Smith injury fears as Opals fight off Puerto Rico

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The Australian Opals will be sweating on the fitness of star centre Alanna Smith after last year's WNBA Defensive Player of the Year left the team's 70-54 win over Puerto Rico in their FIBA World Cup opener in the second quarter return.

Smith was dominating for the Opals with 10 points and eight rebounds in just 12 minutes but appeared to suffer a lower leg injury when the ball was tipped out her on the three-point line. The 29-year-old left the game and was late to join the Opals bench after the halftime break before returning in a hoodie and missing the second half.

ESPN's Kane Pitman reported on the broadcast Basketball Australia said Smith's absence in the second half was "precautionary due to lower leg tightness".

Despite the Dallas Wings star's absence, Australia fought off a plucky Puerto Rico side in game one in Berlin and responded after coach Sandy Brondello took aim at her Opals in the third quarter.

"Take a breath, we're playing scared. Relax and we'll be alright," Brondello said after their opposition closed the deficit to just one point with five minutes left in the third quarter.

The Opals responded and went on a 14-2 run, sparked by back-to-back threes from Alex Wilson and Chloe Bibby with those makes damaging Puerto Rico's zone after it proved challenging for Australia to overcome in the second and start of the third periods.

As she always does for the green and gold, Steph Talbot stepped up exactly when the Opals needed her to in the second half, making crucial plays at both ends of the floors to lead her team to a 16-point victory.

Talbot connected on consecutive triples to put the game out of reach for Puerto Rico as the Adelaide Lightning skipper led the Opals in scoring with 19 points, including 4-from-6 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing eight rebounds in 33 minutes.

New Opals captain Ezi Magbegor had an inspired second half, stepping up in Smith's absence with 11 points and nine rebounds, including a crucial three-pointer to allow Brondello's side to extend their lead to double digits.

Back-up centre Zitina Aukouso also played a critical role with her physicality in the paint in her first major tournament for Australia.

It was clear the Opals missed injured veteran guard Sami Whitcomb, who recently withdrew from the World Cup due to issues arising from a knee injury during WNBA preseason, after Australia struggled to take care of the ball with 22 turnovers for the game.

Australia's young guards, such as Jade Melbourne and Isobel Borlase, will need to step up and cover Whitcomb's absence as they progress in the tournament.

The Opals next face Turkiye on Sunday at 7.30pm AEST.