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The Australian women's national basketball team is nicknamed the Opals, after the brightly coloured Opal, gemstone common to the country. From 1994 onwards, the Opals have been consistently competitive and successful having won nine medals at official FIBA international tournaments (Basketball at the Summer Olympics, Olympics and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, World Cups), highlighted by a Gold medal#Competition medals, gold medal winning performance at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2006 World Championship in Brazil.FIBA Archive. 2006 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012. At the now-defunct regional FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, Oceania Championship for Women, the Opals won 15 titles.FIBA Archive. 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women
History
Retrieved 7 September 2012. Effective in 2017, FIBA combined its FIBA Oceania, Oceanian and FIBA Asia, Asian zones for official senior competitions; following this change, the Opals compete in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Although the Opals did not qualify for the first tournament, they did, however, qualify for the 1957 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1957 Championships held in Brazil. Captain (sports), Captained by Lorraine Eiler, the Opals defeated Cuba women's national basketball team, Cuba and Peru. Sixteen year-old Bronte Cockburn led the scoring for Australia with an average of 9.5 points per game, but the inexperienced team ultimately finished in 10th place.FIBA Archive. 1957 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Since then, the Opals have helped increase the popularity of the sport in Australia.Basketball Australia
Opals History
Retrieved 28 July 2012. Australia would not get the opportunity to participate at the 1959 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1959 World Championship held in Moscow because at the time, the Government of Australia, Australian Government would not allow the team to travel to the Soviet Union, USSR. The Opals would not qualify for a World Championship again until the 1967 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1967 contest in Czechoslovakia. With an entirely new team and a single victory over Italy women's national basketball team, Italy, Australia finished in 10th position for the second time.FIBA Archive. 1967 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Team captain, Jean Forster, led the scoring for Australia with an average of 21.2 points per game, with a tournament high of 34 against Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil. Her 21.2 points per game would remain unchallenged for 35 years.
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. In 1975, the team headed to 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women, Colombia with another new head coach, Jim Madigan. Despite a 74–25 confidence building win over Senegal women's national basketball team, Senegal, as well as victories over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil and Hungary women's national basketball team, Hungary, the team finished in 10th place.FIBA Archive. 1975 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. The Basketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics, 1976 Olympics held in 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal marked the first Olympic medals awarded for women's basketball, but Opals did not qualify for the tournament.FIBA Archive. 1976 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Their next major competition would be the 1979 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1979 World Championships in South Korea, which would prove to be their first taste of success. The coach again was Jim Madigan, and the squad featured some of the faces of the Opals for the next decade such as Jenny Cheesman, Robyn Maher, Julie Nykiel, Karin McRobert, Karin Maar and Patricia Mickan. The team would have early success defeating Italy women's national basketball team, Italy and France women's national basketball team, France, as well as thrashing Malaysia national basketball team, Malaysia 119–14. Australia would lose their next three games, but bounced back winning their final game over Japan to finish in fourth place, their best international result to that time.FIBA Archive. 1979 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012.
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Three years later, the team traveled to Brazil for the 1983 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1983 World Championships, looking to demonstrate that their 1979 success was no accident. Despite an early victory over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Australia failed to advance and finished in 11th place.FIBA Archive. 1983 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals were not expected to participate at the Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. However, following the decision by Cuba women's national basketball team, Cuba to 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, boycott the games, the door was opened for the Opals to compete in their first ever Olympics. Led by head coach Brendan Flynn, and Captain (sports), team captain Jenny Cheesman, the Opals played competitively in every game, but finished fifth out of the six teams.FIBA Archive. 1984 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. The next tournament for the Opals was the 1986 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1986 World Championships in Moscow. The first game against Hungary was a Overtime (sports)#Basketball, two overtime thriller that the Opals lost 79–77. The game set the tone for the tournament, and despite some close finishes against the top rated teams, Australia finished in ninth place.FIBA Archive. 1986 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals then headed into the Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics, 1988 Seoul Olympics with a medal hope, but they lost the first game to host nation Korea women's national basketball team, Korea. The Opals bounced back and defeated Bulgaria women's national basketball team, Bulgaria, meaning that only the powerful Soviet Union women's national basketball team, Soviet Union stood between them and a semi-finals berth. In a major upset, the Opals defeated the USSR 60–48, setting up a meeting against Yugoslavia national basketball team, Yugoslavia. In a memorable game, the Opals lost a closely contested game at the buzzer 57–56, sending them to a rematch with the USSR for the bronze medal. Motivated by the previous loss, the USSR came out determined and outplayed the Opals 68–53. Despite the loss, the fourth-place finish equalled the Opals’ previous best international placing.FIBA Archive. 1988 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012.
