Round.

Tess Madgen during the warm-up for Sydney Flames game against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024

From 7 to 25 January 2024 Madgen was able to build continuity, playing six consecutive games. In 2023/24 Madgen played 10 of a possible 21 games for Sydney and averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 22.6 minutes per game. 

Tess Madgen playing for Sydney Flames against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics is Madgen’s second major championship as the Opals captain and fourth consecutive major championship as a member of the Opals, having commenced this sequence at the 2018 World Cup. Playing off the bench in Paris Madgen averaged 21 minutes per game in the first two minutes of the tournament – ranked fifth for the Opals.

WNBL Achievements:                   All-WNBL First Team 2014/15

                                                     All-WNBL Second Team 2020

                         WNBL Championship 2021/22 (with Melbourne Boomers)

Ezi Magbegor         

#13                                                                          Position: Forward/Centre           

DOB  13 August 1999                                             Height 193cm         

Junior Club                                                             Coburg Giants (Victoria) 

WNBA debut: 2020                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 150                        WNBA playoff games: 13

WNBA team from 2020 to 2024:                             Seattle Storm

2023/24 team: ZVVZ USK Praha (Czech Republic)     

WNBL debut: 2017/18                                                 WNBL games played: 95     

Most recent WNBL season: 2021/22                         WNBL team in 2021/22: Melbourne Boomers

Olympic Games (2):                           2020, 2024

World Cup (2):                                    2018 – silver medal, 2022 bronze medal

Ezi Magbegor was born in Wellington New Zealand, her parents Patience and Appolu are both Nigerian. When Ezi was six years old her family moved from Wellington to Craigieburn which is located approximately 35 kilometres north of Melbourne. Ezi followed in her older siblings Elo and Ovie’s footsteps and commenced playing basketball for the Coburg Giants at Coburg Basketball Stadium at seven years of age. Ezi commenced a scholarship at Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence (BA CoE) in early 2015 and played three seasons in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) for the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence from 2015 to 2017.

At under-age level Magbegor represented Australian junior teams at several tournaments. Magbegor was a starter at the 2016 Under-17 FIBA World Championships held in Zaragoza, Spain for the Australian Sapphires gold medal winning team and won the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Magbegor averaged 12.5 points and 2.8 blocked shots per game to lead the Sapphires in both categories and ranked second with 8.0 rebounds per game.

In five WNBL seasons Magbegor has played a total of 95 games comprised of 20 games for the University of Canberra Capitals in 2017/18 and 75 games for the Deakin Melbourne Boomers in four consecutive seasons from 2018/19 to 2021/22. Magbegor is a three-time winner of the WNBL’s Betty Watson Award, first of all in 2017/18 when it was the Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award and then again in 2019/20 and 2021/22 when it expanded to become the Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year Award which Australian players 23 years of age and under were eligible for. During Magbegor’s first four WNBL seasons she steadily improved and after starting on the bench for her debut 2017/18 WNBL season with the University of Canberra Capitals and part of the 2018/19 season with the Deakin Melbourne Boomers she cemented herself in the starting line-up during 2019/20. In Magbegor’s first three seasons with the Boomers she increased her points per game by at least 2.0 points in each season. Magbegor earned All-WNBL selection in both 2020 (Second Team) and 2021/22 (First Team), averaging more than 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game in each season. Playing alongside fellow Opals Tess Madgen and Cayla George, Magbegor was a member of the Melbourne Boomers 2021/22 WNBL Championship winning team. In 2021/22 Magbegor led the WNBL with 1.6 blocked shots per game, ranked second with a field goal accuracy of 55.5%, equal eighth for steals, 10^th for rebounds and 12^th in scoring.

Above: Ezi Magbegor playing defense for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers forward Jenna O’Hea at the State Basketball Centre on 4 November 2019

Above: Ezi Magbegor winning the tip for Melbourne Boomers in a game against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 20 February 2022

Seattle Storm selected Magbegor with pick 12 at the 2019 WNBA Draft. Magbegor remained in Australia for another year working on her game playing for Geelong Supercats in the 2019 NBL1 season and for Melbourne Boomers in the 2019/20 WNBL season. During the 2020 bubble season played in a hub at IMG Academy in Florida Magbegor made her WNBA debut at 20 years of age with Seattle Storm and was the youngest player in the league. Magbegor was a core rotation player on Seattle Storm’s 2020 WNBA Championship winning team alongside Opals teammate Sami Whitcomb and one of the best players in the world –  fellow front court player Breanna Stewart. Other teammates included Sue Bird and two American’s that played as imports in the WNBL in 2023/24 – Guard Jordin Canada and forward/centre Mercedes Russell.

Playing alongside Stewart and training against her was beneficial for Magbegor’s development. During her first two WNBA seasons in 2020 and 2021 Magbegor predominantly played off the bench for Seattle, having three starts in 52 regular season games and averaged more than 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 blocks and 13.0 minutes per game in each season.

During the 21 October 2020 special edition of the Deakin Melbourne Boomers Coaches Corner host Larissa Anderson asked Magbegor about the 2020 WNBA season “Can you give us a little bit of a recap, what are the standout highlights for you that come to mind straight away?” Magbegor responded “Obviously from a team perspective definitely winning the championship, individually probably the progression of my games and kind of how much more comfortable I felt as the season went on. I think that was definitely due to my team-mates supporting me and having my back, whether it was Alysha (Clark) or Stewie talking in my ear, kind of telling me hey, get those rebounds or good job, just that constant reassurance definitely helped and those moments made my experience a lot better.”

At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018 held in Tenerife, Spain Magbegor was a member of the Opals silver medal winning team. Despite averaging just 12.3 minutes per game Magbegor made an impact to rank fourth for the Opals in scoring per game and equal fifth for rebounding. During the Tokyo Olympic Games Magbegor ranked second for the Australian Opals in scoring per game behind George, third for rebounds and first for blocked shots.

In the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Milestones and Misses published an article comprehensively covering Magbegor’s basketball career, a link to this article published on 15 June 2021 is below:

Ezi Magbegor achieves number one goal of being selected in the Opals Tokyo Olympic Games team

After having 23 starts from 33 games for Seattle in 2022 and ranking fifth in the WNBA with a field goal accuracy of 55.0% power forward/centre Magbegor was a permanent member of the Storm’s starting line-up in 2023, starting all 40 of the team’s regular season games. In 2023 playing for Seattle Magbegor averaged 13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds (ranked 11^th in the WNBA), 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocked shots (2^nd) per game to set career-highs in each category and had a field goal accuracy of 51.3% (9^th). Magbegor was selected as a 2023 WNBA All-Star and was named in the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2022 & 2023. Only two Seattle players had more than 22 starts in 2023, Magbegor and fellow 2023 All-Star Jewell Loyd (38 starts). Seattle finished 11^th in the 2023 WNBA standings with 11 wins and 29 losses.

Magbegor and Whitcomb are Australian Opals teammates and are teammates at Seattle for the second consecutive season and third season overall in 2024, having also been teammates at the Storm in 2020. After Magbegor was selected as a 2023 WNBA All-Star Whitcomb commented “Yes, it’s Ezi as a player she absolutely deserves it and is having an incredible year, but to know her as a person you just adore her. It’s hard to imagine it happening for a better person. Her personality is contagious, her smile. It’s really enjoyable to see her be rewarded for her hard work and it was really genuine happiness for her. What’s really special about Ezi is I don’t think she has a ceiling. She can become and do anything that she wants to.”8 

In 2022/23 Magbegor played for Sopron in the Hungarian League and in EuroLeague. Magbegor and fellow Australian Alice Kunek were members of the Sopron team that won the Hungarian Cup in 2023. Magbegor played 16 games for Sopron in EuroLeague and led her team with 7.3 rebounds per game and ranked third with 11.1 points. Magbegor was phenomenal playing for Czech Republic club ZVVZ USK Praha in 2023/24 to average 13.2 points, 8.2 rebounds (ranked 3^rd in EuroLeague) and 2.4 blocks (1^st) per game. Magbegor was selected in the 2023/24 All-EuroLeague Women First Team and finished second in the Defenseive Player of the Year award.

