Opals and Boomers’ Paris Olympics 2024 Guide: Team list, schedule, draws, latest news
Australia’s strong history of results at the Olympic Games goes on the line again in Paris 2024.
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Australia will shoot for basketball glory in Paris 2024 – but what are our hopes?
The national men’s side, the Boomers, and the women’s line-up, the Opals, have a mixed history of heartache and honour when it comes to the Olympic Games.
The men’s team in March 2024 were drawn in the “group of death”, while the Opals also look to have a tough run when the action starts in July.
The Boomers will have to overcome the backdrop surrounding Ben Simmons, though coach Brian Goorjian began hunting a NBL bolter to fill the void.
In July the Boomers looked set to confirm their 12-man roster for the Games, with veteran trio Matthew Dellavedova, Nick Kay and Joe Ingles all surviving the cut.
It came two months after the USA plotted to announce its strongest Olympic basketball side since the 1992 Dream Team, in a squad worth a whopping AU$466 million.
The Opals, meanwhile, have had their own off-court dramas in recent years, including the return of Lauren Jackson and the messy split from Liz Cambag, who was again in the headlines in April 2024
In May Opals captain Tess Madgen anointed Ezi Magbegor as the player to “carry the touch” when Jackson retires post the Olympics.
By June a drama-free preparation, in-form players across the world and the return of the GOAT Lauren Jackson had the “invincible” Opals confident.
Three years on from the disappointing eighth-place finish at the Tokyo Games, star centre Cayla George felt like the Opals’ globally revered “fear factor” had been restored.
In March 2024 it was announced Australia’s Olympic sports will be part of a fund-raising revolution.
In June there was controversy when star Australian players and basketball fans vented their strong disapproval of the new Boomers and Opals uniforms for the Paris Olympics, with gun guard Josh Giddey labelling the kits a “joke”.
Everything you need to know about the Opals and Boomers below >>>
Jump to: Full draws | Squad lists | Games history | Fast facts
WHAT ARE THE SCHEDULES?
OPALS
The Australian women, ranked No. 3, will line up alongside Canada (WR No. 5), Nigeria (WR No. 12) and host nation France (WR No. 7) in Paris.
Dates and times of all matches are yet to be confirmed.
BOOMERS
The Australians were named in Group B alongside World Cup bronze medallists Canada (World ranking No. 7) and the winner of two qualifying tournaments in Spain and Greece.
Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the superstar faces the Boomers may come across.
Full draw yet to be determined with qualifying tournaments to be played
Saturday, July 27: Australia vs Spain, Angola, Finland, Lebanon, Poland or the Bahamas
Tuesday, July 30: Australia vs Canada
Friday, August 2: Australia vs Greece, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, New Zealand or Slovenia.
*Top three in each group progress to the second round in Paris
WHAT ARE THE TEAM LISTS?
OPALS
The latest squad was chosen in January 2024 for the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in February, however the final squad is yet to be named, though generational talent Caitlin Clark has been controversially overlooked.
The Opals look set to name a strong squad with a potent mix of youth and experience, including the fifth Olympic appearance of the legendary Lauren Jackson.
Amy Atwell
Keely Froling
Rebecca Allen
■ Inside Allen’s injury horror
Sara Blicavs
■ Code switch shock for Blicavs
■ Dream dies as Blicavs succumbs to ‘crappy back’
Isobel Borlase
Darcee Garbin
■ Garbin issues wanring to rivals
Lauren Jackson
■ Career fears, Paris hopes, Hall of Fame induction
Cayla George
■ Why everything is lining up perfectly for Opals
Shyla Heal
Alice Kunek
Tess Madgen
■ This player will ‘carry the torch after Jackson’
Ezi Magbegor
■ Ezi tipped to be the next big thing
Jade Melbourne
■ Future star on brink of Olympic dream
Lauren Nicholson
Stephanie Reid
Maddy Rocci
■ Plotting the path to stardowm
Lauren Scherf
■ Scherf enjoys a pruple patch of form
Alanna Smith
■ Smith family name rises again
Marianna Tolo
■ How Tolo bounced back from ACL tear
Samantha Whitcomb
■ Reflecting on life as a mother
BOOMERS
The 12-man squad below is set to be confirmed.
Patty Mills
Josh Giddey
■ Goorjian backs Giddey’s Bulls trade
■ Giddey fires up over ‘joke’ Paris uniform
Dyson Daniels
■ Why Daniels could trump veteran at Games
■ NBA young gun undaunted by the Boomers’ draw
Jack McVeigh
■ McVeigh stars as Boomers down China
Jock Landale
■ Aussie NBA star’s footy trick shot
Dante Exum
Josh Green
■ Green’s career-best NBA show
■ Green reveals how he knew NBA trade was on cards
Joe Ingles
Nick Kay
Duop Reath
■ How we discovered ‘hidden gem’
Matthew Dellavedova
■ Veteran could be overlooked for whizkid
Will Magnay
■ How Magnay is chasing his Olympic dreams
WHAT IS THE PERFORMANCE HISTORY AT THE GAMES?
OPALS
As women’s basketball arrived at the 1976 Games, Australia failed to qualify for the first two editions.
However they claimed fifth from six teams in 1984, and fourth in 1988.
They again failed to reach the 1992 Games, before earning third four years later and silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
The Opals won bronze in 2012 but failed to medal four years later, and endured a miserable eighth place finish in 2020.
BOOMERS
Australia’s men's side debuted on the international stage at the 1956 Games, finishing 12th.
They did not qualify in 1960 before claiming ninth in 1964.
They failed to qualify again in 1968.
Famously the Boomers reached the Olympic semi-final in 1988, 1996 and 2000 but missed out on a medal each time.
They finished ninth at the 2004 Olympics in Athens – their worst finish since 1972 – and didn’t get past the quarters in 2008 and 2012.
They famously lost 89-88 to Spain in the bronze contest of 2016.
At Tokyo 2020 Australia topped Group B, winning all three pool games, before crushing Argentina in the quarters.
They then lost 97-78 to USA but pipped Slovenia in the bronze medal match.
OLYMPIC FAST FACTS
When are the 2024 Paris Games on?
Friday, July 26 to Sunday, August 11, 2024
How many times has Paris hosted the Olympics?
Paris (1900, 1924 and 2024) will become the second city, after London (1908, 1948 and 2012) to host the summer Olympics three times.
How much are tickets for Paris 2024 Olympics?
Full details can be found here.
Where can I watch the Paris Olympics in Australia?
Channel 9 won the hosting right for the 2024 Paris Games after Channel 7 had previously had rights for decades.
Stan Sport will also offer most of the Olympics in 4K UHD for the first time in Australian history.
Both Stan Sport and Channel 9 will provide every minute of every event.
What is the time difference between Paris and Australia?
Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne are 8 hours ahead of Paris.
Adelaide is 7.5 hours ahead.
Perth is 6 hours ahead.
Darwin is 7.5 hours ahead.
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