Building from their success at Seoul, the Opals headed to Malaysia for the 1990 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1990 World Championships with high hopes. The team won their first two games against Malaysia national basketball team, Malaysia and Italy, before suffering a string of losses to Bulgaria women's national basketball team, Bulgaria, the Soviet Union women's national basketball team, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia national basketball team, Yugoslavia and Basketball in the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia. In their final game, the Opals came back from seven-point halftime deficit to beat Bulgaria 73–71 and finish in sixth place.FIBA Archive. 1990 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Fifteen teams competed for the five open spots at the Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics, 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and despite a respectable 4–2 record at the preliminary tournament, the Opals did not qualify.FIBA Archive. 1992 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Two years later, Australia played host to the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1994 FIBA World Championships.FIBA Women's World Championships
Basketball Australia: WNBL. Retrieved 18 August 2012. Led by Basketball positions#Guards, guard Shelley Sandie's 11.9 points per game, the team scored victories over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Italy women's national basketball team, Italy, Slovak Republic women's national basketball team, Slovakia and Canada women's national basketball team, Canada to set up a semi-finals match against China women's national basketball team, China. The Opals held an early lead, but China mounted a second half comeback led by Haixia Zheng's 36 points, and Australia just lost by a single point 66–65. In the bronze medal game, Australia played the United States women's national basketball team, United States, and despite a small halftime lead, the Opals lost a close game 100–95. The loss however, resulted in a respectable fourth-place finish.FIBA Archive. 1994 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The young 1994 team featured the backbone of Australian teams over the next decade; Rachael Sporn, Trisha Fallon, Michelle Brogan, Allison Tranquilli, Sandy Brondello, Annie La Fleur and Jenny Whittle. At the 1994 tournament, the team also adopted the ''Opals'' as its nickname. At the Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, the Olympic tournament was expanded to twelve teams, making an easier path for Australia to qualify. Captained by Robyn Maher, the Opals started off with strong wins over South Korea at the 1996 Summer Olympics, South Korea, Zaire at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Zaire, and Cuba at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Cuba before losing to eventual gold medalist USA and Ukraine at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Ukraine. Australia then persevered through an overtime game against Russia to set up a semi-finals match against the United States. The US won the game 93–71, sending the Opals to a rematch against Ukraine for the bronze medal. Australia held back a second half comeback by Ukraine to win the game 66–56, earning Australia its first ever international basketball medal for either men or women.FIBA Archive. 1996 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. In 1998, the Opals looked to build off the bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women, World Championships in Germany. The team featured 17-year-old future star Lauren Jackson, and was led by Michelle Brogan's average of 13.1 points per game. Australia put together a dominant performance, winning their first seven games before losing to Russia women's national basketball team, Russia 82–76 in a close semi-final match. In the bronze medal game, Carla Boyd's 26 points proved too much for Brazil, and the Opals won 72–67 to earn their second bronze medal in international play.FIBA Archive. 1998 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012.
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. In 2002, the Opals looked to continue their success in 2002 FIBA World Championship for Women, China at the World Championships. Coached by Jan Stirling, captained by Kristi Harrower, and powered by Lauren Jackson's 23.1 points per game (which led the tournament), Australia won its first five games all by double figures. In the second round the Opals lost to Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil, but bounced back with a 78–52 victory over France women's national basketball team, France in the quarterfinal. In the semi-finals, the Opals lost to eventual gold medalist USA, but recovered the next day to capture the bronze medal with a convincing 91–63 win over Korea women's national basketball team, South Korea.FIBA Archive. 2002 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012.
