Double blow: Sami OUT of World Cup and WNBL27

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Opals skipper Sami Whitcomb is out of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, starting next week and the entire WNBL27 season – a double blow for Australia and the Perth Lynx.

Whitcomb, 38 has succumbed to knee injury that has limited her to just 15 WNBA games for the Phoenix Mercury this season.

“While Sami is understandably disappointed not to be able to represent the Opals at the World Cup, her long-term health has to come first,” High Performance boss Jason Smith said.

“Our thoughts are with Sami.

"We know how much representing the Opals means to her, and we recognise the enormous emotional and physical toll this situation has taken,”

“Sami gives so much to this team, and while we are deeply disappointed that she will not be with us at the World Cup, our priority is her wellbeing, health, and long-term future.

"We will continue to support her in every way we can.”

The Lynx revealed Whitcomb was out of WNBL27 last night.

"Sami's professionalism and selflessness throughout this process have been exemplary," the Lynx said.

"By allowing the Lynx to build a roster around players who are fully available for the season, she is once again putting the team first.

"Sami remains an important part of the Perth Lynx family and we look forward to supporting her rehabilitation and welcoming her back when the time is right."

Whitcomb was replaced in the Australian Opals World Cup team by Townsville Fire champion and Golden State Valkyries development player Miela Sowah.

Perth signed Whitcomb in May on a two-year deal as the headline act of their WNBL27 rebuild, a season removed from the WNBL25 championship, league MVP and Grand Final MVP she won with the Bendigo Spirit.

Whitcomb was named skipper of the Opals, who are ranked third in the world by FIBA and are considered one of the contenders to challenge the USA, when the squad was announced in late July.

The 38-year-old was injured at a Phoenix Mercury practice in May and had arthroscopic knee surgery to remove a loose body, and has played just 15 games this WNBA season. She did not appear for the Mercury until July 7 and is averaging 16.4 minutes a game against almost 24 last season, when she helped Phoenix reach the WNBA Finals before losing to the Las Vegas Aces. In those minutes she is averaging 4.6 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds, shooting 28.1 per cent from three.

The two-time WNBA champion's absence is a significant blow for a squad that was building well, going 5-0 at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Turkiye earlier this year. Whitcomb started every game there, won tournament MVP and was named in the All-Star Five.

It leaves coach Sandy Brondello eight days to settle on a replacement before Australia opens against Puerto Rico on September 4, 2026.

Whitcomb made her Opals debut in 2018 and has been a mainstay since the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, a leader through the rebuild that followed the 2021 Olympics and on to bronze in Paris in 2024.

The sharpshooting combo guard, who won a WNBL championship and WNBL MVP with the Bendigo Spirit in 2025, will be dearly missed. The Opals do have young stars who will be asked to step up, including Jade Melbourne, in the middle of a career year with the Seattle Storm, and Isobel Borlase, coming off her rookie season with the Atlanta Dream after winning WNBL MVP with the Spirit.