At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 in Sydney Magbegor averaged 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the bronze medal winning Opals team. Magbegor started all three games for the Opals at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February. Magbegor averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game, having a field goal accuracy of 63.6%.  Across the tournament Australia had three victories to qualify for Paris and Ezi was named the OQT 2024 tournament MVP.

Ezi Magbegor to the left whilst former Seattle Storm teammate Jordin Canada signs a photograph for a Melbourne Boomers fan after the game against Bendigo Spirit on 30 December 2023 at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville,

In the off-season Seattle Storm recruited two players that have each been All-Stars at least six times, forward Nneka Ogwumike (8-time All-Star) and guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (6-time All-Star) to join returning 2023 All-Star duo Magbegor and Loyd. At a press conference in early May 2024 Ogwumike spoke about mentoring Magbegor, saying “I think what makes my relationship with Ezi so unique is that we kind of already have that basic connection with our heritage. We have always cheered each other on even when we weren’t on each other’s team. She is open and she is willing, that is something that I made sure I was when Candace (Parker) was on the team for the Sparks. I wanted to make sure that I was open to learning, open to changing, open to understanding and growing and I can see that from Ezi from the jump. I don’t think she realises how dangerous it is because she is still vey raw as a player and she is already an All-Star. There are different levels that I can’t wait to see her reach while I am on the team and I just want to help support her in that.”

Magbegor made at least two blocks in each of Seattle’s first 13 games of the 2024 WNBA season. Later in the season Magbegor made a career-high eight blocks in a home game against Chicago Sky on 5 July. During the 2024 WNBA season Magbegor made the 500^th field goal of her career (11^th Seattle player to achieve this) and reached 1,250 career points (12^th). Magbegor has a season-high of 21 points at 69.2% from the field in an 80-62 home victory against Phoenix Mercury on 4 June.

At the Olympic break Seattle Storm are fourth in the standings with a record of 17 wins and eight losses. Magbegor has started all 25 games for Seattle in 2024 and is averaging 13.0 points, 8.7 rebounds (ranked 9th in the WNBA), 2.4 blocks (2^nd), 1.4 steals and 31.7 minutes per game. Magbegor has a field goal accuracy of 89.5% ranked fifth in the WNBA and ranks 12^th in the league with a field goal accuracy of 50.6%. At the mid-season break Magbegor ranks fourth in the WNBA with 4.5 win shares, and ninth with a player efficiency rating of 21.2. Ezi was unlucky to miss out on selection for the 2024 WNBA All-Star game.  

Ezi Magbegor shooting a free throw for the Melbourne Boomers in a game against Sydney Flames at the State Basketball Centre on 20 February 2022

Magbegor started the Opals first two games of the 2024 Paris Olympc Games and has averaged 9.5 points per game, shooting at an accuracy of 57.1% from the field. After playing 31 minutes against Nigeria Magbegor was restricted to 15 minutes court time against Canada due to being in foul trouble. 

WNBA Achievements:    WNBA Championship 2020 (with Seattle Storm)

                                           WNBA All-Defensive Second Team 2022 & 2023

                                                WNBA All-Star 2023

WNBL Achievements:      All-WNBL First Team 2021/22

                                           All-WNBL Second Team 2020

                          Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award 2017/18

                          Betty Watson Youth Player of the Year Award 2019/20 and 2021/22

                                            WNBL Championship 2021/22 (with Melbourne Boomers)

Jade Melbourne

#2                                                              Position: Guard                

DOB  18 August 2002                               Height 178cm                   

Junior Club                                               Traralgon Thunderbirds (Victoria)                             

WNBA debut: 2023                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 51            WNBA playoff games: 0

2023 WNBA team: Seattle Storm            2024 WNBA Team: Washington Mystics                

WNBL debut: 2020                                    WNBL games played: 68

WNBL team from 2020 to 2024/25:         University of Canberra Capitals   

Olympic Games:                          2024

World Cup:                                   Nil

Jade Melbourne was born in the most southern state on mainland Australia – Victoria who’s capital city is Melbourne. However contrary to her name Jade was born and grew up in the country Victorian town Traralgon, located approximately 165 kilometres east of Melbourne. Jade’s junior basketball club was the Traralgon Thunderbirds. At under-age level Melbourne represented Vic Country at several Australian National Championships.

In January 2019 Melbourne commenced a basketball scholarship in Canberra with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (BA CoE) and represented the BA CoE against senior women’s teams during the NBL1 season. Kristen Veal was the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence Women’s Program Head Coach.

Less than three months after her 18^th birthday point guard Jade Melbourne made her WNBL debut as a starter in the University of Canberra Capitals opening game of the 2020 season on 11 November. In Melbourne’s fourth WNBL game she scored a game-high 20 points and in her seventh game against Perth she made a match-winning three-pointer for UC Capitals with just seven seconds remaining in the last quarter. During the 2020 and 2021/22 WNBL seasons Melbourne played a total of 30 games and averaged more than 8.0 points per game in each season.

Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Perth Lynx at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022

At under-age level Jade represented Australia at several tournaments including being captain of the Australian Gems at the 2021 FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Cup held in Hungary from 7-15 August. The Gems won the silver medal, being defeated by USA 52-70 in the final. Melbourne had an exceptional tournament to average 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Melbourne was recognised for her brilliant tournament by being selected in the Under 19 Women’s World Cup 2021 All-Star five.

Entering her third WNBL season with the UC Capitals in 2022/23 Melbourne had career-highs of six rebounds and six assists in a game. During the 2022/23 Cygnett WNBL season Melbourne took her game to another stratosphere to take more than six rebounds in a game six times and had made more than six assists in a game eight times. In a home game against Adelaide Lightning at the National Convention Centre on 18 February 2023 Melbourne scored a team-high 19 points, took a team-high and career-high 12 rebounds and made a game-high and career-high 14 assists. With her phenomenal game Melbourne became the first player to record a triple double during regulation of a WNBL game in more than 10 years. Melbourne was one of the five nominees for the Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award and earnt the first All-WNBL selection of her career, being named in the All-WNBL Second team.

Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 28 December 2022

After being a member of the UC Capitals three player leadership group in 2022/23 Melbourne was appointed the team’s sole captain for 2023/24. In the Caps opening game of the season Melbourne played her 50^th WNBL game. During the University of Capitals Round 3 road game Melbourne scored a career-high 31 points shooting at 53% from the field, made four of eight three-pointers, made seven of eight free throws at 88% took seven rebounds & made a game-high seven assists against Sydney on 15 November at Quaycentre. Melbourne scored 14 points and made a game-high and season-high 15 assists in the UC Capitals second game of Round 3 on the road against Townsville Fire on 18 November.

Jade Melbourne playing for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (GRISS) in Traralgon on 26 November 2023

In a Round 7 home game for the UC Capitals on 15 December Melbourne made four of 10 three-pointers, scored a game-high 30 points at 47.1% from the field, took five rebounds, made a game-high 10 assists and game-high three steals in a victory against the Melbourne Boomers. For the second time in a week and for the third time in 2023/24 Melbourne scored at least 30 points in a home game against Adelaide at Radford College on 21 December. Melbourne scored an equal career-high 31 points shooting at 64% from the field, made six of seven three-pointers at 85%, had five rebounds, seven assists & three steals. Melbourne was named in the WNBL’s Team of the Week three times, rounds 3, 7 and 8 and was named the Player of the Round for Round 7.

Jade Melbourne with UC Capitals Head Coach Kristen Veal on the sidelines during UC Capitals game against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2024

Melbourne continued her progression in 2023/24 to average 16.3 points (4^th in the WNBL), 7.6 assists (1^st) and 1.7 steals (5^th) per game. At the 2023/24 WNBL Awards Melbourne was named in the All-WNBL First Team and won the league’s Fan MVP award. In an article written by Corey Kennedy and published on the WNBL website Melbourne commented on winning the inaugural WNBL fan MVP award “I’m really honoured to win the first Fan MVP award, the fans are the people who grow the game so to be recognised by them is super special. I have been that kid before wanting an autograph, so I always do my best to give back to the fans. We try and be role models to these kids and to be recognised for that means a lot.”9

Jade Melbourne playing defense against Maddison Rocci in the University of Canberra Capitals game against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2024 

During the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Jordan from 27 September to 3 October Melbourne was one of nine players that made their debut with the senior Australian women’s basketball team – the Opals. Melbourne was part of the Opals extended squad for the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney. When the Opals squad for the World Cup was reduced from 15 players to the final 12 player team Melbourne was one of the three players cut. At the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February Melbourne played all three games for the Opals and averaged 5.3 points and 13.4 minutes per game. 

