The Australia Opals are competing at their fifth FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in 2025, a tournament being hosted by reigning Asia Cup champions China in Shenzhen in Guangdong province. FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 is the 31st edition of the tournament, with the event being held every two years. The Opals are attempting to win their first women’s 5 on 5 Asia Cup gold medal, having finished on the podium the first four times they competed at the tournament. Australia won the silver medal in 2017 followed by three consecutive bronze medals in 2019, 2021 and 2023. From 2013 to 2021 Japan dominated FIBA Women’s Asia Cup to win the tournament five consecutive times, winning finals against China three times (2015, 2019 & 2021), Australia once (2017) and Korea once (2013) during this time. At the Asia Cup 2023 tournament in Sydney, China returned to the top step of the podium, having a thrilling 73-71 victory in the final against Japan.
From Sunday 13 July to Sunday 20 July the top eight women’s basketball nations in Asia are competing in Division A at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Eight nations comprised of two groups of four teams each are competing at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Each group has two nations that are ranked in the top 15 in the world, China (ranked 4th) and Korea (14th) in Group A along with Australia (2nd) and Japan (9th) in Group B. Group A is completed by Indonesia and Women’s AC 2023 semi finalists New Zealand. The two lower ranked teams in Group B are Philippines and Lebanon.
Chloe Bibby playing for Perth Lynx against the Melbourne Boomers at Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville on 29 January 2023
When Basketball Australia announced the Seven Consulting Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 team on 23 May the 12 player team only included two players from Australia’s bronze medal winning team at Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney, Maddy Rocci and Chloe Bibby. The Opals had a setback earlier this month with Rocci being ruled out of AC 2025 on 7 July due to injury. Four members of the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team have competed at the tournament previously, with Bibby being joined in this category by three front court players, Sara Blicavs, Cayla George and Zitina Aokuso. Blicavs has the distinction of being the only member of the Opals FIBA Women’s AC 2025 team that has represented her nation at multiple Asia Cups previously. At the first two Women’s Asia Cups that Australia competed in, both held in India, Blicavs was a member of the Opals team that won a silver medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2019. Cayla George was a teammate of Blicavs at the latter 2019 tournament. Aokuso was a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Amman, Jordan.
Cayla George playing for Melbourne Boomers against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 9 November 2022
Two guards in Australia’s Asia Cup 2025 team represented Australia at a FIBA tournament in 2024 – Steph Reid and Isobel Borlase. Reid and Borlase were members of the Australian Opals team that competed at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (2024) held in Belem, Brazil from 8 to 11 February and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In her major championship debut Borlase was a member of the Opals bronze medal winning team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Isobel Borlase playing for Adelaide Lightning against the Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
The Opals FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 team has less experience representing their nation at senior level in five on five basketball at international tournaments than a typical Opals team. This is highlighted by the fact that six members of the Australian AC 2025 team were yet to make their Opals debut at the end of April 2025. A quartet of players – Abbey Ellis, Alex Fowler, Courtney Woods and Miela Sowah made their debut for the Australian Opals in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand in May during a three game series. All four of these players are in the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team with Ellis being the late inclusion for Rocci. A duo in Australia’s 2025 Asia Cup team – Isabelle Bourne and Ally Wilson made their Opals debut in China in warm-up games for Asia Cup 2025.
Alex Fowler playing for Townsville Fire against Bendigo Spirit at Red Energy Arena on 14 December 2024
During their first two games at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 a new look Australian Opals team gelled together seamlessly to play brilliant team basketball and won each Group B game against the Philippines and Lebanon by more than 70 points. The workload has been spread evenly between the Opals at FIBA Asia Women’s Cup 2025 with all 11 players that have taken the court in the tournament so far averaging between 15.0 and 22.5 minutes per game. Over their first two games the Opals have averaged an incredible 37.5 assists per game whilst conceding only 36.5 points per game. At 6.30 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday 15 July Australia play fellow Group B undefeated team Japan to determine which team finishes on top of the group and advances directly to the semi finals on Saturday 19 July. More details on Australia’s first two Group B victories at Asia Cup 2025 are provided later in this article.
The article below includes the following information on the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup:
- General information on the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 tournament including all eight nations competing
- Australian Opals history at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup
- Australian Opals 12 player team for Asia Cup 2025
- The Opals Group B results for their first two games at Asia Cup 2025and schedule for their third game
Venue and Groups at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025
Eight nations are competing in Division A at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 held in Shenzhen, China from Sunday 13 July to Sunday 20 July. All games at the tournament will be played at Shenzhen Sports Center. The four nations in Group A at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 are China, Korea, New Zealand and Indonesia. Australia are in Group B with Japan, Philippines and Lebanon. Seven of the eight nations competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 took part in the previous edition of the tournament held in Sydney, Australia from 26 June to Sunday 2 July 2023. Indonesia won the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 Division B tournament to be promoted up to Division A in 2025, replacing Chinese Taipei who finished eighth in the Division A tournament in 2023.
The nation that wins FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Division A will qualify for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 to be held in Berlin, Germany from 4-13 September 2026. “Teams that finish second through sixth will also qualify for the World Cup Qualifying Tournaments next year.”1
The two Groups of four nations each in Division A at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 are listed along with each nation’s Asia Ranking and World Ranking as at 9 February 2025. Later in this section some information is provided on each of the eight nations that are competing at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen, China.
Group A Asia ranking World ranking
China 2 4
Korea 4 14
New Zealand 5 26
Indonesia 9 57
Group B Asia ranking World ranking
Australia 1 2
Japan 3 9
Philippines 7 44
Lebanon 8 54
From Sunday 13 July to Wednesday 16 July each of the eight nations in Division A at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 play one game against each of the other three nations in their group. During this four day period each nation will play a game on three of the days and have one day that they don’t play, with the tournament having a total of 12 games played comprised of three games on each of the four days. On Sunday 13 July and Monday 14 July there will be two Group B games and one Group A game. During day 3 and 4 of competition on Tuesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 July there will be two Group A games and one Group B game.
The nations that finish first in Group A and Group B advance directly to the semi finals. After a rest day on Thursday 17 July the games to determine the finishing order for the eight nations commence on Friday 18 July. The second ranked team from each group plays the third ranked nation from the other group in a qualification semi final on Friday 18 July to determine the third and fourth nations to advance to the semi finals. In the first of three games to be played on Friday the nations that finish fourth in each group play a classification game against each other on Friday 30 June to determine seventh and eighth place. The winner of this game will retain their position in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A and the nation that loses will be relegated to Division B for the 2027 tournament in the Philippines.
The two nations that lose qualification semi finals play against each other on Saturday 19 July for fifth place. Later that day the two semi finals are played. After 18 games from Sunday 13 July to Saturday 19 July the two games to determine the medal winners at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 will be played on Sunday 20 July. The two teams that lost in the semi finals will play-off for third place at 6.30pm AEST and the two semi final winners will battle it out for gold at 9.30pm AEST.
