The last step: Opals’ relentless pursuit of gold

• The rise and rise of the Australian Opals
• All-time Australian Opals starting five
• Striking gold! The 2006 World Champion Opals

The Australian Opals basketball team has competed in 10 Olympic Games, only missing once on qualifying for the event since their debut in 1984.

They have made seven medal games, taking home three bronze and three silver medals from the events. Over 60 women have represented Australia in women’s basketball, with the most games played being held by Lauren Jackson with 35 games across five Olympics.

Here is the complete history of the Australian Opals at the Olympic Games.

All-Time Olympic Games played for Australia (Women’s)

Over time the tournament format has changed, with the number of games a team plays in the group stage decreasing. This means a player like Suzy Batkovic has played more games on average per Olympics than a Marianna Tolo.

• Lauren Jackson – 35 (2000, 04, 08, 12, 24)
• Kristi Harrower – 32 (2000, 04, 08, 12)
• Suzy Batkovic – 24 (2004, 08, 12)
• Trish Fallon – 24 (1996, 2000, 04)
• Belinda Snell – 24 (2004, 08, 12)
• Rachael Sporn – 23 (1996, 2000, 04)
• Sandy Brondello – 22 (1996, 2000, 04)
• Penny Taylor – 21 (2004, 08, 16)
• Shelley Sandie – 20 (1988, 96, 2000)
• Michele Timms – 19 (1988, 96, 2000)
• Laura Hodges – 18 (2004, 08, 12, 16)
• Robyn Maher – 18 (1984, 88, 96)
• Michelle Griffiths – 16 (1996, 2000)
• Jenny Whittle – 16 (1996, 2000)
• Marianna Tolo – 16 (2016, 20, 24)
• Cayla George – 15 (2016, 20, 24)
• Jenni Screen – 15 (2008, 12)
• Allison Tranquilli – 15 (1996, 2000)
• Stephanie Talbot – 14 (2016, 20, 24)
• Rachel Jarry – 14 (2012, 16)
• Liz Cambage – 14 (2012, 16)
• Carla Boyd – 13 (1996, 2000)
• Jenna O’Hea – 12 (2012, 20)
• Erin Phillips – 12 (2008, 16)
• Tess Madgen – 10 (2020, 24)
• Ezi Magbegor – 10 (2020, 24)
• Leilani Mitchell – 10 (2016, 20)
• Katie Ebzery – 10 (2016, 20)
• Donna Quinn-Brown – 10 (1984, 88)
• Jenny Cheesman – 10 (1984, 88)
• Karen Dalton – 10 (1984, 88)
• Pat Mickan – 10 (1984, 88)
• Julie Nykiel – 9 (1984, 88)
• Alanna Smith – 8 (2020, 24)
• Samantha Richards – 8 (2012)
• Rohanee Cox – 8 (2008)
• Hollie Grima – 8 (2008)
• Alicia Poto – 8 (2004)
• Jo Hill – 8 (2000)
• Annie La Fleur – 8 (2000)
• Emma Randall – 7 (2008)
• Marina Moffa – 7 (1984, 88)
• Sami Whitcomb – 6 (2024)
• Isobel Borlase – 6 (2024)
• Jade Melbourne – 6 (2024)
• Tessa Lavey – 6 (2016)
• Natalie Burton – 6 (2016)
• Natalie Porter – 6 (2004)
• Abby Bishop – 6 (2012)
• Debbie Slimmon – 5 (1988)
• Kathy Foster – 5 (1984)
• Trish Cockrem – 5 (1984)
• Wendy Laidlaw – 5 (1984)
• Amy Atwell – 4 (2024)
• Bec Allen – 4 (2020)
• Sara Blicavs – 3 (2020)
• Sue Geh – 3 (1984)
• Kathleen MacLeod – 2 (2012)
• Fiona Robinson – 2 (1996)
• Maree White – 2 (1988)
• Michelle Chandler – 1 (1996)
• Bronwyn Marshall – 1 (1984)

Olympic Tournament Overviews

1984 – Los Angeles: The Opals made their first Olympics in 1984, finishing fifth in the six team tournament. They finished the LA games with a 1-4 record.

