NBL1 star set to make Opals debut

Three 2024 NBL1 players will join the Opals in Brazil for the qualifying games in February ahead of the Paris Olympics.

After a bronze medal finish at the FIBA Women’s World Cup, the Opals will take on the host nation in Brazil, Germany and Serbia in the qualifying tournament. 

Returning home to the Blues, Steph Reid will make her Opals debut alongside Melbourne Tigers signing Sara Blicavs and Lauren Jackson, who will return to the Albury-Wodogna Bandits this coming season.

They’ll be joined by Sami Whitcomb (Willetton), Jade Melbourne (Melbourne) and Isobel Borlase (Forestville), who all played in the NBL1 last season.  

Darcee Garbin (Goldfields Giants) and Alice Kunek (Nunawading Spectres) were unavailable due to injury, with head coach Sandy Brondello saying it was tough to select the team to represent Australia next month. 

“I’m really happy to finally announce the team, we have been hit with some injuries for sure but that’s the nature of what we do so we prepare for that,” Brondello said.

“Brazil is first up and with the home crowd they will be tough, Germany is a team on the rise and we have a really competitive history against Serbia, so there are no easy games.”

The qualifying tournament runs from February 8 to 11 in Belem, Brazil with world No.3 Australia needing to finish top three in its pool to book an Olympic ticket.

See the full team below: 

Rebecca Allen
Ezi Magbegor (2019, Geelong United Supercats)
Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Tigers) 
Jade Melbourne (2023, Melbourne Tigers)
Isobel Borlase (2023, Forestville Eagles)
Stephanie Reid (Frankston Blues)
Cayla George (2022, Cairns Dolphins) 
Alanna Smith (2022, Townsville Flames)
Lauren Jackson (Albury-Wodonga Bandits) 
Marianna Tolo (2022, Launceston Tornadoes) 
Tess Madgen (2022, Bendigo Braves)
Samantha Whitcomb (2023, Willetton Tigers)