Opals' first step to World Cup gold tips-off in Turkiye

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Preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in September goes up a gear for the Australian Opals over the next week.

Australia will play five games in Turkey at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament over the week of play and with basically full player availability, it will be a great chance for fans to see the Opals in action ahead of the World Cup in Berlin.

After winning bronze at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney, the Opals will be looking to keep their podium momentum going in Berlin and currently sit as the second ranked team in the world.

THE PERFECT PREPARATION

Putting together a basically full-strength squad for this qualifying tournament is a huge advantage for Sandy Brondello heading into the World Cup in September. Furthermore, facing some of the best teams in the world, with games against No.7 ranked Canada, 11th ranked Japan and 16th ranked Turkey, makes this a must-watch week of games for the Opals.

Having already qualified for the World Cup, thanks to claiming Gold at the last year’s Asia Cup, there’s the added benefit of being able to experiment with line-ups without the absolute pressure of needing to score wins.

Obviously, the Opals will be doing everything in their power to chalk up wins, but they earnt a level of freedom through their fantastic Asia Cup campaign.

WHO STEPS UP

With seven players from the Opals team that won Bronze at the Paris Olympics suiting up in this tournament, there’s clearly World Cup roster spots up for grabs. Obviously those seven that played in Paris are far from locks either, with the incredible talent and depth that the Opals currently possess.

Zitina Aokuso, Chloe Bibby, Alex Fowler, Steph Reid and Ally Wilson are the five new faces that weren’t there in Paris and clearly have put their names forward with their play over the past 12-24 months.

Fowler was named MVP of the 2025 Asia Cup in her first tournament with the Opals, while Reid was named to the All-Star Five after leading the tournament in dimes (7.4 assists per game). Wilson was sidelined for much of that tournament due to injury, but she was the game-winner in the Final against Japan, scoring 13 of the final 18 points for Australia after scores were level with seven minutes remaining.

Bibby’s breakout year in the WNBA showcased her game and her ability to stretch the floor is vital, while Aokuso had massive moments throughout the Asia Cup.

While the Opals don’t need to win games at this tournament, with World Cup roster spots up for grabs, there’s no doubt the players will be going all out to prove their worth to Brondello and the selectors.

THE POINT GUARD BATTLE

There is going to be a point guard logjam heading into the World Cup and I do not envy the Opals’ selectors job in having to make the final cuts.

Jade Melbourne, Steph Reid and Ally Wilson all bring so much to any team they’re on, whether that’s the Opals, in the WNBL or overseas. They all bring something different too, which makes those squad decisions even harder.

After the Asia Cup, I wrote about Reid needing to be in the Opals squad for the World Cup and I stand by that, with her, in my opinion, being the best pure point guard in Australia.

She was the floor general the Opals needed in the Asia Cup, and her ability to create opportunities for her teammates is exactly what the Opals need going forward. As I mentioned earlier, she led the Asia Cup tournament in assists (7.4 per game), all while only turning the ball over once per outing. That’s outstanding point guard play.

Wilson’s WNBL season was supreme, and she was so often the spark and energiser for Perth, just as she was for the Opals at the Asia Cup. I love what Wilson brings to the court, and the way she has transformed her game over the past two-plus years has been extraordinary.

Melbourne had an injury-interrupted WNBL season, and she didn’t have the stat-sheet stuffing outings that we’ve become accustomed to, but we all know what she brings to the table. Being thrown in the deep end as a starter at the Paris Olympics, Melbourne stood tall and was absolutely vital in helping the Opals claim bronze.

It’s going to be interesting to see the minutes distribution among the guards at the qualifying tournament, with superstars Steph Talbot, Sami Whitcomb and Izzy Borlase also included in that, and with five games I won’t be surprised if the starting roles are shared around and changes are made throughout the tournament.

THE SMITH x MAGBEGOR FRONTCOURT DUO

Alanna Smith, the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Ezi Magbegor, a 2024 WNBA All-Defensive First Team member, are the two key cogs of the Opals’ defensive identity and they form one of the best one-two frontcourt punches in the world.

Any chance they get to play together is a moment to savour for Australian basketball fans and we all remember what happened the last time they suited up together in the green and gold; Magbegor produced one of the greatest performances in Australian Olympic history with 30 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals, while Smith recorded a double-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists as the Opals claimed bronze at the Paris Olympics.

Magbegor finished second in the WNBA for blocks per game (2.2) in 2025, while Smith was just behind her in third (1.9). The Opals will be looking to funnel opponents into the realm of Smith and Magbegor in the paint and I’m looking forward to seeing the transition play and fastbreak opportunities that they create.

WELCOME TO THE IZZY BORLASE SHOW

No longer a future star of Australian basketball, Izzy Borlase is now a bonafide superstar, who at 21-years-old, already has an Olympic bronze medal and WNBL MVP award to her name, among many other accolades!

She took her game to the next level with Bendigo this WNBL season and the force she plays with is a world-class attribute. She possesses a unique skillset and game, and there’s no one else quite like her on this Opals squad, so I expect to see her earn plenty of minutes.

There’s great backcourt depth and versatility for the Opals, and Borlase is absolutely at the forefront of that.

WHO IS NEXT IN LINE?

Amy Atwell, Sara Blicavs, Issie Bourne, Abbey Ellis, Maddy Rocci, Miela Sowah and Courtney Woods. Those were the seven players that didn’t make the final cut from the initial 19-player squad for the qualifying tournament.

On top of that, a name that immediately comes to mind that wasn’t named in that 19-player squad is Anneli Maley, as well as Bec Allen. It’s crazy to think that the second and third-placed finishers in the WNBL MVP voting - Maley and Woods - won’t be at the qualifying tournament.

Those eight players would be feeling unlucky to not be in Turkey, and Woods is the player I see as next in line, with her WNBL season culminating in a Championship and Finals MVP honours.

She is such a complete player and whether she’s setting the table for her teammates or hitting monster buckets herself, she is always composed and methodical in doing whatever her team needs.

OPALS WORLD CUP QUALIFYING SQUAD

Zitina Aokuso, Chloe Bibby, Izzy Borlase, Alex Fowler, Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Steph Reid, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot, Sami Whitcomb, Ally Wilson.

GAME SCHEDULE

March 11: Australia v Argentina at 10:30pm AEDT

March 12: Australia v Japan at 10:30pm AEDT

March 14: Australia v Hungary at 10:30pm AEDT

March 16: Australia v Turkey at 4:30am AEDT

March 18: Australia v Canada at 1:30am AEDT