At 19 years of age Melbourne was selected by Seattle Storm at the 2022 WNBA Draft in the third round with pick 33 overall. Melbourne remained in Australia for another year and made her WNBA debut for Seattle Storm on 20 May 2023 in a road game against Las Vegas Aces. In 2023 Melbourne was teammates at Seattle with fellow Australian Opals Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb. In her third WNBA game against Los Angeles Sparks on 3 June Melbourne made three of five field goal attempts at an accuracy of 60%, scored 10 points, took five rebounds and made two assists. Melbourne played 29 games for Seattle Storm during her debut 2023 WNBA season and was the youngest player in the league.

To celebrate Jade Melbourne being selected by Seattle Storm in the 2022 WNBA Draft Milestones and Misses published an article on 16 April 2022 comprehensively covering Melbourne’s basketball career to that point, a link to this article is below: 

Jade Melbourne’s journey from Traralgon to play for the Australian Opals and be drafted by Seattle Storm at 19 years of age

On 11 May 2024 Melbourne was traded from Seattle Storm to the Washington Mystics for a 2025 third round pick. In an article written by Megan Hustwaite and published on ESPN on 14 May Melbourne commented on the trade “It was nothing I did, it maybe wasn’t ultimately what Seattle wanted to do but the whole business side of things with salary caps – it’s amazing how things can change. It’s been hectic and I don’t wish it upon anyone to be honest. I find myself very grateful that I’m still on a team, still playing on opening night and I have a great opportunity here at Washington.”10

The Washington Mystics have five players on their 2024 roster that have played as imports in the WNBL including Brittney Sykes who was teammates with Melbourne at the UC Capitals in 2021/22. Melbourne has also played in the WNBL against current Washington teammates Karlie Samuelson and DiDi Richards. Having some teammates at Washington that she already knew helped Melbourne with the process of changing teams.

In Washington’s third game of the 2024 WNBA season Melbourne made her Mystics team debut against her former team Seattle on 19 May. In Washington’s sixth game of the season on the road against Seattle on 25 May Melbourne made five of nine field goals at 56% from the field, scored a career-high 13 points, made one of two three-pointers and made three assists. In the post-game press conference Melbourne commented “Ever since I came over to Washington two days before the season started all I have received from these guys is confidence and belief in myself. Karlie is constantly reminding me that it is a good drive even when it is a miss. Everyone is just telling me to be myself and I just feel like I am a really perfect fit here. When you are constantly getting that feedback from coaches and teammates and making you feel belief in yourself it is easy to go out there and do that kind of stuff. For me it is just about bringing energy, seeing how I fit into this team and hopefully can see a lot more of that for me.”

On the road against New York Liberty coached by Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello Melbourne made five of eight field goal attempts at an accuracy of 62.5%, made four assists and scored 11 points on 31 May. In another road game against New York less than a fortnight later Melbourne made shot proficiently to make three of six three-pointers at an accuracy of 50%, made eight of 12 field goal attempts at 66.7% and scored a career-high and team-high 21 points playing less than 14 minutes game-time on 9 June. After the game Brondello commented on Melbourne “I think she was trying to impress the coach [to] try to make the Olympic team. She did that, two games in a row.”

After missing Washington’s first three games of the season Melbourne played the club’s remaining 22 games up until the mid-season break and is averaging 5.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 13.6 minutes per game.

Melbourne is one of five Australians making their Olympic Games debut for the Opals in Paris along with Isobel Borlase, Sami Whitcomb, Kristy Wallace and Amy Atwell. In a video published by Basketball Australia in the lead up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Melbourne commented “For as long as I can remember I wanted to be an Olympian and then when basketball became the chosen sport I wanted to be an Opal. I distinctly remember Belinda Snell hit a three-quarter court shot, from then on I was in year 4, 2012 Olympics I was like that’s what I want to do. To be standing here about to go into my first Olympics I couldn’t be happier and I can’t wait.”

After narrowly missing out on being a member of the Opals team for World Cup 2022 in Sydney Melbourne is a starter for her nation at the next major championship in Paris. Against Nigeria Melbourne made three of four field goal attempts at an accuracy of 75% and made all four free throws to score 11 points – ranked third for the Opals.  

WNBL Achievements:                   All-WNBL First Team 2023/24

WNBL Fan MVP 2023/24

          All-WNBL Second Team 2022/23

Alanna Smith

#11                                                         Position: Forward                     

DOB  10 September 1996                  Height 191cm              

Junior Club                                           Nunawading Spectres (Victoria)  

WNBA debut: 2019                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 127       WNBA playoff games: 9

2023 WNBA team: Chicago Sky            2024 WNBA team: Minnesota Lynx                  

2023/24 team: Emlak Konut Istanbul (Turkey)

WNBL debut: 2021/22                           WNBL games played: 18 (all for Adelaide Lightning) 

Olympic Games (2):                                2020, 2024

World Cup (1):                                         2018 – silver medal

Despite being from a talented basketball family it wasn’t until Alanna Smith was a teenager that she got into basketball seriously, playing for the Nunawading Spectres in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. From 2015/16 to 2018/19 Smith played four seasons of college basketball at Stanford University in California, USA. At the end of a four season college career Smith ranked 10^th on Stanford’s all-time list for career points (1,707) and second for blocks (225). In her profile on WNBA.com it comments that Smith “Joined Elena Delle Donne, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart as the only players in the past 20 years to finish college careers with totals of at least 1,600 points, 150 three-pointers and 200 blocks.”11

After being selected at pick 8 overall in the 2019 WNBA draft by Phoenix Mercury Smith played three seasons for Phoenix from 2019 to 2021, her Head Coach was fellow Australian Sandy Brondello who is the Head Coach of the Australian Opals. Smith missed the last 14 games of 2019 due to an ankle injury. Phoenix Mercury made it to the 2021 WNBA Finals and were defeated by Chicago Sky three games to one. Smith played 55 regular season WNBA games for Phoenix from 2019 to 2021, averaging 2.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 9.9 minutes per game.

Smith signed with Adelaide Lightning in June 2020 for the 2020 WNBL season. Due to an ankle injury suffered late in the 2020 WNBA season Smith was ruled out for the WNBL season starting later that year. Smith made her WNBL debut with Adelaide Lightning a season later in 2021/22 and was teammates with fellow Australian Opal Steph Talbot.

Alanna Smith playing defense against fellow Opal Ezi Magbegor in Adelaide Lightning’s game against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 24 March 2022

Smith won the WNBL’s Player of the Week award twice, Round 5 and Round 11. In an Adelaide Lightning Round 5 home game against Perth Lynx Smith fell two assists short of recording a triple double in the Lightning’s 88-86 victory On 2 January 2022. Playing brilliant all-round game Smith scored a team-high 25 points at 63% from the field, took an equal game-high 11 rebounds, made a game-high eight assists and a game-high three blocks in the Lightning’s 88-86 victory at the Lights Community and Sports Centre. Smith scored a game-high 23 points, took 10 rebounds and made three assists in Adelaide’s 75-72 road victory against the Southside Flyers in Round 11 at Dandenong Stadium on 19 February 2022. Smith shot proficiently to make 10 of 16 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 63% and three of four three-pointers at 75%.

Alanna Smith shooting a free throw for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 24 March 2022

In 2021/22 Smith played 18 games for Adelaide Lightning and averaged 17.7 points (ranked 4th in the WNBL), 9.1 rebounds (6^th), 2.4 assists and 1.3 blocks (2^nd) per game. Smith was selected in the 2021/22 All-WNBL Second Team and was a joint winner of Adelaide’s MVP Award along with Talbot. Smith took at least 10 rebounds in a game seven times, in each of these games she scored at least 21 points.