At the same time that Division A of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Shenzhen is also hosting Division B from Sunday 13 July to Sunday 20 July. The winner of the eight nation Division B tournament will be promoted to Division A for the 2027 tournament in the Philippines. The four nations in Group A of Division B are Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, India and Tahiti. Group B is comprised of Iran, Thailand, Mongolia and Cook islands. Chinese Taipei were relegated to Division B after finishing last of the eight nations competing at Division A of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney. Among the nations in Division B Chinese Taipeil have the highest world ranking – 39th, ahead of Iran (59th) and Thailand (66th).
Nations competing at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen, China
On the world stage nations in the Asia region have had success at the least three FIBA women’s major championships comprised of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, 2022 World Cup in Sydney and 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Four of the nine medals at these three women’s tournaments were won by a nation competing at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 comprised of two medals for the Australian Opals and one medal each for China and Japan. On home soil in Tokyo a small-ball Japanese team won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 China prevailed 61-59 in a thrilling semi final against host nation Australia and won the silver medal. Fuelled by a vintage 30 point game from Lauren Jackson in her last ever World Cup game the Opals defeated Canada 95-65 to win the bronze medal in Sydney. Australia retained their position on the major championship podium by defeating Belgium 85-81 in the bronze medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At each of these three major championships players that compete in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) have been available to compete. The 2022 World Cup was held just after that year’s WNBA season had completed and the WNBA had a mid-season break during the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
Lauren Jackson making a field goal in Southside Flyers WNBL game against UC Capitals at the State Basketball Centre on 6 January 2024 with 2025 Asia Cup player Monica Okoye (Japan) playing defense
Player availability is a bigger issue at Continental Tournaments as these tournaments are held during the WNBA season resulting in a clash between a player representing their WNBA team and their nation. At recent Asia Cups Australia have had more players unavailable due to WNBA commitments than fellow medal contenders Japan and China. Competing at their fifth FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in 2025 Australia are attempting to win the gold medal at the tournament for the first time.
Information is provided below on each of the eight nations competing at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen, China with the nations listed in finishing order at the previous edition of the tournament held in Sydney, Australia in 2023.
From 2001 to 2011 China won the gold medal at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup five times from six tournaments, with a silver medal finish in 2007 being the only exception. At five Asia Cup’s from 2013 to 2021 China finished on the podium at all five tournaments but were unable to win gold, winning silver in 2015, 2019 and 2021 and finishing third in 2013 and 2017. All three of China’s finals losses from 2015 to 2021 were to Japan.
In 2022 China achieved success on the World Stage by winning a silver medal at World Cup 2022 held in Sydney. China fought back from a 57-59 deficit with one minute and 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022 semi final against host nation Australia to score the last four points and defeat the Opals 61-59. In the final USA defeated China 83-61, resulting in China winning their second ever World Cup silver medal, having also achieved this feat when Australia hosted the tournament for the first time in 1994.
The following year China again faced Japan in Asia Cup 2023 final held in Sydney. China fought back from a 26-35 half time deficit against Japan to end their silver medal streak, recording a 73-71 victory to win the gold medal. China had three of the four highest scorers in the game with this trio combining for 60 points comprised of 26 points for Han Xu at 70.6% from the field along with Siyu Yang and Meng Li with 17 points each.
Han Xu was a dominant force for China at Asia Cup 2023, averaging 22.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game to be ranked first overall to earn the Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Meng Li’s wide ranging skill set was on display, averaging 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game to earn selection in the All-Star Five. Xu made an impact in the paint and was also able to stretch the floor making 1.8 three-pointers per game at an accuracy of 64.3%. Meng Li’s wide ranging skill set was on display, averaging 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game to earn selection in the All-Star Five.
China have greater continuity with their team at FIBA Tournaments from 2022 to 2025 than other medal contenders at Asia Cup 2025. Six of the players that averaged at least 15 minutes per game as members of China’s gold medal winning team at Asia Cup 2023 are in the 2025 AC team and were also on the China team that won silver at World Cup 2022. Joining centre Han Zu in this category are Yuan Li, Siyu Wang, Ru Zhang, Zhengi Pan, Liwei Yang.
China were unable to replicate their 2022 World Cup success at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, having one win and two losses in the pool stage to miss out on qualifying for the quarter finals, finishing ninth. At Asia Cup 2025 China are without their two leading scorers from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games – centre Li Yueru (17.7 points per game) and guard Meng Li (13.7). Li Yueru is unavailable due to WNBA commitments with Dallas Wings and Meng Li is out due to injury. Centre Han Xu will have increased responsibility at Asia Cup 2025 after ranking second for China in Paris with 6.7 rebounds per game and fourth with 9.7 points per game, playing just 12.5 minutes per game.
A wildcard for China will be 18 year old centre Zhang Ziyu who at 220 centimetres tall will have a size advantage over her opponents. At FIBA Under 18 Women’s Asia Cup 2024 held in China in late June Ziyu Zhang dominated to average 35.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game to rank first in both categories and won the tournament’s MVP award. It will be a far different proposition for Zhang Ziyu at Asia Cup 2025 playing against experienced opponents.
China have finished on the podium at all 12 FIBA Women’s Asia Cups held this century and are well placed to continue this streak with reigning Asia Cup MVP Han Xu leading the way. How much support Xu receives throughout Asia Cup 2025 particularly in games against Japan And Australia could determine which step of the podium China are standing on at the end of Asia Cup 2025. Guard Siyu Wang was a starter on China’s silver medal winning team at World Cup 2022 and Asia Cup 2023 and ranked third for China with 10.7 points per game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Japan had an exceptional tournament to win the silver medal with a smaller line-up (their two tallest players were both 185 centimetres tall), speed and outstanding three-point shooting ability. At the Tokyo Olympic Games Japan easily led the tournament for three-pointers made with 12.2 per game and ranked first for three-point accuracy with 38.4%. Guard Rui Machida averaged an incredible 12.5 assists per game at the Olympics to rank first in this category. At World Cup 2022 in Sydney and the 2024 Paris Olympics Japan were unable to advance past the group stage.
In the FIBA Asia Women’s Cup Japan were a dominant force, winning five consecutive gold medals in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. At AC 2023 in Sydney Japan again made the final and were on track to make it six gold medals in a row when the led China 35-26 at half-time. The second half played out very differently and Japan suffered a 71-73 defeat to China to win the silver medal. Forward Mani Takada scored a team-high 17 points at 50% from the field for Japan in the final.
At Asia Cup 2023 Japan relied on a more even team performance than fellow finalists China. Eight players averaged between 6.5 and 12.0 points per game at Asia Cup 2023 led by Stephanie Mawuli with 11.8 points per game. Four of the eight players in this category are competing for Japan at Asia Cup 2025 with Mawuli joined in this category by Asia Cup 2025 captain Mani Takada, Monica Okoye and Anri Hoshi. Okoye has experience playing in the WNBL in Australia, having played all 21 regular season games for the UC Capitals in 2023/24. Okoye ranked equal ninth in the WNBL 1.6 three-pointers made per game. At Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney two point guards averaged more than 4.5 assists per game, Mai Yamamoto (5.2 assists per game) and Saori Miyazaki (4.8). Without Yamamoto or Miyazaki at Asia Cup 2025 it will be a major adjustment for Japan in the point guard position.
