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.
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.
Concerns over a poor preparation seemed justified when the Opals suffered a shock 75-62 loss to Nigeria.
All matches will be held in Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille before finals move to Paris.
Saturday, July 27: Nigeria 75 d Opals 62
Tuesday, July 30:Opals 70 d Canada 65
Friday, August 2: Australia 79 d France 72
BOOMERS
The Australians were named in Group B alongside World Cup bronze medallists Canada (World ranking No. 7), arch nemesis Spain and Greece.
The draw was branded the “Group of Death”, though they warmed up in style before the Games.
Josh Giddey immediately labelled the squad a medal chance, even as it was revealed that 53 NBA stars would line up across the 12 teams.
However Australia blew the biggest lead in Olympic history to bow out in the quarter-finals against Serbia.
Saturday, July 27: Australia 92 d Spain 80
Tuesday, July 30:Canada 93 d Australia 83
Friday, August 2: Greece 77 d Australia 71
Tuesday, August 6:Serbia 95 d Australia 90 (OT)
*Top three in each group progress to the second round in Paris
WHAT ARE THE TEAM LISTS?
OPALS
The squad was finalised in July 2024, with generational talent Caitlin Clark controversially overlooked.
The Opals named a strong squad with a potent mix of youth and experience, including the fifth Olympic appearance of the legendary Lauren Jackson.
Rebecca Allen
■ Inside Allen’s injury horror
Position: Forward
DOB: 06/11/1992
Debut: 2014 FIBA World Cup
Height: 188cm
Major Tournaments: FIBA Asia Cup: 2019. FIBA World Cup: 2014, 2018, 2022. Olympic Games: 2020
Current team: Connecticut Sun, WNBA
Isobel Borlase
Position: Guard
DOB: 12/09/2004
Debut: FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, 2024
Height: 180cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA Under-19 World Cup: 2023
Current team: Adelaide Lightning, WNBL
Lauren Jackson
■ Career fears, Paris hopes, Hall of Fame induction
Position: Centre
DOB: 11/05/1981
Debut:1998 FIBA World Cup
Height: 195cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA World Cup: 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2022. Olympic Games: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012.Commonwealth Games: 2006
Current team: Southside Flyers, WNBL
Cayla George
■ Why everything is lining up perfectly for Opals
Position: Forward
DOB: 01/05/1989
Debut: 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 193cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA Asia Cup: 2019. FIBA World Cup: 2014, 2018, 2022. Olympic Games: 2016, 2020. Commonwealth Games: 2018
Current team:Sydney Flames, WNBL/Las Vegas Aces, WNBA
Tess Madgen
■ This player will ‘carry the torch after Jackson’
Position: Guard
DOB: 12/08/1990
Debut: 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 180cm
Major Tournaments: : : FIBA Asia Cup: 2023. FIBA World Cup: 2018, 2022. Olympic Games: 2020
Current team: Sydney Flames, WNBL
Ezi Magbegor
■ Ezi tipped to be the next big thing
Position: Forward
DOB: 13/08/1999
Debut: 2018 FIBA World Cup
Height: 193cm
Major Tournaments: : : FIBA Asia Cup: 2019. FIBA World Cup: 2018, 2022. Olympic Games: 2020. Commonwealth Games: 2018
Current team:ZVVZ USK Praha/Seattle Storm, WNBA
Jade Melbourne
■ Future star on brink of Olympic dream
Position: Guard
DOB: 18/08/2022
Debut: 2021 FIBA Asia Cup
Height: 178cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA Asia Cup: 2021
Current team: UC Capitals, WNBL/Seattle Storm, WNBA
Stephanie Talbot
Position: Guard
DOB: 15/06/1994
Place of birth
Katherine, Northern Territory
Debut: 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 188cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA World Cup: 2018, 2022. Olympic Games: 2016, 2020.
Current team: Adelaide Lightning, WNBL/Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA
Alanna Smith
■ Smith family name rises again
Position: Forward
DOB: 09/09/1996
Debut: 2017 FIBA Asia Cup
Height: 191cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA World Cup: 2018. Olympic Games: 2020
Current team: Emalk Konut Spor Kulubu, Istanbul/Chicago Sky, WNBA
Marianna Tolo
■ How Tolo bounced back from ACL tear
Position: Centre
DOB: 02/07/1989
Debut: 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 196cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA Asia Cup: 2017. FIBA World Cup: 2014, 2018, 2022. Tokyo Olympics 2016, 2020
Current team: Spar Girona, Euro League
Kristy Wallace
■ How Wallace survived the cut
Position: Guard
DOB: 02/01/1996
Debut: 2021 FIBA Asia Cup
Height: 180cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA World Cup: 2022
Current team: Melbourne Boomers WNBL/Indianna Fever, WNBA
Sami Whitcomb
Position: Guard
DOB: 20/07/1988
Debut: 2018 FIBA World Cup
Height: 178cm
Major Tournaments: : FIBA Asia Cup: 2021. FIBA World Cup: 2018, 2022
Current team: Townsville Fire, WNBL/Seattle Storm, WNBA
BOOMERS
The 12-man squad below is set to be confirmed.