At the Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's basketball, 2004 Olympics held in Athens, Greece, the Opals were led by Lauren Jackson's tournament best 22.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. With Penny Taylor contributing with 14.8 points per game, Australia dominated early winning their first seven games, all by double digits. The Opals set up a rematch of the 2000 Olympic gold medal match against the USA. The United States outlasted the Opals in the fourth quarter to win 74–63, giving the Opals their second straight Olympic silver medal.FIBA Archive. 2004 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals headed to Brazil for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2006 World Championships looking to win their sixth straight medal in international competitions. Led by Lauren Jackson's 21.3 points per game and Penny Taylor's 18 points per game, first and third best in the tournament respectively, the Opals played their best tournament to date. Australia began the tournament with a forfeit victory over Lithuania women's national basketball team, Lithuania. They continued the trend by winning their next seven games decisively, with only one contest being decided by less than 10 points. In the gold medal game against Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, the Opals led throughout, paced by Penny Taylor's 28 points and Lauren Jackson's 11 rebounds. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read Australia 91, Russia 74; a convincing victory that delivered Australia's first ever basketball gold medal. Penny Taylor was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. At the Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women, 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Opals looked to reaffirm their title as World Champions. In the lead up, Australia went undefeated against Belarus women's national basketball team, Belarus, Brazil, South Korea, Latvia women's national basketball team, Latvia, Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, Czech Republic women's national basketball team, Czech Republic and host China women's national basketball team, China to set up a third straight gold medal match against the United States women's national basketball team, United States. The Opals had trouble hitting the basket and shot just 24% en route to a 92–65 defeat. The team earned their third straight Olympic silver medal, and their seventh straight international medal finish.FIBA Archive. 2008 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The 2000s was a golden era for the Opals, winning at least a bronze medal at every official FIBA tournament.
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012.
Looking to rebound from their disappointing 2010 result, the Opals qualified for the Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women, 2012 Olympic Games in London by beating New Zealand three games to nil in the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, FIBA Oceania Championship. They finished the Olympic preliminary series with a 4 – 1 record, losing to France women's national basketball team, France in game 2, but after Belinda Snell sank a well behind the Half court, half-court line Three-point field goal, 3-point shot with less than one second on the clock to send the game into overtime (sports)#Basketball, overtime. Against Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, Liz Cambage became the first woman in Olympic history to successfully slam dunk a basketball. In the quarterfinal against China women's national basketball team, China, Lauren Jackson became the Olympic Games record holder for points scored, overtaking Brazilian legend Janeth Arcain's tally of 535 points. The Opals accounted for China 75–60 to set up a semi-final game with their long-time wikt:rival, rivals United States women's national basketball team, USA. Despite holding a half-time lead, the Opals again fell short losing 86–73. The Opals would however, win their 5th consecutive Olympic medal with an 83–74 win over Russia to claim the Bronze medal, bronze.
Leading up to the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2014 World Championship in Turkey, a number of long-serving players announced their retirements or declared themselves unavailable. Those players included Kristi Harrower, Jenni Screen, Kristen Veal, Abby Bishop, Kathleen MacLeod, Samantha Richards, Suzy Batkovic and Jenna O'Hea. Three weeks before the start of the tournament, Lauren Jackson withdrew from the team because of a knee injury. Two weeks later Liz Cambage ruptured her Achilles tendon rupture, achilles tendon during a pre-tournament game and was ruled-out because of the injury. This resulted in the selection of seven debutants into the squad of 12, a move seen as ushering in a new era of Opals basketball. Despite the loss of veteran players, the Opals went through the preliminary rounds and quarter-final undefeated, setting up a semi-final clash with USA. In a hard-fought game, the Opals cut the lead from 16 points to just six early in the final quarter, before losing 82–70. The Opals would however claim their third bronze medal at world championships with a comfortable 74–44 win against host nation Turkey women's national basketball team, Turkey. Penny Taylor was named to the tournament All-Star Five.
The Opals qualified for the Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament, 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro following a 2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship, series win against New Zealand in August 2015. On 31 March 2016, Lauren Jackson announced her retirement from basketball, citing a chronic knee injury as the reason for her decision. The Olympic squad was announced on 12 July 2016 and included seven Olympic debutants and only three players from the 2012 squad. Notable exclusions included three-time Olympic medallist Suzy Batkovic, reigning WNBL Most Valuable Player Award, WNBL MVP Abby Bishop and Rebecca Allen (basketball), Rebecca Allen. Despite slow starts which had plagued Australia throughout the tournament, the Opals finished on top of their group with a 5–0 record, outscoring Japan women's national basketball team, Japan 33–15 in the final quarter to win by six points. In the Quarter-final, the Opals suffered a shock 73–71 loss to Serbia women's national basketball team, Serbia, conceding 26 Turnover (basketball), turnovers and eliminating them from medal contention. This ended a run of five successive Olympic medals dating back 20 years. One highlight was Liz Cambage breaking Lauren Jackson's Australian Olympic record of points scored in a single game with 37 against Japan. It was the third-highest haul by a woman in Olympic history and the highest in 28 years.
