10
Nov
2026
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How the Opals reminded Isobel Borlase who she is
Atlanta Dream’s Isobel Borlase celebrates during Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco on November 1, 2026 (AEDT). Photo: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images. Copyright 2026 NBAE.
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The World Cup reset Isobel Borlase's game, and her Atlanta minutes then rose all the way to Game 7.
- Isobel Borlase scored 30 against Italy at the World Cup in Berlin
- Her minutes rose in every round of Atlanta's run to the WNBA Finals
- Borlase is set to join Jade Melbourne at the Bendigo Spirit in WNBL27
Isobel Borlase said the Australian Opals reminded her "of the player that I am" during the WNBA's FIBA Break for the 2026 World Cup in September.
The 22-year-old reigning WNBL MVP delivered one of Australia's greatest scoring performances against Italy: 30 points, four rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes as Australia survived Italy's stunning fourth-quarter comeback to win 82-80.
"Going away to the FIBA World Cup, I think that kind of just reminded me of what my strengths were," Borlase told Courtney Ward on The Loop.
"In the W, it's easy to get lost in just trying to fit in and run the system that your team wants.
"Going over to the FIBA World Cup helped remind me of the player that I am.
"Then coming back and my teammates seeing that, and then they start to pour into you and build you with confidence, that was probably my highlight.
"Seeing my teammates get around me and encourage me to be more aggressive, I think that just showed in the finals."
The 30-piece reminded not just Borlase she had game but introduced her to WNBA and Atlanta Dream fans. She signed a three-year, USD $876,060 contract with the Dream before the start of the 2026 season after being drafted with the 20th pick in 2024.
Before the FIBA Break, Borlase carved out a solid role in the Dream rotation: 12.9 minutes per game, 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.5% FG, 30.6% from three (19-for-62), and 30-for-32 at the line.
After the FIBA Break, her numbers took off: 14.0 minutes per game, 6.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 10-for-16 from the field (62.5%) and 3-for-6 from three, including a season-high 18 points against Chicago in 19 minutes.
She was a key role player in the Dream's run to the WNBA Finals, culminating in a Game 7 loss to Opals teammate Miela Sowah's Golden State Valkyries.
In the playoffs and Finals, she played 12 games (Atlanta 8-4): 15.4 minutes per game, 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 41.7% FG, and 6-for-22 from three. Her minutes increased each round.
"I don't know if I could probably rate it, but I think a way I could describe it is just a year of growth," Borlase said of her rookie season.
"The season's long, and you go up and down, and you face lots of different little challenges along the way, and that's normal.
"I'd say just a year of growth and getting better, and just an amazing experience to be in the championship finals in the end.
"I think the biggest adjustment is just that you're in the biggest league in the world.
"There's so many girls that you're being exposed to better basketball all the time.
"It was nice to have a really good season with Bendigo, but when you get over there, no one really cares, to be honest.
"Obviously, it's a great achievement, but it's a business over there. Going into my first day of training camp, I was so nervous.
"If we're talking about style of play, the girls are more athletic; it's faster-paced, more physical, and just the intensity and the environments.
"You guys saw the crowds that we get to play in front of. That is just next level to what I'm used to.
"There were lots of adjustments."
The seven-game WNBA Finals series averaged more than 1.88 million viewers per game. Game 7 drew 3.3 million, and Borlase provided the second-half spark that almost propelled the Dream to their first championship. She came off the bench for 14 minutes, 11:50 of them in the second half, and scored all of her eight points after halftime on 3-for-6, with two rebounds. The Dream lost 68-63.
"It is next level," Borlase said.
"I was playing and whatnot, but just seeing how my teammates were showing up every day, playing 35 minutes a game and having to travel straight after games across to San Francisco and back, I was just in awe of my teammates.
"It was amazing to see how they just kept showing up.
"It made me want to show up for them because they're getting put through the wringer, really.
"It was a real mental battle in the end. Something I learned was just how consistently can you show up? The best do it, and that's definitely something I learned."
Borlase is back in Australia and ready to build on her new partnership with Seattle Storm point guard and Opals teammate Jade Melbourne. The Spirit are 0-4 to start the season.
"Obviously, it's not the most ideal start that you want for a season," she said.
"But the reality is our full team's not there. When you put a team together, you're hoping that everyone's going to be there.
"I don't think it's what we had planned, and I'm probably partly to blame for that.
"But there's upside in that. I'm hoping to be back soon.
"We've got some great players and some great experience, and it's not easy just integrating people into a team.
"Like Jade, she's trying to get used to the system, trying to get used to playing with people, and she was expecting me to be there as well.
"I've got no doubt that we'll be able to turn it around. We've got some great experience on our team who have been in these situations before, so I'm not stressed.
"I hope they get up against Perth on Tuesday.
"But I'll be back and I'm really looking forward to playing with them again."
Australian Opals World Cup: Isobel Borlase | Guard | Age: 22
Games: 5 I Minutes: 115:01 (23.0 mpg)
Averages 11.6 points I 4.6 rebounds I 3.0 assists I 0.8 steals I 0.4 blocks I 2.8 turnovers I 36.0% FG I 26.7% 3PT I 85.7% FT
Tournament Totals 58 points I 23 rebounds I 15 assists I Four steals I Two blocks I Four made threes
Best Game: 30 points, five assists and four rebounds vs Italy
By the Numbers
- Scored 30 against Italy, the highest single-game total by any Australian at the tournament.
- Took 14 of her 21 tournament free throws in that one game.
- 85.7% from the free-throw line, the best mark among the regular rotation.
- Started three of five and finished second on the team for minutes among the guards.
- Turned 22 two days after the campaign ended.
