The Opals' first opening-win of a major tournament in eight years was marred by an injury to star Alanna Smith on night one of the FIBA World Cup.
Smith was on the verge of a first-half double-double (10 points, 8 rebounds) and was clearly Australia's best player but hobbled to the bench with what appeared to be a left calf complaint and didn't return from the bench where she sat in a team jacket.
In her absence, the Opals went on to outlast and outclass Puerto Rico, 70-54.
The availability of Smith, the reigning co-WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and Paris Olympic All-Star Five member, is crucial to a team already missing injured captain Sami Whitcomb.
The Opals took care of what on paper looked like the easier opponent of Pool C and now face tougher tasks against Türkiye on Sunday night and medal-fancy Belgium on Monday.
A WIN IS A WIN
It wasn't pretty, it wasn't flawless but it did the job.
The Opals turned the ball over 22 times, struggled at times against a zone but ultimately dug deep, won the big moments and relied on their top-tier defence.
With typically limited preparation, seven players playing in the WNBA until last week, the 11th hour withdrawal of Whitcomb last week and a plucky much-lower ranked opponent (the Opals are world No.3 and Puerto Rico 16th), the tournament opener could well have presented another banana peel for the Opals but victory was critical for self belief and with more challenging fixtures ahead.
Coach Sandy Brondello called a timeout with the margin just one point in the third quarter and reassured her team they were OK but said they were playing 'scared'.
The Opals then became brave and went on to outscore their opponents 33-18 off the back of their most experienced head in Steph Talbot, some great passing by Ally Wilson and important minutes (22) from Zitina Aokuso.
TALBOT THE TERRIFIC
FIBA Steph Talbot is built different and when the going got tough for the Opals in the third quarter, Talbot got going.
A settling basket followed by an important rebound set the tone for the triple Olympian and her team as she went on to produce a game-winning 19 points (shooting 78% from the field), 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as she clocked the second-most minutes in the game (33) behind Puerto Rico's Arella Guirantes (34).
There is no doubt the 32-year-old plays her best basketball on the international stage and she proved so again tonight. Her last national deed prior to this tournament, a game-winning block against Belgium in the Paris Olympic bronze-medal game, is an image so iconic it should hang in France's most famous museum.
Ezi Magbegor (11 points, 9 rebounds) was unveiled as captain yesterday and along with Smith and the team's most experienced player in Talbot, who has years of leading her WNBL team Adelaide Lightning under her belt, leadership will be done by committee in Berlin.
FRIDAY NIGHT TAKEOUTS
The first game revealed plenty as coach Sandy Brondello gave Isobel Borlase the start in the two spot.
The starting group included Jade Melbourne, of which there was much to like about her game and endeavour, Talbot, Magbegor and Smith.
Wilson and Aokuso were the first subs and it's evident Brondello really likes what Wilson, who's won and done pretty much everything on the 3x3 stage and is now on Opals' major tournament debut, brings.
Alex Fowler and Miela Sowah also got some early court time but there was intrigue around when point guard Steph Reid would be inserted into the game and when she checked in midway through the second term she was the last player to hit the court with Isabelle Bourne subbed in minutes before.
Chloe Bibby's court time was evenly spread with Alex Fowler backed in by her coach late in the game.
Brondello likes the versatility of her 12 and would have plenty of takeouts of her own from night one and has different options to now access for what looms as a tough grind against Türkiye, then a genuine test against a strong Belgium.
Watch every game of the FIBA Women's World Cup LIVE on ESPN on Disney+, with all Opals, USA and knockout games also available on ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo, Fetch and Sky Sport NZ!