Following the early exit from the Rio Olympics, Brendan Joyce was replaced in April 2017 by former Opals player and Phoenix Mercury head coach, Sandy Brondello. Unlike previous years, the Opals qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2018 World Cup through the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, FIBA Women's Asia Cup held in India where they won a silver medal. Kelsey Griffin was named tournament most valuable player. With basketball returning to the Basketball at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Women's tournament, Commonwealth Games for the first time since Basketball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006, the Opals easily accounted for England women's national basketball team, England in the final winning the gold-medal game 99–55. At the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2018 World Cup held in Spain, the Opals led their group with a 3–0 record. They then defeated China women's national basketball team, China 83–42 in the quarter-final and Spain women's national basketball team, Spain 72–66 in the semi-final to set up a gold-medal final with their long-time rivals USA. The Opals lost the game 73–56 with head coach Sandy Brondello stating a lack of offence proved their downfall. Liz Cambage led the tournament scoring with an average of 23.8 points per game and was named to the All-Star Five.
First World Championship for Women – 1953
Retrieved 21 August 2012. The tournament was expanded to 16 countries (teams) in 1990. Since 2017, Australia qualifies for the World Cup through competing in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, held each four years in the year preceding the Women's World Cup. Before then, Australia qualified through the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, FIBA Oceania Championship. Typically, this tournament featured either a two or three-game series between Australia and New Zealand women's national basketball team, New Zealand. FIBA discontinued the Oceania championships for both women and FIBA Oceania Championship, men after their respective 2015 editions, combining FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceania into a single zone for purposes of World Cup and Olympic qualification.
FIBA profileAustraliaBasket.com – Australia Women Current Squad
at FIBA Archive {{FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup winners Australia women's national basketball team, Australia at the Commonwealth Games, Basketball Women's national basketball teams Women's basketball teams in Australia,
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012. At the now-defunct regional FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, Oceania Championship for Women, the Opals won 15 titles.FIBA Archive. 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women
History
Retrieved 7 September 2012. Effective in 2017, FIBA combined its FIBA Oceania, Oceanian and FIBA Asia, Asian zones for official senior competitions; following this change, the Opals compete in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
History
1950-60s: Beginnings
Basketball arrived in Melbourne in 1905, but the first major international women's tournament was the 1953 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1953 FIBA World Championships held in Chile.FIBA Archive. 1953 World Championship for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Although the Opals did not qualify for the first tournament, they did, however, qualify for the 1957 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1957 Championships held in Brazil. Captain (sports), Captained by Lorraine Eiler, the Opals defeated Cuba women's national basketball team, Cuba and Peru. Sixteen year-old Bronte Cockburn led the scoring for Australia with an average of 9.5 points per game, but the inexperienced team ultimately finished in 10th place.FIBA Archive. 1957 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Since then, the Opals have helped increase the popularity of the sport in Australia.Basketball Australia
Opals History
Retrieved 28 July 2012. Australia would not get the opportunity to participate at the 1959 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1959 World Championship held in Moscow because at the time, the Government of Australia, Australian Government would not allow the team to travel to the Soviet Union, USSR. The Opals would not qualify for a World Championship again until the 1967 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1967 contest in Czechoslovakia. With an entirely new team and a single victory over Italy women's national basketball team, Italy, Australia finished in 10th position for the second time.FIBA Archive. 1967 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. Team captain, Jean Forster, led the scoring for Australia with an average of 21.2 points per game, with a tournament high of 34 against Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil. Her 21.2 points per game would remain unchallenged for 35 years.