On 21 February 2022 Smith signed a training camp contract with WNBA club Indiana Fever. Smith played nine WNBA games in 2022 for Indiana before being waived. During 2022/23 Smith played in Poland for InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow and was teammates with fellow Australian forward Chantel Horvat. Smith excelled during the 2022/23 Polish league regular season to average 21.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game to win the league’s regular season MVP award.   

Chicago Sky announced on 14 February 2023 that the club had signed Smith. Playing off the bench in Chicago Sky’s opening game of the 2023 WNBA season Smith scored a career-high 15 points in a 77-66 victory against Minnesota. After commencing her first three games of 2023 on the bench for Chicago Smith was elevated into the Sky’s starting line-up for her fourth game on 28 May and retained a position in the starting five for the rest of the season. During 2023 Smith had a breakout WNBA season playing 38 games for Chicago Sky including 35 as a starter and averaged 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds (ranked 17^th in the WNBA), 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks (equal 7^th) and 26.5 minutes per game to set new career-highs in each category. Smith scored at least 15 points in a game seven times, scoring a career-high 20 points, at 75% from the field in Chicago’s 104-89 road victory against Dallas on 4 August. Smith had a field goal accuracy of 49.8% in 2023, led the league with a two-point field goal accuracy of 61.2% and finished third in the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

In 2023/24 Smith played for Emlak Konut Istanbul in the Turkish League and EuroLeague. Smith played 23 games in the Turkey KBSL league and averaged 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots and 2.0 steals per game. Smith scored at least 31 points in three games, had a two point field goal accuracy of 56.1% and shot at 39.6% for three-pointers.

At 20 years of age Smith made her Australian Opals debut at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 held in Bengaluru, India. For the silver medal winning Opals Smith averaged 10.8 points (ranked 2^nd for the Opals), 5.3 rebounds and 14.5 minutes per game and had a field goal accuracy of 58.3%. Smith was a member of the Australian Opals silver medal winning team at the 2018 FIBA World Cup held in Tenerife, Spain. Playing off the bench in the final Smith scored an Opals team-high 10 points in the loss against the USA. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo Smith had limited playing opportunities, playing two of the Opals four games and averaging 6.6 minutes per game.

Smith was a member of the Opals extended squad for FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney but wasn’t selected in the final 12 player team. At the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February Smith was a member of the Opals team that won all three games to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Smith averaged 3.7 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds playing 11.2 minutes per game.

On 31 January 2024 WNBA club Minnesota Lynx announced that they had signed Smith. Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve commented “Alanna is coming off her best season yet in the WNBA where she was a finalist for Most Improved Player. Her impressive 2FG%, potential as a 3-point shooter, along with her rebounding and shot blocking, make her a valuable addition to our team.”12 In her WNBA team debut for Minnesota Lynx Smith excelled as a starter with a career-high 22 pts, eight rebounds and four blocks in an 83-70 road victory against Seattle on 14 May. Smith shot proficiently to make eight of 15 field goal attempts at an accuracy of 53% and made three of five three-pointers at 60%.

In Minnesota’s 19 point home victory against Seattle on 9 June Smith made a career-high and equal game-high seven assists. Smith was a starter on the Minnesota team that won the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup, defeating New York Liberty 94-89 in the final on the road at UBS Arena Elmont on 26 June 2024. Smith has reached double figures in scoring in 16 of her 25 games and is averaging more than 10.0 points per game for the first time in her WNBA career. In Minnesota’s last game before the mid-season break Smith recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds and made an impact in other aspects of the game to make six assists and three steals in the Lynx’s home 86-79 victory against Atlanta.

At the mid-season break Minnesota have had 17 wins and eight losses to have the equal third best record in the league with Seattle. In 2024 Smith has started all 25 games for Minnesota and is averaging 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds (ranked equal 20^th in the WNBA), 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals (equal 9^th), 1.8 blocks (4^th) and 28.0 minutes per game. In 2024 Smith has a three-point accuracy of 43.6% (4^th) and a field goal accuracy of 47.5%. Playing for the Lynx in 2024 Smith has set new WNBA career-highs for points, assists, steals and blocks per game. Alanna is having her most accurate season for three-point and free throw accuracy.   

Smith was selected in the Opals team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming a dual Olympian, having made her debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Over the past two years Smith has improved significantly and has established herself as a stater in the WNBA. After being overlook for the Australian Opals team at the previous major championship, the 2022 World Cup in Sydney Smith was a starter for the Opals in their opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics against Nigeria. Smith thrived as a starter to score a team-high 15 points and took seven rebounds – ranked second for the Opals. With efficient shooting in the Opals upset loss Smith made three of five three-pointers at 60% and had a field goal accuracy of 66.7%.

WNBL Achievements:              All-WNBL Second Team 2021/22

Steph Talbot                     

#6                                            Position: Forward

DOB  15 June 1994                  Height 188cm      

Junior Club                             Eastern Mavericks / Norwood Flames (South Australia)      

WNBA debut: 2017                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 184         WNBA playoff games: 16

2024 WNBA Team:                           Los Angeles Sparks

WNBL debut: 2011/12                                WNBL games played: 186     

WNBL team from 2019/20 to 2023/24:    Adelaide Lightning

Olympic Games (3):                     2016, 2020, 2024

World Championships (2):          2018 – silver medal, 2022 – bronze medal

Steph Talbot was born in Katherine, Northern Territory and moved to South Australia at a young age. Talbot had a decorated junior career playing for Eastern Mavericks and the Norwood Flames that resulted in her receiving a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). After playing four games in her debut WNBL season in 2011/12 with Adelaide Lightning Talbot won the league’s Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award in 2012/13. Playing two seasons for the University of Canberra Capitals in 2014/15 and 2015/16 and for the Melbourne Boomers in 2018/19 Talbot averaged at least 11.0 points per game in all three seasons.

Steph Talbot playing defense for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2019

For the 2019/20 season Talbot returned to South Australia and has played five consecutive seasons for Adelaide Lightning. During a phenomenal 2020 WNBL season with Adelaide Talbot played all 13 games in her first season as Adelaide Lightning captain and averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Guard/forward Talbot set new career highs for points and rebounds, ranked third in the league for scoring, rebounds and steals per game and eighth for minutes played per game. During the 2020 season Talbot excelled at both ends of the court to become the first player in WNBL history to win the league’s Suzy Batkovic medal for being the league MVP and the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season and the fifth person to win both awards during their career.  

Steph Talbot playing for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 24 March 2022

Talbot played the 150^th WNBL game of her career on 30 December 2021. During the 2021/22 WNBL season Talbot played 18 games for Adelaide Lightning and made an impact in several facets of the game to average 13.0 points, 8.9 rebounds (ranked 7^th in the WNBL), 6.5 assists (1^st) and 1.6 steals (equal 9^th) per game. Talbot was runner-up in the WNBL’s 2021/22 MVP Award and was the only player to earn All-WNBL First Team selection in both 2020 and 2021/22.In four consecutive seasons from 2019/20 to 2022/23 Talbot averaged more than 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to earn All-WNBL selection in all four seasons. In 2022/23 Talbot won the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second time in her career and was selected on the All-WNBL Second team.

Steph Talbot shooting a free throw for Adelaide Lightning against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

To celebrate Steph Talbot reaching 150 WNBL games an article comprehensively covering her career was published on 30 December 2021 by Milestones and Misses, a link to this article is below:

2020 WNBL Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year Steph Talbot reaches 150 WNBL games

At 19 years of age Talbot was selected by Phoenix Mercury with pick 33 at the 2014 WNBA draft. Talbot made her WNBA debut with Phoenix in 2017 and played two seasons with the club before joining Minnesota in 2019. After missing the 2020 season Talbot played for Seattle in 2021 and 2022 alongside fellow Opal Magbegor. In all three WNBA seasons from 2019 to 2022 Talbot averaged at least 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 16.0 minutes per game. 