At full strength on the world stage Australia have performed well at the past two major championships to win the bronze medal at World Cup 2022 on home soil in Sydney and the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. With Australia’s WNBA players unavailable for Asia Cup 2025 it will be a very different Opals team that takes the court in Shenzhen at Asia Cup 2025. Only three members of the Opals team have major championship experience – Cayla George, all six major championships from 2014 to 2024, Sara Blicavs (2020 and 2022) and Isobel Borlase (2024). This trio of players have each earnt All-WNBL selection in their career with Blicavs achieving the feat in 2020 and Borlase being named in the All-WNBL First Team in 2023/24. George has earnt All-WNBL selection five times in her career comprised of three selections in the All-WNBL First Team (2014/15, 2020, 2022/23) and two selections in the All-WNBL Second Team (2019/2020, 2021/22). George won the Suzy Batkovic Medal for being the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2022/23 and in 2023/24 broke the record for most career rebounds in the WNBL.
The Opals have won a medal at all five FIBA Women’s Asia Cups they have competed in but have been unable to reach the step of the podium, winning the silver medal in 2017 followed by three consecutive bronze medals in 2019, 2021 and 2023. At Asia Cup 2023 on home soil in Sydney the Opals had victories by more than 20 points against the nations that finished fourth and fifth, New Zealand and Korea respectively. On the flip side Australia were able to match it with the two finalists Japan and China having a double figure margin in both losses. Only one player remains from the Opals bronze medal winning team from Asia Cup 2023 – Chloe Bibby. Bibby played limited minutes in Sydney but is well placed to take on increased responsibility in Shenzhen, having won two European league MVP’s in the past 24 months, Poland (2023/24) and Spain (2024/25). Bibby is one of two players in the Opals Asia Cup team that played in Europe in 2024/25 and hasn’t signed with a WNBL club for the 2025/26 season. The other player in this category is Steph Reid who was the Opals captain for the Trans-Tasman throwdown in May. Reid was a member of the Sopron team that won the 2024/25 Hungarian championship. In a low scoring game Grand Final game 5 Reid scored a team-high 14 points at 50% from the field in a 54-48 victory against Miskolc to win the national title.
Although six members of the Australian Asia Cup 2025 team have made their Opals debut in the past three months these players have quickly adapted to international basketball. In the Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand Miela Sowah scored a game-high 23 points in game 1 against New Zealand and followed up an equal game-high 15 points in game 2 along with Alex Fowler who also made her Opals debut in the series. Three players that made their Opals debut in 2025 earnt selection on an All-WNBL team in 2024/25 with Ally Wilson and Courtney Woods being selected in the First Team and Miela Sowah being selected in the Second Team.
All 12 members of the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team have experience playing in the WNBL in their home notion including eight players that played in the WNBL in 2024/25 and have signed for a WNBL club for the 2025/26 season. The eight players in this category are Isobel Borlase, Isabelle Bourne, Abbey Ellis, Alex Fowler, Cayla George, Miela Sowah, Ally Wilson, Courtney Woods. Two front court players Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs will be returning to the WNBL in 2025/26 and will be teammates on the UC Capitals and will have Paul Goriss as their Head Coach at Asia Cup 2025 and playing for the Caps in the 2025/26 WNBL season.
The New Zealand Tall Ferns are competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the fifth time in 2023 and have been on an upward trajectory. The Tall Ferns finished sixth in 2017 followed by back-to-back fifth placed finishes in 2019 and 2021.
With Guy Molloy as Head Coach of New Zealand since 2018 the Tall Ferns had a major goal of finishing in the top four at Asia Cup 2023. In their opening Group A game at Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney, New Zealand played Korea with the winner likely to finish in the top two in their group and have an easier path to the semi finals. New Zealand played an exceptional first half to lead Korea 41-25 at half time. The Tall Ferns withstood a second half fightback from Korea to hold on for a 66-64 victory, led by a game-high 24 points at 68.8% from the field and 10 rebounds from Penina Davidson. New Zealand had their best ever finish at an Aisa Cup in 2023, finishing fourth, losing a semi final to Australia 59-81. By finishing in the top four at Asia Cup 2023 New Zealand progressed to an Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament. Davidson excelled at Asia Cup 2023 with 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game to earn All-Star five selection. Guard Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Tall Ferns with 17.3 points per game at AC 2023 and ranked second for minutes played behind Davidson.
Penina Davidson playing for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire at the State Basketball Centre on 25 February 2022
After competing in the women’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games for the first time in 2000 the Tall Ferns competed in three consecutive Olympic Games with their best finish being eighth in 2004. New Zealand didn’t qualify for the three consecutive Olympic Games from 2012 to 2012. Due to injury New Zealand were without their two leading scorers from Asia Cup 2023, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Davidson for Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024. In late January 2024 Leger-Walker playing college basketball for Washington State injured her ACL and required a knee reconstruction. Davidson injured her calf in a WNBL game for Melbourne Boomers against Townsville Fire on 13 January, 2024.
An undermanned New Zealand team had an agonising 67-69 loss to Puerto Rico in their second game at the OQT 2024 in Xi’An China. New Zealand lost all three of their games at the tournament, losing to fellow Asia Cup nation China and eventual 2024 Paris Olympic silver medallists France. Two of New Zealand’s three leading scorers from OQT 2024 are in the Asia Cup 2025 team and have experience playing in the WNBL in Australia – Esra McGoldrick (10.7 points – 1st) and McKenna Dale (9.0 – 3rd).
For Asia Cup 2025 New Zealand are without their two leading scorers from the 2023 tournament Charlisse Leger-Walker and Davidson. There has also been a coaching change with former Australia Opal Nat Hurst now in the role as Head Coach. Hurst had 50 games as Head Coach of Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL from 2022/23 to early in the 2024/25 season. Four players in the Tall Ferns Asia Cup team have experience playing in Australia’s WNBL with McGoldrick and Dale joined in this category by front court players Rebecca Pizzey and Ella Tofaeono. Another member of the Tall Ferns Asia Cup 2025 team, forward Ashlee Strawbridge has signed with Adelaide Lightning and will make her WNBL debut in 2025/26.
In May this year New Zealand played a three game Trans-Tasman Throwdown series against Australia comprised of two games in Australia and one game in New Zealand. With Hurst as Head Coach New Zealand were able to build team chemistry and work on different rotations. New Zealand lost the series 0-3 to the Opals with the closest game being game 3 on home soil in Hamilton, a 71-86. McGoldrick was the Tall Ferns captain for the series, started every game and scored a team-high 19 points in game 3. After achieving their best Asia Cup finish in 2023 with a fourth placed finish only three members of that team – McGoldrick, Tayla Dalton and Ritorya Tamilo are representing the Tall Ferns at AC 2025 in Shenzhen, China.
