The Opals’ best hope is bronze – yet there are clear silver linings

The Opals’ best hope is bronze – yet there are clear silver linings

The Opals were comprehensively handled by Team USA in their semi-final in Paris. But there’s still hope for excitement,beginning with a debutant.

  • byKonrad Marshall

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‘This is sick!’ Opals dominate Serbia to seize semi-final spot
Australia 85 Serbia 67
Paris 2024

‘This is sick!’ Opals dominate Serbia to seize semi-final spot

The Opals did what the Boomers couldn’t,overcoming Serbia in the quarterfinals,booking a likely clash with Team USA on Friday.

  • byKonrad Marshall
Scrappy Opals do it tough against Canada to bounce back from Nigeria shock

Scrappy Opals do it tough against Canada to bounce back from Nigeria shock

It was do-or-die for Australia,and in a tough tussle the Opals kept their Olympic hopes alive with a 70–65 win.

  • byKonrad Marshall
Are these Opals the real deal? Take a deep dive into their medal quest
Analysis
Paris 2024

Are these Opals the real deal? Take a deep dive into their medal quest

With help from head coach Sandy Brondello,we look at the factors – and faces - that will determine how far the Opals can go.

  • byKonrad Marshall
‘I’ll never let us experience that again’:Rebuilding the Opals
Exclusive
Paris 2024

‘I’ll never let us experience that again’:Rebuilding the Opals

A disastrous and disconnected 2021 was all the impetus the Opals needed to revisit and rebuild their culture. Three years on in Paris,coach Sandy Brondello,captain Tess Madgen and star Lauren Jackson say the squad has never been stronger – or closer

  • byKonrad Marshall
She’s played at four Olympics,but this hoops legend has never felt so much pressure

She’s played at four Olympics,but this hoops legend has never felt so much pressure

She might be an all-time great,but Lauren Jackson has never felt so much pressure as she did before Australia’s Olympic basketball teams for Paris were announced. Like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles,she’s off to her fifth Games.

  • byRoy Ward
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‘We have to earn it’:How Opals,Boomers could realise their Paris medal dreams
Analysis
Paris 2024

‘We have to earn it’:How Opals,Boomers could realise their Paris medal dreams

Australia will head to Paris with dreams of stunning the USA and winning gold. But with world basketball growing ever-stronger,the Opals and Boomers will be tested like never before.

  • byRoy Ward
‘Super special’:Opals dominate despite Jackson’s struggles as she looks ahead to fifth Games

‘Super special’:Opals dominate despite Jackson’s struggles as she looks ahead to fifth Games

The Opals scored another big win over one of the benchmarks of world basketball and stand-in coach Cheryl Chambers senses something special is building ahead of Paris 2024.

  • byRoy Ward
Jackson ‘the fittest she has ever been’ as teen Opal dreams of Paris

Jackson ‘the fittest she has ever been’ as teen Opal dreams of Paris

A super-fit Lauren Jackson continues to wow her Opals teammates and coaches including teenage teammate Izzy Borlase who could be joining Jackson in Paris.

  • byRoy Ward
Here’s Johnny! How a kid from Clifton Hill rose to the NBA draft
NBA draft
NBA

Here’s Johnny! How a kid from Clifton Hill rose to the NBA draft

He comes from a family of sporting high achievers and is poised to become an instant millionaire this week.

  • byJon Pierik
From Moe to the big stage:The Aussie staring down basketball’s record-breaking phenom Caitlin Clark

From Moe to the big stage:The Aussie staring down basketball’s record-breaking phenom Caitlin Clark

Moe’s Jaz Shelley is one of the Australians riding the exploding popularity of US women’s college basketball,playing in front of millions and hoping to lead Nebraska to a fairytale run in “March Madness”.

  • byRoy Ward