Paris 2024: Next-gen Opals return to Olympics podium for first time in over a decade
While the GOAT Lauren Jackson capped off her remarkable career and created history with bronze in Paris it was the next generation of Opals stars who stole the show against Belgium.
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Australia’s next- generation Opals capped their remarkable cultural overhaul to secure their first Olympic Games medal since London 2012 in a stunning bronze medal win over Belgium.
Lauren Jackson created history as the first Australian to win medals at five separate Olympics as the retiring champion passed the baton to new star Ezi Magbegor, achieving brilliant bronze
Jackson, 43, confirmed her glittering international career was over as WNBA star Magbegor exploded in one of the most dominant performances this Paris tournament has seen in a 30-point, 13-rebound Olympic masterclass to spearhead the 85-78 victory.
Just three years after the team hit rock bottom with the Tokyo campaign marred by Liz Cambage’s Nigeria confrontation, the Opals shone on the biggest stage with a thrilling 85-78 win over Belgium.
Guard Sami Whitcomb got bashed early on by the Belgians, but she pushed on to drop 14 points and add four rebounds and four assists.
With rising guards Jade Melbourne and Izzy Borlase showing signs of their emerging brilliance and Magbegor only 24, this is now their team.
But first they will celebrate Jackson’s incredible contribution to the game after sending her off in the perfect manner.
Jackson confirmed her international career was over after being able to savour the win from the bench after admitting so many Opals had gone by in a haze given she had played so much court time.
“It was amazing. It’s so special. The girls were remarkable tonight, especially under pressure down the stretch. I could never dream of this, honestly I couldn’t.
“Five Olympics and five medals. It’s crazy. The second part of my career has been crazy, the last three years what I have achieved personally and then with this team, it’s been remarkable. I could never have imagined it in my wildest dreams.”
Magbegor plays for the same Seattle WNBA side that drafted Jackson as the No.1 overall pick in 2001 and now has a chance to establish an incredible international career.
“It is still rose gold to us,” Magbegor said after a game Jackson said was officially one of the most efficient Olympic games ever recorded.
“Losing in the semis to USA was tough,” the 24-year-old said.
“Gold was the ultimate goal, but I think just being able to bounce back after a loss is a testament to the team that we have. I think we’ve shown resilience throughout the whole tournament.
“I’m so proud of this team. I think a lot of people did such a great job of carrying us throughout the tournament, showing up game after game. I know it wasn’t the greatest tournament on an individual level. It was the last game for a lot of our Opals in the Opals jersey. So just being able to come out here and get a bronze means a lot.”
An emotional Cayla George was reduced to happy tears post-game when talking about winning a bronze medal in Paris.
“I’m really overwhelmed,” George said.
“I’m really happy to win a medal here. I think we deserve it.
“We’re a tough group, we’re a sisterhood and it is just such a blessing to play with these amazing talented athletes and women.
“This Opals journey for all of us has looked very different and we’ve come together and got a medal here and it’s just a really lovely way to finish off these games.”
Asked if we’ll see her again on the international stage, George said: “I don’t know. I don’t even know what I’m having for dinner.
“I’m 35 and maybe it looks like I’ll finish up soon, but I feel really good and I feel like I’m still playing really good basketball.
“So, I don’t know what the future looks like.”
Guard Sami Whitcomb got bashed early on by the Belgians, but she pushed on to drop 14 points and add four rebounds and four assists.
Veterans like Whitcomb, George, Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo are also expected to move on post Paris, but the focus will largely be on Jackson’s extraordinary career.
The girl from Albury didn’t take the floor against Belgium, but it won’t diminish her remarkable achievements.
She also boasts a 2006 World Cup gold and Commonwealth Games gold in the same year.
In the WNBA Jackson is a dual championship winner, triple MVP winner, finals MVP, seven-time first team recipient and seven-time All Star.
She is also a three-time EuroLeague champion, dual Russian league champion, Korean League MVP and seven-time WNBL champion, four-time WNBL MVP and four-time WNBL Grand Final MVP.
Jackson has been inducted into the Australian basketball Hall of Fame (2019), Women’s basketball Hall of Fame (2020), and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (2021).
As America’s brilliant basketballers said of Jackson after the semi-final victory, Jackson is the game’s GOAT given her longevity and impact on the development of professional basketball.
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