Esra McGoldrick taking a rebound for Bendigo Spirit against Southside Flyers at State Sports Centres – MSAC, Albert Park on 17 January 2024
At the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Korea is the equal record holder along with Chinafor the most gold medals, having won the title 12 times including at the inaugural tournament on home soil in Seoul in 1965. Their most recent gold medal was the last time they hosted the event, in Incheon in 2007. At every Asia Cup from 2001 to 2015 Korea finished on the podium. Since Australia started competing in the Asia Cup Korea have missed on a podium finish at four consecutive tournaments. Korea finished fourth at Asia Cup in 2017,2019 and 2021.
At Asia Cup 2023 Korea lost to New Zealand 64-66 in their opening game. Korea defeated Lebanon by 22 points in their second game and took China to overtime in their third and final game. Korea were outscored 9-15 in overtime by China and lost 81-87. Korea finished fifth at Asia Cup 2023, defeating Philippines 80-71 in the classification game for fifth place led by a game-high 24 points from Jihyun Park and a game-high 16 rebounds from Jisu Park. Korea’s three leading scorers from AC 2023 are all playing in Shenzhen, Jihyun Park (14.0 points per game – ranked 4th overall), Jisu Park (13.2 – 7th) and Leeseul Kang (10.4). Jisu Park ranked fourth at the tournament with 8.4 rebounds per game and Jihyun Park’s 3.6 assists per game ranked eighth.
Philippines have competed at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 18 times and have a best finish of fourth place twice, at the inaugural tournament in 1965 and in 1984. At four consecutive Asia Cups from 2015 to 2021 Philippines finished seventh.
At AC 2023 Philippines were defeated in their first two group games by Australia and Japan. In their third group game Philippines had a blistering start to lead Chines Taipei 29-20 at quarter time. The first quarter proved to be decisive with the Philippines going on to win the game by the quarter time margin of nine points 91-82. Three Philippines players combined for 59 points between them, Vanessa De Jesus (25 points), Afril Bernardino (18) and Jack Animam 16 points at 100% from the field. Animam took a game-high 15 rebounds and forward Bernardino stuffed the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals. The Philippines finished sixth at the tournament Animam averaged 10.0 points per game at a superb 63.9% from the field and 9.6 rebounds per game. Three players averaged double figures in scoring for the Philippines with Animam being joined in this category by Bernardino (13.0 points) and De Jesus (12.8).
Animam and De Jesus are both playing for the Philippines at Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen and will have even more responsibility then in their nations 2023 AC campaign. An article titled What’s at stake for the Philippines in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 and published by FIBA on 6 July stated “Philippine team mainstays Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinbin, and Andrea Tongco will all miss the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup because of military obligations, thus making this batch a relatively younger unit.”2
At the past two Asia Cups Lebanon’s final game of the tournament has determined which division they would be in at the following Asia Cup. In the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 Division B tournament final in Amman Lebanon got off to a blistering start to score the first 14 points of the game against host nation Jordan. Lebanon went on to defeat Jordan 80-40 to finish first at the tournament and qualify for Division A of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021. Rebecca Akl (19.5 points per game) and Aida Bakhos (12.8 points per game) were Lebanon’s two leading scorers in the 2021 Division B tournament.
Lebanon lost all three Pool A games at Asia Cup 2023 in Sydney with a smallest losing margin of 22 points to Korea. In the classification game for seventh place Lebanon played Chinese Taipei with a place in Division A at the 2025 tournament in Shenzhen on the line. Lebanon trailed by as much as 11 points midway through the first quarter but throughout the remainder of the half gradually reduced the lead to draw level on 38 points apiece at half-time. Lebanon gained the ascendancy in the second half and extended their lead to 11 points early in the third quarter. After a late challenge from Chinese Taipei Lebanon held on for a two point win 75,73 to retain their place in Division A for AC 2025. Rebecca Akl scored a game-high 27 points and Trinity Baptiste scored 16 points at 83.3% from the field and took seven rebounds. Akl averaged a team-high 13.0 points and Baptiste led Lebanon with 7.8 rebound per game and ranked second with 12.8 points. Akl is playing for Lebanon at Asia Cup 2025 and will play a critical role in whether her nation can retain their place in Division A.
Indonesia are competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the 13th time in 2025 and have a best finish of fourth place in 1972. In Division B of Asia Cup 2023 Indonesia won their first four games of the tournament to progress to the final. Three of Indonesia’s victories were by less than point including a 65-56 victory against Iran in the pool phase. Indonesia played Iran again in the final. It was an almost identical result with Indonesia having a 65-57 victory in the final to be promoted to Division A for the 2025 edition of the tournament. Kim Pierre-Louis scored a team-high 12 points at 62.5% from the field and took a team-high 14 rebounds. Fellow starter Agustin Retong ranked second with 10 points and made a game-high seven assists. Pierre-Louis was Indonesia’s standout performer, averaging 18.0 points per game to be the only player averaging more than 7.5 points per game. Three of the four players that averaged more than 20.0 minutes per game for Indonesia at Asia Cup 2023 Division B will be suiting up at Asia Cup 2025 Division A, Pierre-Louis, Nathania Orville and Clarita Antonio.
Australia’s history at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup
The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 being held inn Shenzhen, China is the 31st edition of the tournament and the fourth time that China have been the hosts. The tournament was known as the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship until 2001 and was held for the first time in 1965 with Korea winning the gold medal on home soil in Seoul.
Before 2017 Australia and New Zealand were both classified as being in the Oceania zone and competed in Oceania Championships against other nations from this region. From 2017 onwards Australia and New Zealand have both competed in the Asia Cup. The Opals will be competing in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup for the fifth time, having won the silver medal in 2017 followed by three consecutive bronze medals in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017
The Australian team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 held in Bengaluru, India from 22 to 29 was Sara Blicavs, Steph Blicavs, Katie Ebzery, Maddie Garrick, Laura Hodges, Kelsey Griffin, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Lauren Mansfield, Alanna Smith, Belinda Snell and Marianna Tolo.
Australia won all three of their Group B games to finish on top of the Group at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017. The Opals smallest winning margin during the group phase was nine points against Japan 83-74 in their final Group B game.
The Opals had an 81-64 victory against Korea in a semi final led by forward Kelsey Griffin with 16 points and nine rebounds to set game-highs in both categories.