Patty Mills
■ Mills shines in Paris warning to rivals
■ ‘FIBA Patty’ prove NBA woes are not a Boomers worry
Position: Shooting Guard
DOB: 11/08/1988
Debut: 2007 FIBA Oceania Championships
Height: 183cm
Major Tournaments - Olympics: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020. FIBA World Cup: 2010, 2019, 2023
Current team: Miami Heat, NBA
Junior club: The Shadows, Canberra
Josh Giddey
■ Goorjian backs Giddey’s Bulls trade
■ Giddey fires up over ‘joke’ Paris uniform
■ ‘This is why we are destined for a medal’
Position: Point Guard
DOB: 10/10/2002
Debut: FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers
Height: 203cm
Major Tournaments:FIBA 2023 World Cup
Current team: Chicago Bulls, NBA
Junior club: Melbourne Tigers
Dyson Daniels
■ Meet the Boomers’ defensive beast
■ Why Daniels could trump veteran at Games
■ NBA young gun undaunted by the Boomers’ draw
■ Daniels arrives on the big stage
Position: Guard Point/Guard
DOB: 17/03/2003
Debut: FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers
Height: 203cm
Major Tournaments: FIBA World Cup 2023
Current team: Atlanta Hawks, NBA
Junior club: Bendigo Braves
Jack McVeigh
■ McVeigh stars as Boomers down China
■ Boomer pair who overcame adversity
■ Why NBA is calling for McVeigh
Position: Guard
Debut: 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers
Height: 6’8 - 203cm
Major Tournaments: N/A
Current team: Tasmania JackJumpers, NBL
Junior club: North Gold Coast Seahawks
Origin: Cabarita Beach, Australia
Jock Landale
■ Aussie NBA star’s footy trick shot
■ Landale proves his value against USA
■ Why we will win this for Bogut
Position: Centre
DOB: 25/10/1995
Debut: FIBA World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers
Height: 211cm
Major Tournaments: 2020 Olympics; FIBA World Cup: 2019
Current team: Houston Rockets, NBA
Junior club:Geelong Grammar School
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
Dante Exum
Position: Guard
DOB: 13/07/1995
Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia
Debut: 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 196cm
Major Tournaments - Olympics: 2020. FIBA World Cup: 2014, 2023.
Current team: Dallas Mavericks, NBA
Junior club: Keilor Thunder
Josh Green
■ Green’s career-best NBA show
■ Green reveals how he knew NBA trade was on cards
Position: Shooting Guard
DOB: 16/11/2000
Debut: 2020 Olympics
Height: 197cm
Major Tournaments: Tokyo 2020 Olympics, FIBA 2023 World Cup
Current team: Charlotte Hornets, NBA
Junior club: Hills Hornets, NSW
Joe Ingles
Position: Shooting Guard/Forward
DOB: 02/10/1987
Debut: 2008 Beijing Olympics
Height: 203cm
Major Tournaments - Olympics: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020. FIBA World Cup: 2010, 2014, 2019, 2023
Current team: Orlando Magic, NBA
Junior club: Southern Tigers, South Australia
Origin: Happy Valley, South Australia
Nick Kay
Position: Forward/Centre
DOB: 03/08/1992
Debut: 2017 FIBA Asia Cup
Height: 206cm
Major Tournaments - Olympics: 2020. FIBA World Cup: 2019, 2023
Current team: Shimane Susanoo Magic, Japanese B League
Duop Reath
■ How we discovered ‘hidden gem’
Position: Centre
DOB: 26/06/1996
Debut: 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Height: 6’9 - 211cm
Major Tournaments: Tokyo 2020 Olympics, FIBA 2023 World Cup
Current team: Portland Trail Blazers
Junior club: Perry Lakes Hawks
Origin: Waat, South Sudan
Matthew Dellavedova
■ Why veteran could have been overlooked for whizkid
■ How Della justified his place
Position: Point Guard
DOB: 08/09/1990
Debut: 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship
Height: 193cm
Major Tournaments: Olympics: 2012, 2016, 2020.
FIBA World Cup: 2014, 2019.
Current team: Melbourne United, NBL
Junior club: Maryborough, Victoria
Will Magnay
■ How Magnay is chasing his Olympic dreams
■ Boomer pair who overcame adversity
Position: Centre
Debut: N/A
Height: 6’10 - 208cm
Major Tournaments: N/A
Current team: Tasmania JackJumpers, NBL
Junior club: Northside Wizards
Origin: Brisbane, Queensland
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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