Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Basketball Australia has announced the 20-player Opals squad to compete in February’s Olympic Qualifiers in Brazil.
The Opals squad currently features 18 players who have played in NBL1 since 2019. The team will be eventually reduced to only 12 by the start of the Qualifiers.
Headlining the squad will be Lauren Jackson, the four-time Olympic medallist (three silver, one bronze), who will make another fairy tale return to the Opals – after claiming the bronze medal in the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney late last year.
Coming off an Opals selection for the @FIBAWWC the ? Lauren Jackson put up 4??0?? points and 2??5?? boards in the win ? pic.twitter.com/j9zwhpFqp9
Returning to the Albury-Wodonga Bandits for the 2024 NBL1 season, she’ll be joined by 2024 signings in Melbourne Tigers recruit Sara Blicavs and the returning Mount Gambier Pioneers star Zitina Aokuso.
Forestville Eagles rising star Isobel Borlase has been selected for her first senior Opals squad, while eight more players from the 2023 NBL1 season will join her for the Qualifiers.
Opals head coach Sandy Brondello says the team features a balance of stars on the rise and experienced veterans.
“Our squad is a great mix of experience and exciting emerging talent, so we approach the qualifiers with confidence but great respect for our opposition,” she said.
“We will have limited preparation for these qualifiers but we know with the Opals we lift for the big occasion and, with an Olympics spot on the line, we can expect each player to bring it.”
See the full squad below:
Rebecca Allen
Zitina Aokuso (2024 - Mount Gmabier Pionners)
Sara Blicavs (2024 - Melbourne Tigers)
Isobel Borlase (2023 - Forestville Eagles)
Darcee Garbin (2023 - Goldfields Giants)
Cayla George (2022 - Cairns Dolphins)
Shyla Heal (2023 - Sydney Comets)
Lauren Jackson (2024 - Albury-Wodonga Bandits)
Alice Kunek (2023 - Nunawading Spectres)
Tess Madgen (2022 - Bendigo Braves)
Ezi Magbegor (2019 - Geelong United Supercats)
Anneli Maley (2023 - Eltham Wildcats)
Jade Melbourne (2023 - Melbourne Tigers)
Stephanie Reid (2023 - Townsville Flames)
Maddison Rocci (2023 - South West Metro Pirates)
Alanna Smith (2022 - Townsville Flames)
Stephanie Talbot
Marianna Tolo (2022 - Launceston Tornadoes)
Kristy Wallace ( 2021 - Melbourne Tigers)
Samantha Whitcomb (2023 - Willetton Tigers)
