Paris Games 2024: Resilient Opals bounce back to keep medal dreams alive

Despite a spate of banged up bodies and injury concerns the Opals have bounced back from their loss against Nigeria to a gutsy win over Canada. REPORT AND PLAYER RATINGS.

LILLE, FRANCE - AUGUST 01: Cayla George #15 of Team Australia celebrates during the Women's Group Phase - Group B match between Team Australia and Team Canada on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on August 01, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Opals coach Sandy Brondello has compared the officiating at the Paris Games to “rugby” as her Australians rediscovered their physical edge to defeat Canada and keep their Paris Olympic podium dreams alive.

A beaming Brondello praised her charges for responding against the Canadians after “getting smacked in the face” in a shock opening loss to Nigeria.

The New York Liberty WNBA coach also weighed in on the officiating in Lille, with 37 fouls called in a torrid affair.

“Do I get fined here? Oh my god. Some of the calls though. Are we playing rugby?” Brondello said post-game.

Sami Whitcomb was fantastic in the win. Picture: Getty Images

“It felt like it was a rugby game out there. I don’t know if the men’s games are like that, but we came ready to play and ready to play rugby with the best of them.

“We got smacked in the face against Nigeria, but we just had to remember ourselves so I’m proud of the girls.

“We were backs against the wall, so it shows a lot of character.”

The Australian women must now beat host nation France on Sunday to secure their position in the second round.

Fortunately they’ll head into the French clash full of confidence after reviving their Paris Games campaign with a dramatically improved performance compared to their forgettable display against Nigeria.

The Opals still had eight turnovers in the opening 11 minutes and 20 in total, but they rediscovered their shooting mojo to sneak past the Canadians.

Ezi Magbegor is the future and present of the Opals. Picture: Getty Images

WNBA guard Sami Whitcomb was the best player on the floor. Whitcomb put on a scoring show, dropping eight of her team-high 19 points during a first quarter blitz.

She was also brilliant for the Aussie women as the team’s creator with 10 assists, regularly finding bigs Cayla George (11) and Marianna Tolo (11) for points in the paint.

Brondello revealed she made a pre-game decision to put the ball in Whitcomb’s hands to capitalise the 36-year-old’s experience.

“She (Sami) was bloody amazing, hey,” she grinned post-game.

“What a little ripper. I mean, to get a double double. We tried to purposely put the ball in her hand.

“I thought we lacked a bit of experience in the first game and experience helps in these big tournaments.

“She did everything and made some massive plays.”

Can the Opals still win a medal in Paris? Picture: AFP

Seattle Storm sensation Ezi Magbegor produced her best effort at the Paris Games.

Magbegor is widely regarded as the future of the Opals’ program and she showed it with a polished 10 points in Lille.

Most importantly, the Opals found a way to be effective in the paint, which they failed to do against the physical Nigerians.

Tolo and George, who both played limited minutes in the opener, responded in style at both ends of the floor against Canada.

Much to her delight, the ever passionate George knocked down two bombs from three to give the Opals the edge in the first half.

Forward Steph Talbot has also found her offensive groove, dropping 11 points in her best game of the Olympic campaign.

Brondello was thrilled with Talbot’s toughness to play through the battle of returning from an ACL injury.

Team Australia head coach Sandy Brondello and Amy Atwell during the clash with Canada. . Picture: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

“Steph is coming back from an injury and hasn’t played a lot of basketball, but she is mad at herself because she is such a high performer,” she said.

“She is our engine and our defensive anchor. She is tough as nails.”

Injuries and a limited preparation for the team’s WNBA stars has clearly had a major impact on the Opals.

Veterans Tess Madgen (knee), Tolo (foot), Talbot (ACL recovery) and Lauren Jackson (sore) are all battling niggles.

The same can be said about Kristy Wallace (knee) and Olympic rookie Isobel Borlase (calf).

Yet despite the injury concerns, the Opals found a way to dig deep and defeat Canada.

Now host nation France and a sold-out stadium in Lille awaits the Opals to determine their Olympic fate.

Originally published as Paris Games 2024: Resilient Opals bounce back to keep medal dreams alive