After Australia and Japan finished first and second respectively in Pool B they played each other for the second time at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 in the final. The Opals led Japan 39-33 at half-time in the final. Japan controlled the third quarter 26-14 to turn a six point half time deficit into a six point lead at the final change. The Opals went on a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take the lead by three points, 62-59 with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Saki Mizushima put on a long range shooting exhibition to make three three-pointers in the space of three minutes and 25 seconds to gain the ascendancy for Japan 71-67 with three minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the fourth term. The Opals responded with field goals to Belinda Snell and Marianna Tolo to tie the scores at 71 points apiece. Mizushima made her fourth three-pointer of the quarter with one minute and 26 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead for Japan 74-71. Griffin took an offensive rebound and made a layup to reduce the Opals deficit to one point with one minute and 12 seconds to play. Neither side was able to score in the last 72 seconds resulting in Japan holding on to have a 74-73 victory to win the gold and Australia finishing in second place with the silver medal. In the 2017 final Mizushima was lethal from long range to make seven of nine three-pointers at 77.8% and score a team-high 26 points for Japan. Griffin scored a game-high 30 points at 57.9% from the field, took a game-high 15 rebounds including seven offensive boards and made a game-high three blocked shots in an exceptional performance.
Kelsey Griffin shooting a free throw for Bendigo Spirit against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 23 October 2016
At FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 Griffin played all six games for the Opals and played brilliant basketball to average 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to lead Australia in both categories. Kelsey ranked third overall at the tournament in scoring and equal fifth in rebounding. Griffin was named in the tournament’s All-Star Five and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Six Australian’s averaged more than 7.5 points per game at Asia Cup 2017 with Griffin joined in this category by Smith (10.8 points), Sara Blicavs (9.7), Tolo (9.0), Steph Blicavs (8.7) and Ebzery (7.8).
FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019
The Australian team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 held in Bengaluru, India from 22 to 29 September was Bec Allen, Abby Bishop, Sara Blicavs, Katie Ebzery, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor, Leilani Mitchell, Lauren Nicholson, Jenna O’Hea, Nicole Seekamp and Steph Talbot. Sara Blicavs and Ebzery were the only two players from Australia’s FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 team that returned to Bengaluru, India two years later and suited up in the green and gold at the 2019 Asia Cup.
In Australia’s last five games of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 from their second Group B game they had the same starting line-up with Mitchell and Ebzery starting in the backcourt along with Allen, O’Hea and George in the frontcourt.
Australia defeated Philippines 123-57 in their first Group B game and followed up with an 82-44 victory against New Zealand. China also won their first two Group B games and played Australia in their final group B game with the winner to finish first in the group and progress directly to the semi finals. China outscored Australia 25-15 in the second quarter of their Group B game to lead 44-35 at half-time. Australia reduced the margin throughout the second half and with a Mitchell steal and driving layup took the lead 69-68 with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Ting Shao responded with a lay-up to regain the lead for China 70-69 with eight seconds left. On the next possession the Opals turned the ball over before attempting a shot and China held on for a one victory to finish in top place in Group B.
In a qualification semi final game the Opals defeated Chinese Taipei 90-51 to advance to a semi final against Japan. The Opals outscored Japan 23-15 in the first quarter to lead by eight points at quarter-time. Whilst scoring dried up for Australia in the second quarter they were able to keep Japan relatively in check and retained a six point lead 28-22 with three minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Japan dominated the remainder of the quarter to go on a 13-0 run led by six points from Nako Motohashi, turning a six point deficit into a seven point lead at half time. Japan went on to defeat the Opals by 12 points 76-64 to make the gold medal game with Australia playing off for bronze.
Australia had a 98-62 victory against Korea in the bronze medal game led by Allen with a game-high 20 points shooting at 70% from the field and seven rebounds. Talbot made a game-high eight assists. Allen averaged 11.7 points (ranked 2nd for Australia), 4.5 rebounds (4th) and a team-high 1.7 steals per game. Allen made 10 of 22 three-pointers at an accuracy of 45.5% and was selected in the tournament’s All-Star Five. Six players averaged more than 7.0 points per game for the Opals with other players in this category being Magbegor (12.0), George (9.3), Garbin (8.8), O’Hea (8.5) and Ebzery (7.3).
FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021
Two months after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Australia competed in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 held in Amman, Jordan from 27 September to 3 October. Australia had an inexperienced team with none of the members of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games team playing. Sami Whitcomb, Darcee Garbin and Lauren Nicholson were the only three members of the team with previous experience representing the Opals. Whitcomb was named the Opals captain for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 and had been a member of the Opals silver medal winning team at FIBA Women’s World Cup 2018. Garbin and Nicholson had both been members of Australia’s bronze medal winning team at the previous Asia Cup held in India in late-September 2019. Nine members of the team made their Australian Opals debut at Asia Cup 2021 – Zitina Aokuso, Keely Froling, Jade Melbourne, Tiana Mangakahia, Lauren Scherf, Alex Sharp, Jaz Shelley, Kristy Wallace and Abbey Wehrung. With Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello unavailable for the tournament due to commitments in the WNBA with Phoenix Mercury, Opals Assistant Coach Paul Goriss took over as the Head Coach for the 2021 Asia Cup.
Australia won their first two Group B games at the Asia Cup 2021, defeating Chinese Taipei 75-64 and had a 120-56 victory against Philippines. In their final Group B game Australia trailed China by one point 39-40 at half time. China controlled the second half 42-25 to defeat the Opals 82-64 led by a double-double comprised of 16 points and 11 rebounds from Han Xu. Whitcomb was the standout for Australia with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead the Opals in all three categories.
In the first quarter of a qualification semi final the Opals and New Zealand Tall Ferns scored 20 points each. Australia won the second quarter 20-14 and went on to defeat the Tall Ferns 72-61. In a semi final Japan got the jump on the Opals to lead 20-12 at quarter-time. Australia played scintillating basketball in the second term to outscore Japan 24-11 to turn an eight point quarter time deficit into a five point half-time lead 36-31. The semi final continued to ebb and flow and the Opals looked to be well placed leading by six points, 62-56 with four minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Japan went on an 11-3 run for the remainder of the game to defeat Australia by two points 67-65. Saki Hiyashi made five of ten three-pointers at 50%, scored a game-high 17 points, took a team-high seven rebounds and made three assists for Japan. Opals captain Whitcomb scored a team-high 16 points, took seven rebounds, made a team-high eight assists and an equal game-high three steals.
An Opals 23-10 second quarter against Korea in the third place game set up an Australian 88-58 victory to win the bronze medal. Whitcomb scored a team-high 15 points and was joined in double figures by three Opals front court players – Garbin (14 points) along with Froling and Aokuso with 10 points each.
Whitcomb played all six games for Australia and averaged 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 28.3 minutes per game. In each game of the 2021 Asia Cup Whitcomb led the Opals in at least one of the three major statistical categories of points, rebounds and assists including three games in which she led Australia in all three categories, the final group game against China, the semi final classification game against New Zealand and the bronze medal game against Korea. This highlights Whitcomb’s sustained excellence throughout the tournament. Whitcomb ranked first overall at the tournament for scoring per game, second in assists, sixth for steals, seventh in rebounds and was selected in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 All-Star Five.
Sami Whitcomb playing for Perth Lynx against University of Canberra Capitals at Selkirk Stadium, Ballarat on 19 January 2022
Six Opals averaged more than 6.0 points per game at FIBA Asia Cup 2021 with Garbin (10.5) Froling (9.8), Scherf (9.3), Sharp (6.5) and Nicholson (6.3) ranking second to sixth. Scherf led the Opals with 7.7 rebounds per game and ranked third with 1.8 assists per game.
FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023
The Australian team at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 held in Sydney, Australia from Sunday 26 June to Sunday 2 July included a quartet of players from Australia’s bronze medal winning team at the Asia Cup 2021 – Keely Froling, Darcee Garbin, Lauren Nicholson and Lauren Scherf. Other members of Australia’s AC 2023 team were Opals captain Tess Madgen along with Amy Atwell, Chloe Bibby, Darcee Garbin, Chantel Horvat, Alice Kunek, Anneli Maley and Maddy Rocci. All games during FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023 were played at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre (also known as Quaycentre) which was one of the venues for Group games at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.
Throughout the group stage of Asia Cup 2023 Australia’s starting line-up was Madgen, Nicholson, Kunek, Garbin and Scherf. The Opals comprehensively won their first two Group B games, defeating Philippines 105-34 and Chinese Taipei 91-45. In their third and final Group B game Australia started well to lead 21-15 against Japan at quarter time. Japan dominated the second quarter 29-11 to gain the ascendancy and led 44-32 at half time. Japan won each quarter in the second half by at least six points and recorded a convincing 91-66 victory against the Opals.
Australia finished second in Group B and in a qualification semi final played Korea who had finished third in Group A. The winner of the qualification semi final between the Opals and Korea would advance to the semi finals and in doing so book a ticket to an Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in February 2024. The Opals made a change to their starting line-up against Korea with Maddy Rocci replacing Nicholson. Australia’s starting line-up for their last three games of the tournament was Rocci, Madgen, Kunek, Garbin and Scherf. Australia gained control early and led Korea 31-16 at quarter time and went on to win 91-64 and advance to the semi finals.
China outscored Australia 18-11 in the first and third quarters of their semi final to set up a 74-60 victory. In the bronze medal game Australia played Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand. A strong defensive performance set up Australia’s victory with the Tall Ferns only scoring more than 14 points in one quarter, scoring 17 points in the third quarter. In each of the three other terms New Zealand scored 14 points. By defeating New Zealand 81-59 the Opals won their third consecutive Asia Cup bronze medal.
In a well deserved return to the Opals team Kunek thrived as a starter to average 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game and had a three point accuracy of 42.3% to earn selection in the FIBA Asia Cup 2023 All-Star Five.
Kunek was one of eight Opals that averaged at least 6.0 points per game at AC 2023 along with Garbin (10.2 points), Froling (10.0), Rocci (8.8), Madgen (8.7), Scherf (8.5), Heal (7.5) and Maley (6.0). Rocci ranked fourth overall at the tournament with 4.2 assists per game and Madgen was equal fifth with 4.0 assists per game. Scherf and Maley ranked equal first for the Opals and equal seventh overall with 7.5 rebounds per game.
Australian Opals team for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025
Zitina Aokuso Willetton Tigers (NBL1 West) UC Capitals
Chloe Bibby Golden State Valkyries (WNBA)
Sara Blicavs Melbourne Tigers (NBL1 South) UC Capitals
Isobel Borlase Melbourne Tigers (NBL1 South) Bendigo Spirit
Isabelle Bourne Keilor Thunder (NBL1 South) Southside Flyers
Abbey Ellis Diamond Valley Eagles (South) Townsville Fire
Alex Fowler Perry Lakes Hawks (NBL1 West) Townsville Fire
Cayla George Cairns Dolphins (NBL1 North) Southside Flyers
Steph Reid Diamond Valley Eagles (NBL1 South)
Miela Sowah Brisbane Capitals (NBL1 North) Townsville Fire
Ally Wilson Mandurah Magic (NBL1 West) Perth Lynx
Courtney Woods Northside Wizards (NBL1 North) Townsville Fire
Coaches
Paul Goriss Head Coach
Shannon Seebohm Assistant Coach
Cheryl Chambers Assistant Coach
Kristi Harrower Assistant Coach
Australian Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello is unavailable to coach the Seven Consulting Opals at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 due to her commitments as Head Coach of New York Liberty in the WNBA. Paul Goriss is the Head Coach of the Opals at Asia Cup 2025 and has seven seasons experience as Head Coach of the UC Capitals in the WNBL across two stints. In Goriss’ first stint as Head Coach of the UC Capitals from 2016/17 to 2021/22 the club won back-to-back WNBL Championships in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
On 23 May 2025 Basketball Australia announced the Australian Opals 12 player team for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello commented “Naming any team is always hard, especially with some of our core players away, but it shows the depth of talent we have. We took into account the camp we had earlier this year in Melbourne, as well as the Trans-Tasman Throwdown, and a few players really stood out. Some players who weren’t available for TTT have come back into the mix, and with a few injuries, we’ve had to evaluate the big picture – not just for Asia Cup, but to make sure we qualify next year and keep building towards LA28.”3
Three of the four members of the Opals coaching team at Asia Cup 2025 have a role as Head Coach of a WNBL club in 2025/26 – Goriss (UC Capitals), Shannon Seebohm (Townsville Fire) and Kristi Harrower (Southside Flyers). Each of these three clubs have multiple members in the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team comprised of four Townsville players – Abbey Ellis, Alex Fowler, Miela Sowah and Courtney Woods, Southside front court duo Issabelle Bourne and Cayla George along with UC Capitals front court duo Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs. Between them the members of the Australian Opals coaching team at Asia Cup 2025 have been the head coach of six WNBL Championship teams in the last decade comprised of three titles for Chambers, two championships for Goriss and one title for Seebohm.
Townsville celebrating after Abbey Ellis (far right) made a buzzer beating game winning three pointer in a road game against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 January 2025
There is a strong WNBL flavour to the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team with 10 of the 12 players having signed with a WNBL club for the 2025/26 season. Eight players that played in the WNBL in 2024/25 are playing in the league in 2025/26 including four players that are representing the same club in both seasons. A trio of players that made their Australian Opals debuts in 2025 – Ellis, Fowler and Woods were teammates at Townsville Fire in 2024/25 and will all be suiting up for the North Queensland club again in 2025/26. Wilson had the best season of her career playing as the starting point guard for Perth Lynx in 2024/25 and will be suiting up for the club again in 2025/26.
With Seebohhm as Head Coach at Townsville Fire several players have improved significantly including several past and present Townsville players in the Opals 2025 Asia Cup team. During the 2024/25 regular season Townsville co-captain Courtney Woods ranked fourth in the league in scoring with 16.3 points per game and second with 5.7 assists per game, a 228% improvement on her previous WNBL career-high of 2.5 assists per game in 2023/24. Woods was recognised for her brilliant 2024/25 season by being selected in the All-WNBL First Team and finished runner-up in the WNBL’s Suzy Batkovic Medal for league MVP.
