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Sami captains Opals World Cup team stacked with WNBA stars
Australian Opals guard Sami Whitcomb celebrates during the bronze medal game against Belgium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Australia secured its first Olympic women’s basketball medal since 2012. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Six Paris bronze medallists return as Sandy Brondello names her Opals 12 for Berlin in September
- Six players from Australia's Paris 2024 bronze medal team have been selected
- Sami Whitcomb captains the side under coach Sandy Brondello
- The Opals open against Puerto Rico on September 4 at 5:30pm AEST
Perth Lynx and Phoenix Mercury veteran Sami Whitcomb will captain an Australian Opals squad containing six members of the Paris 2024 bronze medal team at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin from September 4 to 13, 2026.
Basketball Australia confirmed the Final 12 on Monday. WNBA stars Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Isobel Borlase, Whitcomb and Steph Talbot all return from the side that won bronze in Paris, giving head coach Sandy Brondello a core that has already medalled together.
The squad
- No.22 Zitina Aokuso – Adelaide Lightning
- No.55 Chloe Bibby – Connecticut Sun
- No.20 Isobel Borlase – Atlanta Dream / Bendigo Spirit
- No.34 Isabelle Bourne – Sydney Flames
- No.23 Alex Fowler – Townsville Fire
- No.13 Ezi Magbegor – Seattle Storm
- No.2 Jade Melbourne – Seattle Storm / Bendigo Spirit
- No.12 Steph Reid – Tasmania Jewels
- No.11 Alanna Smith – Dallas Wings
- No.6 Steph Talbot – Las Vegas Aces
- No.32 Sami Whitcomb – Phoenix Mercury / Perth Lynx
- No.4 Ally Wilson – Sydney Flames
Brondello will be assisted by associate head coach Paul Goriss, with Renae Garlepp and Kennedy Kereama completing the staff.
Continuity over everything
The squad has three days together before the tournament begins, and Brondello said that shaped the selection as much as form did.
"Our staff have done an outstanding job tracking players around the world since Paris. Australia is fortunate to have incredible depth, so selecting the Final 12 is never easy," Brondello said.
"We weren't just looking at talent, we were looking for players who fit our style of play, embrace what it means to represent Australia, and put the team first.
"With only three days together before the World Cup, continuity was an important factor. We felt that players who already understood our system, had built chemistry within the program, and could hit the ground running. We believe this group gives us the best opportunity to be successful in Berlin."
On her captain and senior group, Brondello was direct.
"I'm very confident in this group. We have a great mix of experience, talent and chemistry," she said.
"Sami is the Opals captain and is an amazing leader.
"She will be well supported by Ezi, Alanna, Steph and Jade."
The selections that tell the story
Tasmania Jewels guard Steph Reid earns her place after three years across Australia, China and Hungary, and after a leading role in Australia's breakthrough Asia Cup campaign. She was announced in June as a marquee signing for the incoming Tasmania Jewels, joining the WNBL's ninth club for its debut season.
Ally Wilson completes a rapid rise. The Sydney Flames recruit was central to the 3x3 Gangurrus at the Paris Olympics and has since stepped up in the WNBL and the WNBA.
Chloe Bibby adds scoring after time with Uni Girona CB in Spain and a current stint with Chicago in the WNBA.
Alex Fowler arrives on the back of an Asia Cup MVP award and a central role in Townsville's WNBL success.
Isabelle Bourne and Zitina Aokuso give Brondello length and defensive strength, a pairing already tested at the Asia Cup and in this month's series against China in Melbourne.
Brondello's third campaign
This is Brondello's third FIBA World Cup as Opals head coach. The previous two produced silver in Spain in 2018 and bronze in Sydney in 2022.
She takes the job into Berlin while also serving as the inaugural head coach of WNBA expansion franchise Toronto.
Why it matters
Australia has medalled at the last two World Cups and at the Paris Olympics, and this squad keeps most of that group intact. Six players have Olympic bronze from 2024. The captain is a WNBA champion. The WNBA representation runs through Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Chicago.
The compressed preparation is the risk. Three days is not long to integrate a squad drawn from six countries, and Brondello has effectively said as much by prioritising players who already know the system.
What's next
The Opals open against Puerto Rico on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 5:30pm AEST.
The tournament runs in Berlin until September 13.
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