Opals escape to stay unbeaten against Türkiye

• ‍Game 1: Walking bucket Isobel Borlase blings it up for Opals‍
• Game 2: Sami Whitcomb busts 4-for-7 threes as Opals fend off Japan‍
• Game 3: Zitina Aokuso dominates paint as Opals defeat Hungary

Australian centre Alanna Smith needed all of her WNBA pedigree to help Opals fight off home team Türkiye 77-74 at the Turkcell Basketball Development Centre on Monday morning, March 16, 2026 (AEDT).

Australian stretched the lead 77-73 on a broken inbounds play as Ally Wilson scored on an open lay-up, tapped ahead by Sami Whitcomb as she scrambled to keep it from going out.

"It was a really hard-fought game," Smith said.

"I just want to give a shout-out to the Turkey team. They played a really, really tough game. They’re a tough opponent.

"It came down to the wire and they gave us all they had. But I’m just really proud of how we kind of stuck together through everything that was thrown at us.

"I think it was a really good growing moment for us."

Australia has already qualified for the FIBA World Cup but Smith said: "I think we come to these tournaments, no matter what, wanting to win games.

"I think our goal at the end of the day is to win. So even if we have qualified or not, I think we’re working together to win basketball games. We come into every game with that goal in mind and motivated to win no matter what."

Australia absorbed Türkiye’s early physicality before seizing momentum across the middle quarters, building multiple small runs that proved decisive in the closing minutes. Despite being out-rebounded 35–31 and conceding a paint scoring advantage (38–30), the Opals’ defensive pressure — generating 14 steals and 23 points off turnovers — helped swing possession battles and limit Türkiye’s late execution.

"It’s a good hit-out," head coach Sandy Brondello said.

"I was happier for how we came out in the second half. We played with a little bit more urgency and we’ve got to hang our hat on defence every single time. That allowed us to get a little bit of separation. We can learn a lot from end-game execution.

"So yeah, these games are really necessary for us. But really proud of how we just hung in there. We’ll learn from our mistakes and continue to grow."

Türkiye controlled stretches of the opening period and briefly pushed the margin to nine points, but Australia responded with improved ball movement and perimeter spacing. The Opals’ 7–0 scoring burst midway through the second quarter stabilised the contest, while their ability to convert from the foul line (19-of-25) maintained scoreboard pressure.

The third quarter proved pivotal. Australia’s guards increased tempo, forcing Türkiye into rushed decisions and transition defence. Australia finished with 20 assists and nine fast-break points, highlighting their willingness to attack early offence and shift defensive matchups.

In the final quarter, Türkiye repeatedly threatened to regain control, but Australia’s composure — particularly in late-clock possessions — ensured the visitors held firm across multiple lead changes.

Australian Box Score vs Türkiye

Australia

+----+-------------------+-------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| #  | Player            | MIN   | PTS | FG        | 2PT FG    | 3PT FG    | FT        | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | PF  | TO  | STL | BLK | +/- | EFF |
+----+-------------------+-------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 2  | Jade Melbourne    | 06:29 | 0   | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  |  -   |  -   |  -  | 1   | 4   | 2   | 1   |  -  | 2   |  -  |
| 6  | Steph Talbot *    | 27:35 | 9   | 3/8 (37.5%)| 3/5 (60%) | 0/3 (0%)  | 3/3 (100%)|  -   | 3    | 3   | 1   | 3   | 1   | 3   | 2   | 3   | 12  |
| 13 | Alanna Smith *    | 31:55 | 18  | 7/13 (53.9%)|7/11 (63.6%)|0/2 (0%) | 4/7 (57.1%)| 5    | 5    | 10  |  -  | 4   | 1   |  -  |  -  | 15  | 18  |
| 12 | Stephanie Reid    | 04:37 | 0   | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  |  -   |  -   |  -  |  -  | 1   |  -  |  -  |  -  | -3  |  -  |
| 15 | Cayla George      | 29:27 | 16  | 5/9 (55.6%)| 1/2 (50%) | 4/7 (57.1%)|2/2 (100%)|  -   | 4    | 4   | 5   | 1   | 1   | 3   |  -  | 4   | 23  |
| 22 | Isobel Borlase    | 16:53 | 4   | 1/5 (20%) | 1/4 (25%) | 0/1 (0%)  | 2/2 (100%)|  -   | 3    | 3   | 1   | 2   | 3   | 1   |  -  | -6  | 2   |
| 23 | Zitina Aokuso *   | 13:25 | 5   | 2/4 (50%) | 2/4 (50%) | 0/0 (0%)  | 1/2 (50%) |  -   | 1    | 1   | 1   | 1   | 1   |  -  |  -  | -6  | 3   |
| 32 | Alexandra Fowler  | 05:13 | 0   | 0/1 (0%)  | 0/1 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 1    | 1    | 2   | 1   | 2   |  -  | 1   |  -  | -7  | 3   |
| 44 | Sami Whitcomb *   | 33:01 | 11  | 3/8 (37.5%)| 1/4 (25%) | 2/4 (50%) | 3/3 (100%)|  -   | 3    | 3   | 5   | 3   | 2   | 5   |  -  | 10  | 17  |
| 55 | Alex Wilson *     | 31:26 | 14  | 4/9 (44.4%)| 2/4 (50%) | 2/5 (40%) | 4/6 (66.7%)| -   | 2    | 2   | 5   |  -  | 4   |  -  |  -  | 3   | 10  |
| -- | Chloe Bibby       | 00:00 | 0   | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  | 0/0 (0%)  |  -   |  -   |  -  |  -  |  -  |  -  |  -  |  -  |  -  |  -  |
+----+-------------------+-------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|    | TOTAL             | 200   | 77  |25/57 (43.9%)|17/35 (48.6%)|8/22 (36.4%)|19/25 (76%)| 7    | 24   | 31  | 20  | 21  | 15  | 14  | 2   |  -  |  -  |
+----+-------------------+-------+-----+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

* Starters

Coach: Sandy Brondello  
Assistants: Paul Goriss │ Renae Garlepp │ Kennedy Kereama

Key Performers – Australia

• Alanna Smith anchored the frontcourt with 18 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 7-of-13 from the field while protecting defensive possessions with physical rebounding.
• Cayla George delivered a critical perimeter stretch, scoring 16 points including 4-of-7 from three, and added five assists to stabilise offensive rhythm.
• Alex Wilson contributed 14 points and five assists, helping orchestrate late-game execution.
• Sami Whitcomb added 11 points and five assists, finishing 3-of-3 from the free-throw line in key moments.
• Steph Talbot supplied defensive activity with three steals alongside nine points.

Australia’s bench rotation remained situational, with limited minutes from several players as head coach Sandy Brondello leaned heavily on experienced line-ups in crunch time.

By the Numbers

• FG%: Australia 43.9% │ Türkiye 46%
• 3PT: Australia 8-of-22 (36.4%) │ Türkiye 22.2%
• FT: Australia 19-of-25 (76%) │ Türkiye 88.9%
• Steals: Australia 14 │ Türkiye 8
• Turnovers Forced: Australia +2 differential
• Lead Changes: 3 │ Times Tied: 3

Australian faces Canada in Group A on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 1.30am.