Flashback: When Penny Taylor became an Opals icon

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September 23, 2006 is the day the Australian Opals stood on top of the world. It was also the day Penny Taylor was the best player on the planet.

Taylor was the green and gold hero, who sparked Australia's fairytale run to a history-making gold medal at the 2006 FIBA Women's World Championships in Brazil, winning tournament MVP which she capped-off with a 28-point performance in the final as the Opals took down the Russians.

Almost 20 years on, this current crop of Opals led by coach Sandy Brondello, will be looking for their crowning moment at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Germany and waiting for a new hero to make their mark on the brightest stage.

As the '06 team is celebrated, and rightly so, two decades on from arguably the greatest day in Australian basketball - highlighted with the 'One of One: The 2006 Australian Opals Documentary' released on YouTube this week - we revisit how Taylor rose to basketball immortality.

"I don't have a great memory at the best of times, especially when it comes to basketball games, but we did do a little bit of reflecting (when the team reunited recently)," the greatest of all-time, Lauren Jackson, said on Cut to the Jase podcast.

"There were some interviews done, where they actually pulled out game tape and game footage, and I can tell you right now, I don't remember the very last play against Brazil, which got us into that gold medal game, which is where Kristi (Harrower) basically broke her ankle.

"She had to spend the entire night or 24 hours before the game getting iced and up every couple of hours and then we started the (final) against Russia, we went down early 9-2 and I had no recollection of that whatsoever.

"But I mean obviously Penny, the way that she played was amazing.

'She was tournament MVP and got that recognition that she hasn't really got throughout her career that tournament really sort of put her at the top, which is where she's always been."

Taylor caught fire in the final, going 9-from-14 from the field and 3-from-5 from beyond the arc, as well as grabbing nine rebounds to complete a dominant tournament from the former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder.

The achievement of being named the best player of a FIBA World Championships, while taking home a gold medal, is the crowning moment in what was definitely a Basketball Hall of Fame career from Taylor. A career which also included three WNBA championships as well as making three WNBA All-Star teams.

And Jackson still believed her former teammate was underrated.

"For sure she is, she's a Hall of Famer, and that'll come," she said on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"But I mean look for what she did for for us over those years, what she did in the WNBA, what she did in Europe, her whole catalogue she's been a winner and she's a workhorse too, she works so hard.

"She was one of the top players in the world at that point in time and in our Opals team she was so important and that was evident when we went to London (in 2012) and we didn't get the silver but we really had to fight to get that bronze medal and I remember thinking 'oh god, I miss Penny I wish she was here'.

"I think because we did grow up playing alongside each other, we all we knew inherently what each other could do and I mean that's that goes for everyone on that (2006 Opals) team."

The memorable 2006 Opals - which featured so many Aussie basketball legends headlined by Jackson and Taylor but also including the likes of Kristi Harrower, Belinda Snell, Tully Bevilaqua, Erin Phillips and Jenny Whittle - reunited when the current team recently played China in Melbourne in July, bringing back so many memories for stars of our game and providing inspiration for Brondello's team in Germany.

Jackson reflected back on the tournament and said how her teammates starred in their role is what made that Opals group so special.

"Well, it's the first time we've all been in the same room together in 20 years, so it was kind of amazing and special and emotional because I think it wasn't just that tournament, it was like you know a whole decade of us playing together and and being really successful as well," she said.

"I think and you know looking back on it as well, during that period of time it felt so easy for us to win medals and be successful and everything, and I think the older you get the more you realise how special and how hard it is to actually get to that level.

'We were all there we were all able to share it with people that we loved, we all had family there and it was super emotional... we had some really special quality time together alone and just to catch up and share memories.

"For that gold medal for the team we had Erin Phillips, who now is like the queen of the AFLW and Tully Bevilaqua, Kristi Harrower, Belinda Snell, Jenny Whittle - we just had a great team of players who knew their role and knew when the opportunity was there to step up.

"We don't get to perennial medalists or silver medalists or right behind America for so long and then to win a gold medal without having a team of incredible players.

"Kristi Harrower, I mean she was the floor general, there were games where she would be like out the door with a game plan I'm going to run this thing the way that I want to run it, and she was able to get us the ball where we needed it to score. She could sort of see what was going to happen defensively and she knew how to get the girls the ball in places where they could score.

"So, I mean, and sort of thinking back and going through all of these different things, it was just like, we really did have great, great chemistry and resilience."

While Australia's task of repeating what Jackson's Opals did 20 years ago was made harder by the recent withdrawal of captain Sami Whitcomb due to injury, Jackson still believes in Brondello's team.

"I think we always are in a really strong position because of the talent that we have over in the WNBA and competing at the very highest level. But in saying that too, we've got amazing talent right here at home," Jackson said.

"I think anytime we sort of head into one of those tournaments, we're placed to medal or to go for the gold, anything can happen on any given day of course, but I think in terms of talent, and preparation is always hard because it's always going to be limited based on the nature of the global game, but I know that those girls the chemistry is great, the WNBA players know each other really well.

"I mean, the question mark is Ezi (Magbegor) is just coming back from injury... that's going to be interesting to see how that plays out, but they've got a few games under their belt and they'll have more obviously before the World Cup.

"I fully anticipate that they'll be right up there."

The Opals start their FIBA World Cup campaign against Puerto Rico on Friday.