Guard/forward Talbot is a fixture in the Australian Opals team and has been a starter at several tournaments including the 2018 Commonwealth Games held Queensland and the 2018 World Cup where Australia won gold and silver medals respectively. At the 2018 World Cup Talbot led Australia for assists and ranked third for minutes played. At the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney Talbot excelled as a starter to play an influential role in Australia winning the bronze medal. Talbot’s wide ranging skill set was on full display at the 2022 World Cup, averaging 8.5 points, a team-high 6.9 rebounds, a team-high 5.3 assists, an equal team-high 1.4 steals per game and was exceptional on the defensive end to earn selection in the tournament’s All-Star Five.

Talbot suffered an ACL injury in Adelaide Lightning’s road game against the UC Capitals on 18 February 2023. On 16 June 2023 Adelaide Lightning announced they had signed Talbot for four seasons until the end of the 2026/27 WNBL season. Adelaide Lightning General Manager Reece Turner told WNBL Media “Steph is as elite as they come and to have her sign for many more years is vital for not only on-court success but what we are continually building in the community. Steph is an amazing role model to all those who want to strive to be the best at their craft. No one works harder in the WNBL and with all her success she is still an amazing human being and one we needed to keep around in Adelaide.”13

Talbot made her playing return off the bench in Adelaide’s home game against the UC Capitals on 28 January at Adelaide 36ers Arena. Playing off the bench in Adelaide’s last three games of the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season Talbot averaged 10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 24.5 minutes per game. Adelaide won all three games with Talbot back in the line-up and finished the season on a four game winning streak.

Steph Talbot during Adelaide Lightning’s game against Southside Flyers on 24 February 2024 at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville

Los Angeles Sparks announced on 1 February 2023 that they had signed Talbot on a two-year deal. Talbot missed the 2023 WNBA season with her ACL injury and made her Sparks team debut in their opening game of the 2024 season. Talbot has averaged 8.0 minutes per game in Los Angeles’ first eight games of the 2024 season.     

Off the bench in a road game against New York Liberty on 22 June Talbot made four of field goal attempts at an accuracy of 80%, scored 11 points, took a team-high eight rebounds, and made a team-high seven assists and two steals  in a brilliant all-round game. At home against Washington on 2 July Talbot made four of six three-pointers at an accuracy of 66.7%, took eight rebounds, made three assists, three steals and scored a season-high and equal game-high 17 points for the LA Sparks.

Talbot scored at least nine points in a game five times in six games from 18 June to 5 July. Talbot has played 22 of a possible 24 games for the LA Sparks including four starts. In 2024 Talbot is averaging 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 15.8 minutes per game.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Talbot has been a starter for the Opals. Against Nigeria Talbot recorded a rebound-assists double-double, scored three points, took 12 rebounds and made eight assists to set game-highs in the latter two categories and made a team-high three steals. Talbot fell just short of recording a double-double in the Opals 70-65 victory against Canada, scoring 11 points shooting at 50% from the field, took a game-high nine rebounds and made six assists.

WNBL Achievements:          Suzy Batkovic Medal (WNBL MVP) 2020

                                                Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year 2020, 2022/23

                                                All-WNBL First team 2020, 2021/22

                                                All-WNBL Second team 2019/20, 2022/23

    Betty Watson Rookie of the Year Award 2012/13

Marianna Tolo                              

#14                                                            Position: Centre

DOB  2 July 1989                                      Height 196cm      

Junior Association                                    Mackay (Queensland)

WNBL debut: 2006/07                             WNBL games played: 218      

 2023/24 team: Spar Girona (Spain)

WNBA debut: 2015

WNBA regular season games: 28 (All with Los Angeles Sparks in 2015)

WNBL team in 2024/25 team: Bendigo Spirit

Olympic Games (3):                                 2016, 2020, 2024

World Cup (3):                                           2010, 2014 bronze medal, 2022 bronze medal

At 17 years of age Marianna Tolo made her WNBL debut with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2006/07 and played six consecutive seasons in the league comprised of two seasons for the AIS and four seasons for the Canberra Capitals. In her second season with the AIS in 2007/18 Tolo averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. In her two seasons with the AIS Tolo averaged 1.7 blocked shots to rank third in the league in each season and had a field goal accuracy above 53/0%. In each WNBL season after her debut season Tolo has averaged more than 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

From 2008/09 to 2011/12 Tolo played a total of 96 games during four seasons for the Canberra Capitals. In the two first two seasons the Capitals won back-to-back WNBL Championships, winning the title in 2008/09 and 2009/10. Tolo and fellow Opals OQT 2024 team member Jackson were teammates on the 2009/10 Canberra Capitals team that won the WNBL Championship.

In a Canberra Capitals home game against Townsville Fire at AIS Arena on 6 November 2009 Tolo scored a game-high 21 points at 66.7% from the field took a team-high 10 rebounds and had a phenomenal 13 blocked shots to record a triple double in a 20 point victory. Tolo set a new record for most blocked shots in a WNBL game, breaking Lauren Jackson’s record of 11 blocked shots set on 17 November 2000 playing for Canberra against Sydney.    

During 2010/11 Tolo averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds (ranked 2^nd in the WNBL) and 2.6 blocked shots (2^nd) per game and had a field goal accuracy of 53.6% (5^th). In 2010/11 Tolo was selected in the All-WNBL First Team for the first time in her career.

At 18 years of age Tolo made her debut for the Australian Opals at the 2007 Oceania Championships held in Dunedin, New Zealand and was the youngest member of the team. Australia won all three games to win the gold medal and Tolo averaged 9.0 points per game. Tolo represented Australia at the 2010 World Championships in the Czech Republic and was teammates with Jackson. Australia finished fifth and Tolo led the team with a field goal accuracy of 61.9%. In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games Tolo was in the Australian Opals extended 15 player squad and played games for the Opals in the Farewell Series held in Victoria but was one of the last three players cut, missing out on the final 12 player team for the London Olympics.

At the 2014 World Cup Tolo was a starter for the Opals and averaged 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game to lead the bronze medal winning Opals in scoring and rank equal first for rebounding and blocked shots.

Tolo has played for three French clubs, Aix-en-Province in 2012/13, Bourges Basket in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and Basket Landes in 2021/22. In all four seasons playing in France Tolo averaged more than 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Tolo played in the Bourges Basket team that won their 13^th Ligue Féminine title in 2014/15 and was a member of the Basket Landes team that won their first ever French Cup title in 2022.

During the 2015 WNBA season Tolo played 28 games for the Los Angeles Sparks including 14 as a starter. In a late-season game In August against Indiana Fever Tolo tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). From that point on Tolo faced a battle against time to recover from her knee reconstruction in time to make her Olympic Games debut at Rio in August 2016. Tolo won the battle and performed well for Australia in Rio to average 7.2 points (ranked 4^th), 4.5 rebounds (3^rd), 1.0 blocked shots (equal 1^st) and had a field goal accuracy of 53.1% (third). Australia won all five Group A games to finish on top of the group. The Opals were defeated in the quarter finals by Serbia 71-73 and finished fifth at the tournament.

During 2016/17 Tolo returned to play for the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL and was one of the most dominant players in the league at both ends of the floor, averaging 18.1 points (3^rd), 8.5 rebounds (3^rd) and 2.4 blocked shots (equal 1^st) per game. Among player that had at least 25 attempts Tolo led the league with a field goal accuracy of 56.3%. Tolo was selected in the 2016/17 All-WNBL First Team and won the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Marianna Tolo shooting a free-throw for UC Capitals against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 17 December 2016

Due to rupturing her ACL in February 2018 Tolo missed the 2018 Commonwealth Games on home soil in Queensland and the 2018 World Cup in Tenerife Spain. Tolo signed with the UC Capitals for the 2018/19 season and was a co-captain along with Kelsey Griffin. Tolo was close to making her return when she tore her meniscus during a training session in November. Tolo made her return for the Capitals in December 2018. Tolo played in back-to-back championships with the Capitals for the second time in her career during 2018/19 and 2019/20. Tolo averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds (equal 10^th) and 1.6 blocked shots (3^rd) per game in 2019/20. In 2020 Tolo played her third consecutive season and eighth season overall for the Capitals.

