Opals legend announces move into coaching

• Tess Madgen retired from basketball following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• She led the Opals to bronze at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and Paris Olympics
• Madgen is also now the She Hoops Lead, working with She Hoops founder Lauren Jackson

Two-time Olympian and former Australian Opals skipper Tess Madgen has moved into coaching after being announced as the new head coach of the Bendigo Braves women's NBL1 South team for the next two seasons.

Madgen, who led the Opals to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, replaces former WNBL player Deanna Black (nee Smith) in the position and returns to team she has previously played NBL1 for in 2021. 

She also played WNBL for the Bendigo Spirit from 2010-12 as part of a professional playing career, which stretched across more than 15 seasons, including eight WNBA games with the Phoenix Mercury in 2015 and stints in Europe and in New Zealand.

“I’m genuinely excited for the opportunity to lead the Bendigo Braves NBL1 Women’s team. Having played for Bendigo and now stepping into the head coaching role feels like a full-circle moment," Madgen said in the club's media release.

"This role goes well beyond one team or one season. I am incredibly passionate about creating pathways for women in sport, particularly basketball, and I want to ensure that girls and young women in Bendigo see a clear, achievable future in the game.

"My vision is to see local development for players, from grassroots through to juniors, into NBL1 with the Bendigo Braves, and then on to the WNBL with the Bendigo Spirit - the opportunities for females in Bendigo are astounding for a regional city. That connection is the legacy I want to build.”

In June, the South Australian product was also announced as a special advisor to the revamped Adelaide Lightning.

Madgen spoke to basketball.com.au's Hayley Wildes in May about her journey and helping turn around the Opals culture, which led to a successful Olympics campaign in Paris.

She also joined Bec Cole on 'It's a Cole World' to talk about the historic new CBA deal in the WNBL.