Throughout Woody’s entire WNBL career at Townsville Fire Shannon Seebohm has been the club’s Head Coach. At the press conference following Townsville’s road victory against the Southside Flyers on 31 January 2025 I asked Seebohm “You were talking about Courtney Woods and the assists, she had another six assists tonight, she is averaging six assists for the season, ranked second. Can you just talk a little bit about her development, it has been amazing, she has gone from a role player to now be an absolute star of the competition.” Seebohm responded “Credit goes to Courtney, she has really committed herself. I think she came back from college, she had a really good college career and got to the WNBL and honestly, I hope she doesn’t mind me saying this she had no idea what it was going to take to make it at this level. It is a totally different level (to college) and to her credit she has gone from her first year she barely played, her second year she has played sparingly and earnt opportunities later in the season. Then she became a really important role player for us. Last year she started 15 games for us and if you went off any of the metrics they use in the NBA she was the MVP of the league and we were the number one team in the league. She has really blossomed into not just a scoring player now, a well rounded player and she is constantly trying to find things to improve on, her defense, as I said this season her playmaking ability to read not just when to score but when to find open teammates and she has done that really well. She is a really important cog for our team and I think that now that everyone is starting to get on the same page we don’t just have her and Lauren Cox that are scoring now. We have always got five people or six people in double figures and a seventh and eighth sort of pushing that. Really proud of Courtney and I think she has turned into a phenomenal WNBL player.”
Courtney Woods playing for Townsville Fire against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 January 2025 with Tera Reed playing defense
Four members of the Opals AC 2025 team have changed clubs in the WNBL off-season including a front court duo that have joined the Southside Flyers – Bourne (from Adelaide Lightning) and George (from Sydney Flames). Guard Miela Sowah has made the move from Perth Lynx to Townsville Fire. Isobel Borlase has left Adelaide Lightning and joined reigning WNBL champions Bendigo Spirit. Two front court players that didn’t play in the league in 2024/25 are returning to the league in 2025/26 and will be teammates at the UC Capitals – Aokuso and Blicavs. Aokuso played for Elite Orman Spor in Turkey during the 2024/25 season and Bliacvs missed the 2024/25 season due to a back injury.
Sara Blicavs shooting a free-throw for Southside Flyers against Melbourne Boomers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 November 2019
Two players in the Opals 2025 Asia Cup team played in Europe in 2024/25 and haven’t signed with a WNBL club in 2025/26 – Chloe Bibby and Steph Reid. Bibby has won won two European league MVP’s in the past 24 months, Poland (2023/24) and Spain (2024/25). Reid was a member of the Sopron team that won the 2024/25 Hungarian championship, scoring a team-high 14 points in the game 5 victory.
Chloe Bibby playing for Perth Lynx against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 19 February 2023
Three players that have made their Opals debut in 2025 earnt all-WNBL selection for the first time of their career in 2024/25 with Wilson and Woods both being selected in the All-WNBL First Team and Sowah being selected in the All-WNBL Second Team. Townsville co-captain Woods reached 100 WNBL games late in the 2024/25 season, having played her entire WNBL career with Townsville and ranked second in the league with 5.7 assists per game. In her first season with Perth Wilson averaged 4.5 assists per game in 2024/25 to rank sixth in the league. Sowah ranked sixth in the league with 2.0 three-pointers made per game.
Miela Sowah (nee Goodchild) shooting a three-pointer for Perth Lynx in their road game Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 1 December 2024
Five members of the Australian Opals bronze medal winning team from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were unable to be considered for Asia Cup 2025 due to WNBA commitments – Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm), Jade Melbourne (Washington Mystics), Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx), Steph Talbot (Golden State Valkyries) and Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix Mercury). Bec Allen was a late withdrawal from the Opals Paris Olympic Games team due to a hamstring injury and is also unavailable for Asia Cup 2025 due to WNBA commitments with Chicago Sky.
A quartet in the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team have represented Australia at a previous edition of the tournament – Blicavs (2017 & 2019), George (2019), Aokuso (2021) and Bibby (2023). Six players in the Australian Opals Asia Cup 2025 team had represented Australia before 2025 with Reid and Borlase joining the four players named above in this category.
On 27 February 2025 Basketball Australian announced a 21 player Seven Consulting Opals squad for a training camp to be held at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne from 7-11 April. After doing fitness testing on April 7 the Opals commenced on court basketball sessions on Tuesday. Australian Opals Head Coach Brondello commented on the camp “It’s pretty intense and we’re very deliberate with training them during the week as a lot of players have NBL1 commitments. We’re doing two sessions a day on Tuesday and Thursday, one longer session on Wednesday and finish off with an intra-squad scrimmage and we’re excited about that and seeing where we’re at at the end of the camp and letting them go out there and play. With the new cycle, we’ve got some new players and I think our biggest strengths will be our size, our versatility and our athleticism so excited to put it together and the group to build some cohesion.”4
Point guard Steph Reid was named the Opals captain for the Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand, a magnificent achievement, especially for someone who couldn’t break through to represent their state let alone their country at junior level. In late May 2022 Reid reflected on her attempts to represent her state at junior level, telling The Sydney Morning Herald “I’ve never been to a junior nationals or made a Vic Metro team so I’ve always tried to be the hardest worker and make sure that’s something that I live by. I was always around the top 25 players [when state teams were selected] but I would get to the last round and get cut. I was told I was too small, my wingspan wasn’t long enough, I wasn’t athletic enough or I couldn’t shoot the ball well enough – that has driven me to be more motivated and work on my game.”5
The Australian Opals team for TTT series New Zealand in May included debutant quartet – Ellis, Fowler, Sowah and Woods. The eight players in the Australian TTT team with previous experience representing the Opals were Blicavs, Keely Froling, Nyadiew Puoch, Reid, Maddy Rocci, Alex Sharp and Lauren Scherf. Australia won the TTT series against New Zealand three games to nil with a smallest winning margin of 15 points, 86-71 in game 3 in Hamilton, New Zealand. Australia had hosted the first two games of the series with game 1 in Adelaide and game 2 on the Sunshine Coast. In the Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand Miela Sowah scored a game-high 23 points in game 1 against New Zealand and followed up an equal game-high 15 points in game 2 along with Alex Fowler who also made her Opals debut in the series.
At the post game press conference following game 2 of the Trans-Tasman Throwdown on the Sunshine Coast on 9 May 2025 Jacinta Govind asked “Different rotations and starters tonight compared to the first game. Was that reflective of your more defensive focus or was that just to get more people more minutes?” Gorris responded “We came in that we were going to change things up throughout just to give different people an opportunity, as you said look at different lineups, see how different people play with each other. After a review on the first game we were going to change it anyway. We had a coaches meet and thought that would be a great lineup to start with to get us going defensively and I think that really set the tone for us tonight.”
Govind followed up by asking “64 days to Asia Cup, are you able to share what the Opals program’s plan in preparation for that tournament?” Goriss replied “At the moment we’ll go into China early and play some games pre Asia Cup and then obviously go into the next city that we’re playing in for Asia Cup. I don’t think we’ll have a camp before we’ll just go in there maybe practice two or three days, play some pre-tournament games and then get straight into Asia Cup.”