Marianna Tolo playing for the UC Capitals against the Melbourne Boomers at the Arena in Geelong on 25 October 2019

During her 218 game WNBL career Tolo has played 10 seasons, all in Canberra comprised of two seasons for the AIS followed by eight seasons for the Canberra Capitals. Tolo’s 469 blocked shots ranks second on the WNBL’s All-Time list behind Jenny Whittle (672 blocked shots).

During the 2020 Olympics Tolo averaged 11.3 points (ranked 3^rd for the Opals) and 5.0 rebounds (2^nd) per game and was outstanding in Australia’s final group game against Puerto Rico, scoring an equal game-high 26 points and taking a game-high 17 rebounds to play a crucial role in Australia winning by the required margin to advance to the quarter finals. Tolo played all eight games for the Opals at World Cup 2022 in Sydney and averaged 10.3 points (ranked 2^nd for the Opals), 4.6 rebounds (3^rd), 1.9 assists and 21.0 minutes court-time per game. Centre Tolo has represented the Opals at five major championships – 2010, 2014 and 2022 World Cups along with the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

In 2022/23 and 2023/24 Tolo has played for Spar Girona in Spain, representing the club in the Spanish league and in EuroCup. Tolo played 12 EuroCup games for Spar Girona in 2023/24 and averaged 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game and had a field goal accuracy of 58.9%.

Tolo has signed with Bendigo Spirit for the 2024/25 WNBL season. Bendigo Head Coach Kennedy Kereama commented Tolo’s “ability to defend the rim, rebound, anchor a team defensively, block shots, set screens, rim run, finish in multiple ways, and pass the ball will enhance our performance at both ends of the court. Tolo’s international and WNBL experience will be a significant asset to our program. Reuniting her with Kelsey Griffin, a proven winning combination, will elevate our team with Tolo’s leadership and winning mentality.”14

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Tolo commenced the Opals first two games of the tournament on the bench. After playing five minutes against Nigeria Tolo had an expanded role against Canada. In 16 minutes court time Tolo shot proficiently to make five of six field goal attempts at an accuracy of 83% and scored 11 points – ranked equal second in the Opals 70-65 victory.

WNBL Achievements:                              All-WNBL First Team 2010/11, 2016/17

                                                                Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year 2016/17

WNBL Championship 2008/09, 2009/10, 2018/19, 2019/20 (all with University of Canberra Capitals)

Kristy Wallace

#3                                              Position: Guard

DOB  3 January 1996              Height 180cm      

Junior Club                              Southern District Spartans (Queensland)    

WNBA debut: 2022                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 88     WNBA playoff games: 0

2023 & 2024 WNBA team:                   Indiana Fever

WNBL debut: 2018/19            WNBL games played: 44       

WNBL team in 2022/23 and 2023/24:     Melbourne Boomers

Olympic Games (1):                     2024

World Cup (1):                         2022 – bronze medal

Kristy Wallace grew up in Logan and represented South Queensland at under-age level in Australian Junior Championships. At the 2013 Under 18 AJC point guard Kristy Wallace was a member of the South Queensland Under 18 Girls team that won a bronze medal. At the 2013 Australian School Championships Wallace was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Wallace captained the Australian Gems at the 2015 Under-19 FIBA World Championships held in Chekhov. The Australian Gems won a bronze medal and Wallace’s teammates included two other players that were teammates on Opals 2022 World Cup team – Magbegor and Maley.

From 2014/15 to 2017/18 Wallace played four seasons of college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears and at the end of her career she ranked in the top five on Baylor’s all-time list for assists and three-point field goals made. In each of Wallace’s first three seasons at Baylor the Lady Bears made the elite eight of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. In Baylor’s final game of the 2017/18 regular season on 26 February 2018 Wallace tore the ACL in her right knee, ending her senior season and college career. In Wallace’s senior year she was selected in the 2017/18 All-Big 12 First team and the All-Defensive team. With Wallace sidelined due to her right knee injury in 2018 Baylor were defeated in the sweet sixteen.

Wallace had a right knee reconstruction which ruled her out for the 2018 WNBA season. Despite this Atlanta Dream selected Wallace with pick 16 at the 2018 WNBA Draft which highlights how impressive Wallace’s performances at junior level for Australia and at college with Baylor had been. After rehabilitating her right knee Wallace returned to the court in her home country, Australia on 21 December 2018 during the 2018/19 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season with the University of Canberra Capitals. In her second game with the Capitals Wallace injured her right ACL and required a second knee reconstruction within 12 months.

After the second reconstruction on her right knee Wallace’s main aim was simply to be able to run again. From April 2022 onwards the Victorian Institute of Sport provided valuable guidance and support during the rehabilitation process. Wallace made her basketball return on 16 May 2021 off the bench with the Melbourne Tigers in NBL1 South. In a season cut short due to COVID-19 restrictions Wallace played five games off the bench for the Melbourne Tigers.

On the 23 February 2022 edition of SEN Breakfast Sam Edmund asked “When you first got back it must have been in your mind of course, the mental side must have been as challenging as the physical?” Wallace replied “Ah, super challenging, I really struggled with my imaging. I would always think that I was going to tear my knee again and I still struggle with that and I have got some good strategies in place to help me with that. For me coming back was just about enjoying myself, it was about nothing else other than to enjoy the game, see if this is what I love to do and I found that love while playing for the Melbourne Tigers.”

Despite playing very little basketball in the previous three years due to her knee injuries Wallace made her Australian Opals debut at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, playing six games off the bench for the bronze medal winning Opals team. Wallace made her major championship debut for Australia at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney, playing all eight games for the bronze medal winning Opals and averaged 3.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 14.1 minutes per game. 

In her first full WNBL season Wallace in 2020/21 was able to make an impact at both ends of the floor playing off the bench for the Southside Flyers. During the 2021/22 WNBL season Wallace played 14 of Southside Flyers 16 regular season games and averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 22.8 minutes per game. Wallace won the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year Award in 2021/22.

Kristy Wallace playing for the Jayco Southside Flyers against the Perth Lynx at Dandenong Stadium on 27 January 2022

To celebrate Kristy Wallace’s successful basketball return after two knee reconstructions Milestones and Misses published an article on 16 May 2022 comprehensively covering her career, a link to this article is below:

After overcoming two knee reconstructions Kristy Wallace is achieving her dreams 

Above: Kristy Wallace making a lay up for Melbourne Boomers against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022

Below: Kristy Wallace playing for Melbourne Boomers against JCU Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 7 December 2022

Wallace had a breakout 2022/23 season as the Melbourne Boomers starting point guard to average 15.7 points (ranked 7^th in the WNBL), 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists (4^th) and 1.4 steals per game. Wallace was selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team and was one of five nominees for the Robyn Maher Defensive Player of the Year Award which highlights the quality basketball that she played at both ends of the court. For the 2023/24 WNBL season Wallace was appointed a Melbourne Boomers co-captain. Due to a knee injury Wallace missed most of 2023/24 and only played the last five games of the season comprised of two regular season games and three finals.

Kristy Wallace playing for Melbourne Boomers on 6 March in game 3 of the semi against Southside Flyers at Melbourne Sports Centres – Parkville

Four years after being selected by Atlanta Dream with pick 16 at the 2018 WNBA Draft Wallace made her debut in the league with Atlanta in 2022 and played 29 regular season games including 18 as a starter. On 13 January 2023 Wallace was traded from Atlanta Dream to Indiana Fever. In her second WNBA season in 2023 Wallace played 37 games for Indiana Fever and made 37 of 85 three-pointers at an accuracy of 43.5% – ranked fifth in the WNBA.

In 2024 Wallace is teammates with 2024 number one WNBA draft pick and fellow guard Caitlin Clark. During a post-game press conference in May 2024 Indiana Fever Head Coach Christie Sides commented “Kristy Wallace is the ultimate professional. She’s going to do exactly what we need her to do. She is a great defender, she is also a good complement out there on the perimeter with Caitlin and Kelsey (Mitchell). You know she can bring the ball up, she can execute on offense so she just brings a lot to the table with the tools that she has.”

