Are these Opals the real deal? Take a deep dive into their medal quest

It’s entirely possible that the last time you paid close attention to the Australian Opals, they had greatness within their grasp.

It was two years ago, and 11,916 spectators crammed into the Sydney Superdome, hoping to see a win against China that would send Australia into a gold medal contest for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, on home soil no less.

Lauren Jackson drives to the basket in a recent friendly against China. The 43-year-old is primed for her fifth Olympic campaign.Credit: Getty Images

The Opals fought brilliantly and bravely for a late lead that night, but fell two agonising points short of victory. They won bronze 15 hours later against Canada, but it felt like a consolation, and being stranded on the cusp of something left a fire inside.

They’ve done all the work, brought together a squad of talent both nascent and established, and arrived in Paris ready to roll. Let’s take a look at how their Olympic campaign might unfold.

Who are they up against?

It’s not exactly a group of death, but advancing to the knockout stage is no certainty either. The Opals kick things off today, first facing the energy and athleticism of Nigeria, then the WNBA class of Canada on Thursday, and the host nation fervour of France on Sunday.

“We have a tough group, but you want to play in the tough groups,” says head coach Sandy Brondello. “That’s good preparation, because the biggest game of the tournament is the quarter-finals.”

Nigeria: The Nigerian D’Tigress – ranked 12 in the world – are a team the Opals should beat. But all games are danger games here, and it was against Nigeria that the unedifying Liz Cambage drama unfolded in 2021. Brondello insists there’s no bad blood between the teams – she’s far more preoccupied with a dynamic and unpredictable opponent. “Sometimes they’re hard to scout because they play with a lot of freedom, so it’s about knowing their tendencies and what they want to do, and being able to match up with that.” Monday July 29, 11am local (7pm AEST)

Canada: Team Canada has a few players missing, but the roster is still stacked with WNBA talent, including the likes of Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx), Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics) and Kia Nurse (Los Angeles Sparks). Last week they knocked over the Opals in a practice game in Spain. “It’s a team we know well, but they can be very dangerous if you don’t take away their shooting or their playmaking,” Brondello says. “They’ve got quite big bigs, too, but I think we match up well against them.“
Thursday August 1, 1.30pm local (9.30pm AEST):

France: France have more than home crowds to lean on this Olympics. They’re a strong side, led by a player Brondello knows well from her role as a WNBA coach in New York, and that’s her star Liberty shooter Marine “The Wizard” Johannes. “It’s always tough to play the host nation. It’s gonna be a big arena. But how exciting is that?” Brondello is glad to play them in a round game, too, rather than a final. “They can be a really tough team, so we have to be ready. But they have to play us, and defend us, too.“
Sunday August 4, 9pm (Monday August 5, 5am AEST)

What’s the plan if the Opals run into Team USA?

Let’s be clear, the Americans have won the last seven gold medals, and haven’t lost an Olympic match since 1992. But Brondello knows them intimately, coaching two of them right now – Liberty stars Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart – and coaching against the rest of them in any given week. All the Opals can do, she says, is have confidence.

“Anyone can beat anyone on any given day,” she says. “They have some of the best players in the world, but do they have enough time to come together as a team? We also have many players with experience against them in the WNBA, and that helps. We have that feared component, too. We just have to believe it, and do it. If you don’t think you can win, you won’t.”

What are we going to see on court?

First, you’ll see a hard edge from these Opals. Brondello wants them to be tough to play against, above all else. They want to be disruptive, and use their defence to create their offence. They want to move the ball with penetration from their guards, and shooting from all players, anchored by a dominant inside presence.

All of that will be built on a bedrock that Brondello calls the “point-five mentality”. She’s referring to the choice that faces every single Opal within half a second of winning the ball.

“You’ve got three options – you’re either shooting it, you’re driving it, or you’re passing it – but make the decision quick, so the ball doesn’t stick.”

What else? Brondello is a big believer in “good to great”. It’s an offensive doctrine but a selfless one – coined by the San Antonio Spurs during their golden era.

Those Spurs were blessed with “the big three” – Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili – but often attribute their NBA success to a simple sharing philosophy: “Pass up a good shot, in order to set up a great shot”.