1988 – Seoul: Australia made their first medal game in Seoul. After finishing Group A in top spot, they faced off against Yugoslavia in the semi-final. They fell agonisingly close, losing by one point (56-57). They went onto lose the bronze medal game against the Soviet Union (53-68).

1996 – Atlanta: After missing qualification in 1992, the Opals bounced back in Atlanta. Finishing third in Group B, they qualified for the quarter-finals. Facing off against Russia, they won (74-70) booking their place in a medal game. They lost to the United States in the semis (71-93) but won their first bronze medal, beating Ukraine (66-56).

2000 – Sydney: The Opals started their Sydney campaign strong, winning all of their five group games. After toping Group A, they beat Poland in the quarter-finals (76-48) before knocking over Brazil (64-52), making their first ever gold medal game. They lost to the USA (54-76), taking home silver.

2004 – Athens: In Athens, the Opals again toped Group A, going on an undefeated run on their way to the gold medal game. They beat New Zealand in the quarter-finals (94-55), Brazil in the semi’s (88-75) and again were matched up with the United States in the gold medal match. They lost 63-74 and got another silver medal.

2008 – Beijing: Australia started the 2008 games on fire, with a 5-0 group stage run. They were matched up against the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals and beat them (79-46) before taking down China in the semi-finals (56-90). In the gold medal match they again came home second best, losing to the USA (92-65).

2012 – London: The Opals finished Group B in second place with a 4-1 record, losing to group leader’s France in overtime (70-74) in their second game. In the quarter-finals they beat China (75-60) and yet again would see the United States in a big game. They lost to them in the semi’s (86-73) and went on to beat Russia in the bronze medal game (83-74).

2016 – Rio: In Rio, the Opals started strong in their group, going undefeated on the way to a quarter-final match against Serbia. They would lose to Serbia by only two points (71-73), being eliminated from the tournament.

2020 – Tokyo: Australia had a slow start to the 2020 games, losing to Belgium (70-85) and China (74-76) before beating Puerto Rico (96-69) to end the group stage. They were matched up with the United States in the quarter-finals and knocked out (55-79).

2024 – Paris: The Opals finished second in their group with a record of 2-1, setting up a quarter-final match up against Serbia. They beat them (85-67) setting up another game against the United States in the semis. Australia lost to Team USA (64-85) but bounced back to claim bronze over Belgium (85-81).

All-Time Olympics Points

1. Lauren Jackson (Australia) – 581
2. Janeth Arcain (Brazil) – 535
3. Lisa Leslie (USA) – 488
4. Diana Taurasi (USA) – 419
5. Chen Nan (China) – 317
6. Yamile Martinez (Cuba) – 300
7. Alessandra Santos de Oliveira (Brazil) – 290
8. Sheryl Swoopes (USA) & Miao Lijie (China) – 284
9. Zheng Haixia (China) – 280

All-Time Olympics Rebounds

1. Lauren Jackson (Australia) – 285
2. Lisa Leslie (USA) – 241
3. Alessandra Santos de Oliveira (Brazil) – 213
4. Janeth Arcain (Brazil) – 180
5. Yelena Baranova (Russia) – 172
6. Suzy Batkovic (Australia) – 170
7. Katrina McClain (USA) – 166
8. Sylvia Fowles (USA) – 155
9. Yamile Martinez (Cuba) – 152
10. Chen Nan (China) – 143

All-Time Olympics Assists

1. Teresa Edwards (USA) – 143
2. Sue Bird (USA) – 124
3. Rui Machida (Japan) – 115
4. Kristi Harrower (Australia) – 111
5. Diana Taurasi (USA) – 103
6. Janeth Arcain (Brazil) – 89
7. Irina Sumnikova (USSR + Russia) – 83
8. Dawn Staley (USA) – 80
9. Adriana Moises (Brazil) – 79
10. Miao Lijie (China) – 74