In Indiana’s 85-83 road victory against Washington on 7 June Wallace made three of seven three-pointers at an accuracy of 42.9% and scored nine points. Wallace has played 22 of Indiana Fever’s 26 games in 2024, has had 15 starts and is averaging 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 18.7 minutes per game. In all three WNBA seasons from 2022 to 2024 Wallace has averaged more than 4.5 points and 18.0 minutes per game.

Wallace made her Olympic Games debut at Paris 2024 and in the Opals opening game against Nigeria scored two points playing 13 minutes off the bench. Wallace didn’t play any court time in Australia’s second game against Canada.

WNBL Achievements:          All-WNBL First Team 2022/23

Sixth Woman of the Year Award 2021/22 

Sami Whitcomb                   

#32                                                           Position: Guard

DOB  20 July 1988                                    Height 178cm    

WNBA debut: 2017                                                         

WNBA regular season games: 249        WNBA playoff games: 16

2023 & 2024 WNBA team:                        Seattle Storm

WNBL debut: 2015/16                              WNBL games played: 139            

2022/23 WNBL team: Perth Lynx     2023/24 WNBL team: Townsville Fire

Olympic Games (1): 2024

World Cup (2):          2018 – silver medal, 2022 – bronze medal

Sami Whitcomb was born and grew up in Ventura, California in the United States of America. At 12 years of age Whitcomb began playing basketball, having played soccer previously. At the University of Washington Whitcomb played 113 games including 94 as a starter during four seasons of college basketball from 2006/07 to 2009/10. In her senior year Whitcomb was selected on the 2010 All-Pac-10 First Team.

After being undrafted at the 2010 WNBA draft Whitcomb signed a training camp contract with Chicago Sky and played three pre-season WNBA games but was waived before the season started. From 2011/12 to 2012/13 Whitcomb played two seasons in the Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga (DBBL) in Germany, playing for ChemCats Chemnitz in 2011/12 and Wolfenbuttel Wildcats in 2012/13.

Whilst it is common for American imports to gain an opportunity to play in Australia’s WNBL after playing in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the United States of America (USA) Whitcomb followed a very different career path. Without previous WNBA experience Whitcomb commenced her amazing Australian basketball journey playing as an import in the West Australian State Basketball League for the Rockingham Flames in 2013 and had current Perth Lynx Head coach Ryan Petrik as a Head Coach.

A sliding doors moment was required for Whitcomb to gain that initial opportunity to play for the Rockingham Flames in WA’s SBL in 2013. In Whitcomb’s second season playing in the DBBL in Germany for Wolfenbuttel Wildcats the team finished on top of the ladder but due to going bankrupt were unable to compete in the finals. Emma Cannon who had played for Rockingham Flames as an American import for the 2012 WA State Basketball League, opted out of the 2013 season just before it started, had played in Germany and recommended Whitcomb to the Flames. Whitcomb took up the opportunity to play for Rockingham in the WA State Basketball League in 2013.

Whitcomb excelled for the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League in Western Australia from 2013 to 2015, winning the league’s MVP award and being named in the All-Star five in all three seasons. The Flames won the state championship in 2014 and 2015 with Whitcomb winning the Grand Final MVP award in each season. Playing in the State Basketball League in 2015 Whitcomb competed against her future wife, Kate Malpass who was a point guard for Willetton Tigers. Whitcomb and Malpass were each named in the 2015 SBL All-Star Five.

Sami Whitcomb shooting a free-throw for Perth Lynx against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

In May 2015 Whitcomb signed as an import to play with the Perth Lynx in the WNBL. Whitcomb playing as a shooting guard made a total of 201 three-pointers across her first two WNBL seasons in 2015/16 and 2016/17, setting a league single season record for most three-pointers made with 105 in 2016/17. In each of Whitcomb’s first three seasons from 2015/16 to 2017/18 she earnt selection in the All-WNBL First Team and led the league for steals and three-pointers made per game. Whitcomb finished third in the 2015/16 MVP Award and was runner-up in 2016/17, averaging more than 19.0 points per game in each season.

Sami Whitcomb shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 26 November 2017

Phenomenal performances for the Perth Lynx in the WNBL contributed to Whitcomb making her WNBA debut with Seattle Storm in 2017, seven years after going undrafted at the 2010 WNBA draft. In four seasons with Seattle from 2017 to 2020 Whitcomb was a member of the Storm’s core rotation and ranked in the WNBA’s top 25 for three-pointers made in three regular seasons. Whitcomb was a member of Seattle’s 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championship winning teams.

Playing as a starter for New York Liberty Whitcomb made 76 of 179 three-pointers during the 2021 regular season at a WNBA career best accuracy of 42.5% to rank second in the WNBA for three-pointers made during the regular season. Playing predominantly off the bench for New York during the 2022 regular season Whitcomb ranked 14^th in the WNBA for three-pointers made. Whitcomb returned to Seattle for the 2023 WNBA season and playing all 40 regular season games made 89 three-pointers to rank equal seventh in the league.

On 1 February 2018 Whitcomb became a naturalised Australian citizen. Whitcomb has been a member of two Australian Opals teams that have won a World Cup medal, winning silver at Tenerife, Spain in 2018 and a bronze medal at Sydney, Australia in 2022. At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018 & 2022 Whitcomb ranked in the top three for Australia in scoring and steals. Whitcomb captained the Australian Opals at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup held in Amman, Jordan and the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament held in in Belgrade, Serbia. Whitcomb had a phenomenal Asia Cup 2021 to be ranked first overall at the tournament for scoring per game, second in assists, sixth for steals, seventh in rebounds and was selected in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup All-Star Five.

For the 2021/22 WNBL season Whitcomb returned to Perth Lynx to play her fourth season with the club and was a member of the Perth team that made the 2021/22 Grand Final. In 2021/22 Whitcomb ranked third in the WNBL for steals per game and equal fourth for three-pointers made. On 16 November 2022 Whitcomb played her 100^th WNBL game. For Perth Lynx in 2022/23 Whitcomb averaged 18.3 points (ranked 3^rd in the WNBL), 4.8 assists (8^th) and 2.3 three-pointers made (equal 4^th). Whitcomb was selected in the 2022/23 All-WNBL First Team, the fourth selection of her career.

Sami Whitcomb playing for the Perth Lynx against the University of Canberra Capitals in a WNBL game at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022

To celebrate Sami Whitcomb reaching 100 WNBL games Milestones and Misses published an article on 2 December 2022 comprehensively covering her career, a link to this article is below:

Sami Whitcomb’s amazing journey to become a three-time WNBL All-Star Five member, reach 100 WNBL games and win two World Cup medals with the Australian Opals

Whitcomb joined Townsville Fire for the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL season, formed a formidable back court with fellow OQT 2024 Opals team member Steph Reid and had Opals Assistant Coach Shannon Seebohm as a Head Coach. In both of Townsville’s Round 9 games, a road game against Sydney and a home game against Perth Whitcomb scored a game-high 26 points to earn selection in the WNBL’s Team of the Round. Whitcomb played 22 games for minor premiers Townsville in 2023/24 and averaged 15.4 points (ranked 9^th in the WNBL), 4.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists (7^th), 2.5 steals (2^nd) and 2.5 three-pointers made (2^nd) per game. Whitcomb won Townsville Fire’s MVP and was selected in the All-WNBL Second Team.   

Sami Whitcomb shooting a three-pointer for Townsville Fire against Bendigo Spirit in a WNBL game at Geelong Arena on 7 January 2024

At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 held in Sydney Whitcomb was a starter on the bronze medal winning Opals team. Whitcomb averaged a team-high 11.0 points, 3.6 assists (ranked 2^nd), 1.4 steals (ranked equal first) and 27.6 minutes per game (2^nd). Whitcomb was a starter on the Opals team that won all three games at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 held in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February. Whitcomb led the Opals with 27.1 minutes and 2.0 steal per game and averaged 4.7 points. 