1970s: Early development
In 1971 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1971, the Opals travelled once again to Brazil. Led by new head coach Merv Harris, and featuring Jill Hammond, the team made several improvements with only three players from the 1967 squad selected. Although the Opals finished in ninth place, they had victories over Madagascar women's national basketball team, Madagascar (twice), Argentina women's national basketball team, Argentina, Ecuador and Canada women's national basketball team, Canada.FIBA Archive. 1971 World Championship for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. In 1975, the team headed to 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women, Colombia with another new head coach, Jim Madigan. Despite a 74–25 confidence building win over Senegal women's national basketball team, Senegal, as well as victories over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil and Hungary women's national basketball team, Hungary, the team finished in 10th place.FIBA Archive. 1975 World Championship for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 14 August 2012. The Basketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics, 1976 Olympics held in 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal marked the first Olympic medals awarded for women's basketball, but Opals did not qualify for the tournament.FIBA Archive. 1976 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Their next major competition would be the 1979 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1979 World Championships in South Korea, which would prove to be their first taste of success. The coach again was Jim Madigan, and the squad featured some of the faces of the Opals for the next decade such as Jenny Cheesman, Robyn Maher, Julie Nykiel, Karin McRobert, Karin Maar and Patricia Mickan. The team would have early success defeating Italy women's national basketball team, Italy and France women's national basketball team, France, as well as thrashing Malaysia national basketball team, Malaysia 119–14. Australia would lose their next three games, but bounced back winning their final game over Japan to finish in fourth place, their best international result to that time.FIBA Archive. 1979 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012.
1980s: Into the Olympics
In the early days of Baseball at the Summer Olympics, women's Olympic basketball, only six countries competed in the tournament, and the host country received an automatic entry. Therefore, there were 22 countries competing for the remaining five spots in Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics, 1980 Olympics held in Moscow. In the preliminary tournament, the Opals fell to the United States women's national basketball team, USA and Hungary, and did not qualify for the Olympics.FIBA Archive. 1980 Olympic Games: Tournament for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Three years later, the team traveled to Brazil for the 1983 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1983 World Championships, looking to demonstrate that their 1979 success was no accident. Despite an early victory over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Australia failed to advance and finished in 11th place.FIBA Archive. 1983 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals were not expected to participate at the Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. However, following the decision by Cuba women's national basketball team, Cuba to 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, boycott the games, the door was opened for the Opals to compete in their first ever Olympics. Led by head coach Brendan Flynn, and Captain (sports), team captain Jenny Cheesman, the Opals played competitively in every game, but finished fifth out of the six teams.FIBA Archive. 1984 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. The next tournament for the Opals was the 1986 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1986 World Championships in Moscow. The first game against Hungary was a Overtime (sports)#Basketball, two overtime thriller that the Opals lost 79–77. The game set the tone for the tournament, and despite some close finishes against the top rated teams, Australia finished in ninth place.FIBA Archive. 1986 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals then headed into the Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics, 1988 Seoul Olympics with a medal hope, but they lost the first game to host nation Korea women's national basketball team, Korea. The Opals bounced back and defeated Bulgaria women's national basketball team, Bulgaria, meaning that only the powerful Soviet Union women's national basketball team, Soviet Union stood between them and a semi-finals berth. In a major upset, the Opals defeated the USSR 60–48, setting up a meeting against Yugoslavia national basketball team, Yugoslavia. In a memorable game, the Opals lost a closely contested game at the buzzer 57–56, sending them to a rematch with the USSR for the bronze medal. Motivated by the previous loss, the USSR came out determined and outplayed the Opals 68–53. Despite the loss, the fourth-place finish equalled the Opals’ previous best international placing.FIBA Archive. 1988 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012.