(Brondello even made her own addendum, too, with “paint to great” – a reminder to the girls to drive hard and get their feet in the key, in order to push the ball back out to three point shooters in the open.)

That’s the plan at least. Talent will do the rest. “We have great versatility. We have toughness, defence, shooting. We have everything now,” Brondello says. “I believe in the players we have.” About those players...

Who are the Opals potential starting five?

The late addition of WNBA players to the mix makes it difficult to know what the best starting combination will be. Brondello isn’t shy about chopping and changing line-ups either, and is also known to favour experience in her squads. Whether that translates to an older five on the floor is anyone’s guess, but here’s mine…

American by birth, Sami Whitcomb is an elite shooter who earned her career the hard way, at first playing in Australia to keep her career alive, before dominating and eventually finding her way in the WNBA. At 36, she’s an Opals veteran who treasures that opportunity and honour.

Stephanie Talbot has battled her fair share of knee injuries, but the Los Angeles Sparks forward is an elite defensive player and solid scorer. She was a pivotal performer at the World Cup in 2022, and is also a key leader and cultural driver.

It’s all in the blood for Alanna Smith, the daughter of NBL veteran Darren Smith and niece of former Boomers captain Jason Smith. The young forward struggled for minutes in previous international campaigns, but was on fire with the Minnesota Lynx this season, and could be ready for a breakout Olympics.

Ezi Magbegor might be the next big thing in Aussie women’s basketball. Playing with the Seattle Storm in the WNBA, she’s clearly begun to understand her own dominance as a blocking force. Not for nothing, Lauren Jackson believes Magbegor can be – and perhaps is already – “the best defensive player in the world”.

Speaking of the GOAT, she’s back. Again. Having overcome a gruesome lisfranc injury earlier this year, Lauren Jackson returns to the Opals for a fifth Olympic campaign. The 43-year-old single mum is fit, and fierce as ever. She knows she’s not the player she used to be, but she could yet be a starter.

“LJ” told this masthead recently that she can still drop a fadeaway jumper, still throw her weight around on court, and still contribute confidence, leadership, and belief, especially when the game is in the balance. “Those big pressure moments,” she said, nodding. “I’ve been in a few of them.”

Defensive talent Ezi Magbegor has become one of the best blockers in the WNBA, and will be crucial to the Opals’ success in ParisCredit: FIBA

Who else can turn a game?

The emotional captain Tess Madgen was in tears the night this Opals squad was selected in Melbourne. The team’s spiritual leader played a dominant role in the rebuilding of the Opals culture following a disastrous 2021, and is now looking forward to seeing how far it can take them.

Cayla George is a 35-year-old centre with plenty left in the tank. Reinvigorated in the past two years following the birth of her daughter Pearl --- given to her by a relative through the Torres Strait tradition of “island adoption” – George is a culture driver, and WNBA champion in 2023.

Kristy Wallace made a strong start to her WNBA career before serious injury struck her down. She’s rehabbed well, however, and been on the bench recently for the Indiana Fever. That’s no slight on her either - it’s hard to get on court when you’re the backup for Caitlin Clark.

After breaking into the WNBL at 16, Jade Melbourne was in the WNBA at 18. Now 21, the Washington Mystics guard is a natural passer who sees the court, brings players with her, and is capable of anything.

Marianna Tolo was a starter throughout the Olympic qualifying period, and during the recent leadup games. It would not surprise at all to see her start on court, with Jackson as relief. The Queenslander is big, tough, and a mainstay of the program.

Rounding out the squad is a pair of debutant Olympians, First, following a heartbreaking injury on the eve of the games to star WNBA star Bec Allen (a certain starter and massive loss for the side) into the squad comes Amy Atwell, a gifted shooter who can step in and take her chance if others are struggling to score.

And finally, there’s teenager Isobel Borlase, who was given high praise only weeks ago from assistant coach Cheryl Chambers, who described “Izzy” as having the uncanny composure to quicken the game or slow it down, according to need.

“She’s not overawed by the moment,” Chambers said. “I’m sure she’s nervous – don’t get me wrong – but she’s got quite a level head.”

With Roy Ward

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