In 2024 Whitcomb is playing the eighth season of her WNBA career, sixth season for Seattle and is teammates with fellow Opal Ezi Magbegor for the second consecutive season and third season overall. In three consecutive games from 20 to 25 May Whitcomb reached double digits in scoring, culminating by making four of five three-pointers at an accuracy of 80%, scoring 12 points and making five assists in a home victory against Washington. In Seattle’s 28 point home victory against Minnesota Whitcomb made four of nine three-pointers at an accuracy of 44.4%, and scored a season-high 14 points playing 19 minutes and 49 seconds court time on 12 July. Whitcomb has played all 25 games for Seattle off the bench in 2024 and is averaging 5.3 points and 15.7 minutes per game, making 1.3 three-pointers per game.

In her debut Olympic Games Whitcomb has started both games for the Opals in Paris and ranks first with 16.0 points per game. Against Nigeria Whitcomb scored 13 points – ranked second for the Opals, ranked equal second with three assists and third with two steals. Whitcomb recorded a double-double comprised of an equal game-high 19 points and a game-high 10 assists to play an  instrumental role in the Opals 70-65 victory against Canada. Whitcomb shot efficiently to make two of three three-pointers at 67%, seven of 10 field goal attempts at 70% and three of three free throws and contributed in other facets of the game, taking five rebounds and making two steals.

Reflecting on her basketball career Whitcomb told The Brad and Boti Basketball Podcast in the 8 April 2022 episode “I am very lucky, I have had some incredible opportunities and I am so fortunate that this game has given me all it has given me. It has been the craziest ride. I didn’t even have some of these dreams, you play the game because you love it and you chase these goals and these opportunities and you hope that it leads to something remarkable and I have been so lucky that every time a door has closed somewhere something else has opened, I have chased that one down and it has led to some amazing things.”

WNBA Achievements:    WNBA Championship 2018, 2020 (both with Seattle Storm)

WNBL Achievements:      All-WNBL First Team 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2022/23

                                         All-WNBL Second Team 2023/24

                    WNBL Leading scorer 2016/17

Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello

Sandy Brondello had an illustrious basketball career as a shooting guard, playing in the WNBL, WNBA and represented the Australian Opals in 302 games including at four Olympic Games and four World Championships. Brondello was a member of the first five Opals teams that won medals at major championships from the 1996 Olympic Games to the 2004 Olympic Games. In the last four of these Championships Brondello was teammates with current Opal Lauren Jackson.  

Playing for the Brisbane Blazers in 1995 Brondello won the WNBL’s Most Valuable Player Award and was the league’s leading scorer for the second consecutive season, having been equal leading scorer in 1994 with Shelley Gorman. Brondello was selected in the WNBL All-Star five twice – 1994 and 1995, playing for the Brisbane Blazers in both seasons.

During a five season WNBA career shooting guard Brondello played 155 regular season games including 146 games as a starter, playing for Detroit in 1998 and 1999, Miami in 2001 and 2002 and Seattle in 2003. Playing for Detroit in 1999 Brondello was an All-Star and finished 10^th in the WNBA’s MVP Award. Across her WNBA career Brondello averaged 11.4 points, 2.3 assists and 29.6 minutes per game and had a three-point accuracy of 41%.

In 2005 Brondello commenced a coaching career in the WNBA as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Silver Stars. Brondello has been an Assistant Coach to husband Olaf Lange in the WNBL with Logan Thunder and in Europe with Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg. In the WNBA Brondello was a Head Coach of San Antonio Silver Stars in 2010 and an Assistant Coach of LA Sparks from 2011 to 2013.

Brondello was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and was appointed Head Coach of WNBA club Phoenix Mercury in 2014. In her first season as Head Coach of Phoenix Mercury the club set a new single season record for most wins in a regular season with 29 wins and five losses, two Australians Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips were members of the team. During the 2014 WNBA playoffs Phoenix played outstanding basketball to have seven wins and one loss, defeating Chicago Sky three games to nil in the WNBA Finals to win the championship. Phoenix made it to the WNBA Finals in 2021 and lost to Chicago Sky one game to three.

In April 2017 Sandy Brondello was appointed as the Australian Opals Head Coach. With Brondello as their head coach the Opals have won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, silver at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018 and bronze at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 in Sydney. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Australia were defeated by USA in a quarter final. With Brondello as their Head Coach the Opals won all three games at FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 held in Belem, Brazil in February to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. 

Sandy Brondello alongside Justin Nelson, drawing a raffle at the Melbourne Boomers home game at the State Basketball Centre on 17 December 2017

In her role as Head Coach of the Australian Opals Brondello has coached all seven Australians that are playing in the WNBA in 2024 – Bec Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot, Kristy Wallace and Sami Whitcomb. As a WNBA Head Coach Brondello has coached Smith, Talbot (both at Phoenix Mercury), Allen and Whitcomb (both at New York Liberty). Other Australians that had Brondello as a Head Coach of Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA are Cayla George, current Opals captain Tess Madgen, Leilani Mitchell, Phillips and Taylor.   

On 7 January 2022 WNBA Club New York Liberty announced that Brondello had been appointed as their Head Coach. Lange has been an Assistant Coach of New York from 2022 onwards. New York Liberty won the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup, defeating Las Vegas Aces 82-65. New York had 32 wins and eight losses during the 2023 WNBA regular season to finish second in the standings two wins behind Las Vegas Aces. In the 2023 WNBA Finals New York lost to Las Vegas one game to three.

In her third season as Head Coach of New York Liberty in 2024 the team’s full strength starting line-up is Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. New York were runners-up in the 2024 Commissioners Cup being defeated in the final by Minnesota Lynx. In their last 19 regular season games before the 2024 mid-season break New York were the form team in the league to have a record of 17 wins and two losses. Brondello was named the WNBA Coach of the Month for July 2024 and the article published by the WNBA celebrating this achievement stated that “Under Brondello’s leadership, the Liberty tied a WNBA record for most consecutive games with 10 or fewer turnovers, with a six-game streak.”15 At the mid-season break New York have a record of 21 wins and four losses to be first in the standings, ahead of Connecticut Sun who are second with a record of 18 wins and six losses.

In 2024 Brondello is in her 12^th season overall and third season with New York Liberty as a Head Coach of a WNBA team. In each of Brondello’s 11 completed seasons as a Head Coach of a team in the WNBA the team that she was coaching has made the league’s playoffs. At the 2024 mid-season break Brondello’s overall career regular season record as the Head Coach of a WNBA team is 233 wins and 160 losses for a winning rate of 59.3%. In July 2024 “Sandy surpassed Michael Cooper for the sixth-most coaching wins in WNBA history.”16

WNBA Achievements as a Head Coach:   WNBA Championship 2014 (with Phoenix Mercury)

                                                                  WNBA Coach of the Year 2014

Article and photographs by Dean Andrews

Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777

References

1 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4035928/opals-announce-team-for-mitsui-fudosan-cup-in-japan

2 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4053511/ford-ballin24-delivers-a-sensational-week-of-basketball

3 https://wnbl.basketball/perth/news/atwell-amped-to-be-back-for-2023-24/

4 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/adelaide-lightning-sign-sporting-royalty-isobel-borlase/

5 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/rachael-sporns-no-14-jersey-returns-with-isobel-borlase/

6 https://australia.basketball/isobel-borlase-the-rising-star-sets-sights-on-representing-opals/

Z1 https://www.espn.com.au/olympics/story/_/id/40701468/paris-olympics-brondello-calls-tolo-george-take-opals-home

7 https://wnbl.basketball/southside/news/lauren-jackson-is-back-with-the-flyers/

8 https://storm.wnba.com/news/the-road-to-all-star-ezi-magbegors-impact-on-and-off-the-court/

9  https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/inaugural-wnbl-fan-mvp-is-announced/

10 https://www.espn.com.au/wnba/story/_/id/40142797/wnba-jade-melbourne-hectic-business-learning-curve-trade

11 https://www.wnba.com/player/1629501/alanna-smith

12 https://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-signs-courtney-williams-and-alanna-smith/

13 https://wnbl.basketball/adelaide/news/steph-talbot-re-signs/

14 https://wnbl.basketball/bendigo/news/opals-star-tolo-signs-with-spirit-in-massive-coup/

15 https://liberty.wnba.com/news/sabrina-ionescu-and-sandy-brondello-earn-monthly-honors-for-july/

16 https://liberty.wnba.com/news/sabrina-ionescu-and-sandy-brondello-earn-monthly-honors-for-july/