1990s: Rise as an International force
Building from their success at Seoul, the Opals headed to Malaysia for the 1990 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1990 World Championships with high hopes. The team won their first two games against Malaysia national basketball team, Malaysia and Italy, before suffering a string of losses to Bulgaria women's national basketball team, Bulgaria, the Soviet Union women's national basketball team, Soviet Union, Yugoslavia national basketball team, Yugoslavia and Basketball in the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia. In their final game, the Opals came back from seven-point halftime deficit to beat Bulgaria 73–71 and finish in sixth place.FIBA Archive. 1990 World Championship: Tournament for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Fifteen teams competed for the five open spots at the Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics, 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and despite a respectable 4–2 record at the preliminary tournament, the Opals did not qualify.FIBA Archive. 1992 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. Two years later, Australia played host to the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women, 1994 FIBA World Championships.FIBA Women's World Championships
Basketball Australia: WNBL. Retrieved 18 August 2012. Led by Basketball positions#Guards, guard Shelley Sandie's 11.9 points per game, the team scored victories over Japan women's national basketball team, Japan, Italy women's national basketball team, Italy, Slovak Republic women's national basketball team, Slovakia and Canada women's national basketball team, Canada to set up a semi-finals match against China women's national basketball team, China. The Opals held an early lead, but China mounted a second half comeback led by Haixia Zheng's 36 points, and Australia just lost by a single point 66–65. In the bronze medal game, Australia played the United States women's national basketball team, United States, and despite a small halftime lead, the Opals lost a close game 100–95. The loss however, resulted in a respectable fourth-place finish.FIBA Archive. 1994 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The young 1994 team featured the backbone of Australian teams over the next decade; Rachael Sporn, Trisha Fallon, Michelle Brogan, Allison Tranquilli, Sandy Brondello, Annie La Fleur and Jenny Whittle. At the 1994 tournament, the team also adopted the ''Opals'' as its nickname. At the Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, the Olympic tournament was expanded to twelve teams, making an easier path for Australia to qualify. Captained by Robyn Maher, the Opals started off with strong wins over South Korea at the 1996 Summer Olympics, South Korea, Zaire at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Zaire, and Cuba at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Cuba before losing to eventual gold medalist USA and Ukraine at the 1996 Summer Olympics#Basketball, Ukraine. Australia then persevered through an overtime game against Russia to set up a semi-finals match against the United States. The US won the game 93–71, sending the Opals to a rematch against Ukraine for the bronze medal. Australia held back a second half comeback by Ukraine to win the game 66–56, earning Australia its first ever international basketball medal for either men or women.FIBA Archive. 1996 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. In 1998, the Opals looked to build off the bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship for Women, World Championships in Germany. The team featured 17-year-old future star Lauren Jackson, and was led by Michelle Brogan's average of 13.1 points per game. Australia put together a dominant performance, winning their first seven games before losing to Russia women's national basketball team, Russia 82–76 in a close semi-final match. In the bronze medal game, Carla Boyd's 26 points proved too much for Brazil, and the Opals won 72–67 to earn their second bronze medal in international play.FIBA Archive. 1998 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012.
2000s: A decade of medals and World Champions
With Sydney hosting the Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2000 Olympic Games, the Opals gained automatic entry into the tournament. Captained by Michele Timms, the team started out with dominating performances winning all of their first seven games, sending them to their first ever gold medal match, against the United States women's national basketball team, USA. The American team proved too strong for the Opals however, as they won 76–54. Australia won the Silver Medal, their best result in international competition at the time.FIBA Archive. 2000 Olympic Games: Tournament for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 22 July 2012. In 2002, the Opals looked to continue their success in 2002 FIBA World Championship for Women, China at the World Championships. Coached by Jan Stirling, captained by Kristi Harrower, and powered by Lauren Jackson's 23.1 points per game (which led the tournament), Australia won its first five games all by double figures. In the second round the Opals lost to Brazil women's national basketball team, Brazil, but bounced back with a 78–52 victory over France women's national basketball team, France in the quarterfinal. In the semi-finals, the Opals lost to eventual gold medalist USA, but recovered the next day to capture the bronze medal with a convincing 91–63 win over Korea women's national basketball team, South Korea.FIBA Archive. 2002 World Championship: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 12 August 2012.
At the Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's basketball, 2004 Olympics held in Athens, Greece, the Opals were led by Lauren Jackson's tournament best 22.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. With Penny Taylor contributing with 14.8 points per game, Australia dominated early winning their first seven games, all by double digits. The Opals set up a rematch of the 2000 Olympic gold medal match against the USA. The United States outlasted the Opals in the fourth quarter to win 74–63, giving the Opals their second straight Olympic silver medal.FIBA Archive. 2004 Olympic Games: Tournament for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The Opals headed to Brazil for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2006 World Championships looking to win their sixth straight medal in international competitions. Led by Lauren Jackson's 21.3 points per game and Penny Taylor's 18 points per game, first and third best in the tournament respectively, the Opals played their best tournament to date. Australia began the tournament with a forfeit victory over Lithuania women's national basketball team, Lithuania. They continued the trend by winning their next seven games decisively, with only one contest being decided by less than 10 points. In the gold medal game against Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, the Opals led throughout, paced by Penny Taylor's 28 points and Lauren Jackson's 11 rebounds. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read Australia 91, Russia 74; a convincing victory that delivered Australia's first ever basketball gold medal. Penny Taylor was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. At the Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women, 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Opals looked to reaffirm their title as World Champions. In the lead up, Australia went undefeated against Belarus women's national basketball team, Belarus, Brazil, South Korea, Latvia women's national basketball team, Latvia, Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, Czech Republic women's national basketball team, Czech Republic and host China women's national basketball team, China to set up a third straight gold medal match against the United States women's national basketball team, United States. The Opals had trouble hitting the basket and shot just 24% en route to a 92–65 defeat. The team earned their third straight Olympic silver medal, and their seventh straight international medal finish.FIBA Archive. 2008 Olympic Games: Tournament for Women
Event Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012. The 2000s was a golden era for the Opals, winning at least a bronze medal at every official FIBA tournament.