11 of the 12 members of the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team have played for an NBL1 team in 2025 with Chloe Bibby being the only exception. Bibby is the only member of the Australian team that has played in the WNBA in 2025, having made her league debut for expansion team Golden State Valkyries and has played a total of five games for club. Three NBL1 conferences have multiple players in the Opals AC 2025 team led by NBL1 South with five players. This is comprised of Diamond Valley Eagles guard duo Abbey Ellis and Steph Reid, Melbourn Tigers pair Sara Blicavs and Isobel Borlase and Keilor Thunder forward Isabelle Bourne. NBL1 North’s two Opals representatives at AC 2025 are Cayla George (Cairns Dolphins) and Courtney Woods (Northside Wizards). The two NBL1 West players that are pulling on the green and gold in Shenzhen are Alex Fowler (Perry Lakes Hawks) and Ally Wilson (Mandurah Magic).
Ally Wilson making a lay up for Perth Lynx in a road game against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2024
Whilst six players in the Opals Asia Cup 2025 team had represented Australia before 2025 there are also six players that have made their senior Australian debut in five on five basketball in the past three months from May 2025 onwards. The quartet of players – Abbey Ellis, Alex Fowler, Courtney Woods and Miela Sowah made their debut for the Australian Opals in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown against New Zealand in May and are all members of the Opals AC 2025 team. Ellis, Fowler and Woods were teammates on the Townsville Fire team that made the 2024/25 WNBL Grand Final. In 2025/26 Sowah will be joining this trio and Australian Opals assistant coach Shannon Seebohm at Townsville. In her debut WNBL season with Townsville Fire in 2024/25 Ellis won the league’s Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year Award and made a buzzer-beating game-winning three pointer on the road against the Southside Flyers. Isabelle Bourne and Ally Wilson made their Opals debut in China in warm-up games for Asia Cup 2025.
In the traditional five on five format of basketball George has twice as much major championship experience as her 11 Opals Asia Cup 2025 teammates combined. George has the distinction of being the only player to represent the Opals at all six major championships from 2014 to 2024 comprised of three Olympic Games and three World Cups. At four of these six major championships George ranked in the top three for the Opals in rebounding, 2014, 2018 & 2022 World Cups and 2024 Olympic Games. The only other two players on the Opals AC 2025 team with major championship 5 on 5 experience are teammates with NBL1 South club Melbourne Tigers in 2025 – Blicavs (2020 & 2022) and Borlase (2024).
Tess Madgen during the warm-up for Sydney Flames game against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 12 January 2024
On the eve of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Tess Madgen, the Australian Opals bronze medal winning captain at World Cup 2022 and 2024 Paris Olympic Games announced that Cayla George was the Australian Opals captain at Asia Cup 2025 and Sara Blicavs was vice-captain.
Cayla George taking a rebound for Melbourne Boomers in the fourth quarter against Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on 22 December 2022
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.”
It isn’t the least experienced Australian Opals team to compete at a FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. Nine members of the Opals team at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2021 made their Opals debut at the tournament held in Amman, Jordan. Aoksuo is the only member of that team in the Opals AC 2025 team.
Australian Opals Group B results and schedule
Sunday, July 13 Australia 115 defeated Philippines 39
Monday, July 14 Lebanon 34 lost to Australia 113
Tuesday, July 15 Australia vs Japan at 6.30 pm AEST
An article published by Basketball Australia on 7 July 2025 with the title Opals Set For 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup stated “All Australian Opals games will be broadcast live on ESPN/Kayo. All other games will be available via Courtside 1891.”6
In their opening game of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Australia had a starting line-up of Steph Reid, Isobel Borlase, Alex Fowler, vice-captain Sara Blicavs and captain Cayla George against the Philippines. Six players, Zitina Aokuso, Chloe Bibby, Isabelle Bourne, Abbey Ellis, Miela Sowah and Courtney Woods all played court time off the bench. Due to a knee injury guard Ally Wilson didn’t play. Australia recorded a convincing 115-39 victory against the Philippines and were at their most dominant in the fourth quarter, winning the term 28-2. All 11 players that had court time for Australia scored at least four points led by Sowah with a game-high 19 points at an accuracy of 70% from the field. Six Australians were in double figures in scoring including Blicavs with 17 points and Bibby with 16 points at 70% from the field. Australia’s only remaining player from Asia Cup 2023 – Bibby recorded a double-double, taking an equal game-high 10 rebounds (along with Opals captain George) playing 19 minutes and 54 seconds off the bench. Two point guards, Reid and Ellis that are currently teammates for NBL1 South club Diamond Valley Eagles each made an equal game-high nine assists for the Opals against the Philippines.
Isabelle Bourne making a lay up for Adelaide Lightning against Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 6 December 2024
For their second Pool B game Australia retained the same starting line against Lebanon. Wilson and Aokuso both missed the game due to knee soreness. The Opals had their second consecutive win by more than 70 points at Asia Cup 2025, defeating Lebanon by 79 points, 113-34. All 10 Opals that played court time played between 17 and 23 minutes and scored at least seven points, led by Bourne with 15 points in her first senior FIBA five on five tournament. Bibby recorded her second double-double of the tournament, scoring 12 points at 71.3% from the field and took a game-high 12 rebounds. Australia won the assist count against Lebanon 39-7 and three Opals made at least six assists each, Reid and Woods with an equal game-high seven assists each along with Fowler with six assists.
Alex Fowler shooting a three-pointer playing for Townsville Fire against the Southside Flyers at the State Basketball Centre on 4 January 2025
The Opals third and final Group B game against Japan on Tuesday 15 July is likely to determine which team finishes on top of the group and advances directly to the semi finals. Both teams have won their first two games at the tournament against Philippines and Lebanon however Japan have been unable to maintain the same standard they have played at during recent Asia Cups. Australia’s aggregate winning margin from their first two games is 155 points whilst Japan’s combined winning margin against the same opponents is just seven points. Japan won their first game of Asia Cup 2025 against Lebanon 72-68 and followed this up with an 85-82 victory against the Philippines.
Australia are favourites against Japan due to their better form early at Asia Cup 2025 however Japan with their speed and three-point shooting have posed match-up problems for the Opals at previous editions of the tournament. The winner of Australia vs Japan will finish on top of Group B, and have three days without a game which is virtually unheard of at FIBA tournaments before playing a semi final on Saturday 19 July. The team that loses the Group B game between Japan and Australia will finish second in Group B and will play the third placed team in a qualification semi finals game on Friday.
Article and photographs by Dean Andrews
Twitter – @DeanAndrews7777
References
3 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4271114/twelve-opals-up-for-asia-cup
4 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4245332/opals-tip-off-a-new-four-year-cycle-in-melbourne
6 https://www.australia.basketball/news/4305156/opals-set-for-2025-fiba-womens-asia-cup
Milestones and misses 