2010s: Ushering a new era
In 2010, the 16th edition of the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women, World Championship was held in the Czech Republic. Pre-tournament favourites Australia, USA, and Russia, dominated play in the first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, however, Australia suffered a shock 79–68 loss to the Czech Republic. The loss meant that the Opals could not finish any higher than 5th place, its worst international result since the early 1990s.FIBA Archive. 2010 World Championship: Tournament for WomenEvent Standings
Retrieved 13 August 2012.
Looking to rebound from their disappointing 2010 result, the Opals qualified for the Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women, 2012 Olympic Games in London by beating New Zealand three games to nil in the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, FIBA Oceania Championship. They finished the Olympic preliminary series with a 4 – 1 record, losing to France women's national basketball team, France in game 2, but after Belinda Snell sank a well behind the Half court, half-court line Three-point field goal, 3-point shot with less than one second on the clock to send the game into overtime (sports)#Basketball, overtime. Against Russia women's national basketball team, Russia, Liz Cambage became the first woman in Olympic history to successfully slam dunk a basketball. In the quarterfinal against China women's national basketball team, China, Lauren Jackson became the Olympic Games record holder for points scored, overtaking Brazilian legend Janeth Arcain's tally of 535 points. The Opals accounted for China 75–60 to set up a semi-final game with their long-time wikt:rival, rivals United States women's national basketball team, USA. Despite holding a half-time lead, the Opals again fell short losing 86–73. The Opals would however, win their 5th consecutive Olympic medal with an 83–74 win over Russia to claim the Bronze medal, bronze.
Leading up to the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, 2014 World Championship in Turkey, a number of long-serving players announced their retirements or declared themselves unavailable. Those players included Kristi Harrower, Jenni Screen, Kristen Veal, Abby Bishop, Kathleen MacLeod, Samantha Richards, Suzy Batkovic and Jenna O'Hea. Three weeks before the start of the tournament, Lauren Jackson withdrew from the team because of a knee injury. Two weeks later Liz Cambage ruptured her Achilles tendon rupture, achilles tendon during a pre-tournament game and was ruled-out because of the injury. This resulted in the selection of seven debutants into the squad of 12, a move seen as ushering in a new era of Opals basketball. Despite the loss of veteran players, the Opals went through the preliminary rounds and quarter-final undefeated, setting up a semi-final clash with USA. In a hard-fought game, the Opals cut the lead from 16 points to just six early in the final quarter, before losing 82–70. The Opals would however claim their third bronze medal at world championships with a comfortable 74–44 win against host nation Turkey women's national basketball team, Turkey. Penny Taylor was named to the tournament All-Star Five.
The Opals qualified for the Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament, 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro following a 2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship, series win against New Zealand in August 2015. On 31 March 2016, Lauren Jackson announced her retirement from basketball, citing a chronic knee injury as the reason for her decision. The Olympic squad was announced on 12 July 2016 and included seven Olympic debutants and only three players from the 2012 squad. Notable exclusions included three-time Olympic medallist Suzy Batkovic, reigning WNBL Most Valuable Player Award, WNBL MVP Abby Bishop and Rebecca Allen (basketball), Rebecca Allen. Despite slow starts which had plagued Australia throughout the tournament, the Opals finished on top of their group with a 5–0 record, outscoring Japan women's national basketball team, Japan 33–15 in the final quarter to win by six points. In the Quarter-final, the Opals suffered a shock 73–71 loss to Serbia women's national basketball team, Serbia, conceding 26 Turnover (basketball), turnovers and eliminating them from medal contention. This ended a run of five successive Olympic medals dating back 20 years. One highlight was Liz Cambage breaking Lauren Jackson's Australian Olympic record of points scored in a single game with 37 against Japan. It was the third-highest haul by a woman in Olympic history and the highest in 28 years.
Following the early exit from the Rio Olympics, Brendan Joyce was replaced in April 2017 by former Opals player and Phoenix Mercury head coach, Sandy Brondello. Unlike previous years, the Opals qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2018 World Cup through the 2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, FIBA Women's Asia Cup held in India where they won a silver medal. Kelsey Griffin was named tournament most valuable player. With basketball returning to the Basketball at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – Women's tournament, Commonwealth Games for the first time since Basketball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2006, the Opals easily accounted for England women's national basketball team, England in the final winning the gold-medal game 99–55. At the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2018 World Cup held in Spain, the Opals led their group with a 3–0 record. They then defeated China women's national basketball team, China 83–42 in the quarter-final and Spain women's national basketball team, Spain 72–66 in the semi-final to set up a gold-medal final with their long-time rivals USA. The Opals lost the game 73–56 with head coach Sandy Brondello stating a lack of offence proved their downfall. Liz Cambage led the tournament scoring with an average of 23.8 points per game and was named to the All-Star Five.
Competitive record
Olympic Games
Women's basketball was introduced as an Olympic sport at Basketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal in 1976. From 1976 to 1992, only six countries (teams) participated in the Olympic tournament. However, in 1996 at Atlanta the tournament was expanded to twelve teams. Through the 2016 Olympics, Australia qualified for the Olympic Games through competing in the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, FIBA Oceania Basketball Championship held each four years in the year preceding the games. Typically, this tournament featured either a two or three-game series between Australia and New Zealand women's national basketball team, New Zealand. With the Oceania Championship having been discontinued after its 2015 edition, and FIBA having removed all women's continental championships except for EuroBasket Women from the Olympic qualification process in 2017, Australia will qualify for future Olympics through a two-stage process, starting with an Olympic pre-qualifying tournament involving Asian and Oceanian national teams in the year before the Olympics and followed by a worldwide Olympic qualifying tournament held in the year of the Games.World Cup
The first official FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, Women's World Cup, known as the Women's World Championship through its 2014 edition, was held in Chile in 1953.USA BasketballFirst World Championship for Women – 1953
Retrieved 21 August 2012. The tournament was expanded to 16 countries (teams) in 1990. Since 2017, Australia qualifies for the World Cup through competing in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, held each four years in the year preceding the Women's World Cup. Before then, Australia qualified through the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, FIBA Oceania Championship. Typically, this tournament featured either a two or three-game series between Australia and New Zealand women's national basketball team, New Zealand. FIBA discontinued the Oceania championships for both women and FIBA Oceania Championship, men after their respective 2015 editions, combining FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceania into a single zone for purposes of World Cup and Olympic qualification.
Asia Cup
Commencing in 2017, teams from Oceania and Asia zones competed together for the first time ever with the top four finishing teams qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.Statistics
Team
Current roster
Roster for the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.Past World Cup squads
Past Olympics squads
International caps
The following is a Chronology, chronological list of Australian players who have played at official senior FIBA international tournaments (Basketball at the Summer Olympics, Olympic Games and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, World Cups). The list includes both past and present players. Active players are shown in bold. Where two or more players debuted in the same series, their Cap (sport), cap number is determined by their official Number (sports), uniform number (and not alphabetically). As of the 2020 Olympic Games, 112 players have represented Australia at Olympic Games and World Cups. There were no debutants at the Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. DeceasedIndividual achievements
Opals all-time games played
Legend * Games played is current as at the completion of the London Olympic Games in August 2012. * (*) denotes the player is a member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. * ''Italic'' denotes the player is still active.Opals Team Captains
Legend * Tournaments are those officially sanctioned by FIBA.See also
*Australia men's national basketball team *Australia women's national 3x3 team *Australia women's national under-17 basketball team *Australia women's national under-19 basketball team *Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team *Australian Basketball Hall of Fame *List of Australian WNBA players *List of Olympic medalists in basketball#Women, List of Olympic medalists in basketballReferences
External links
*FIBA profile
at FIBA Archive {{FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup winners Australia women's national basketball team, Australia at the Commonwealth Games, Basketball Women's national basketball teams Women's basketball teams in Australia,