The future is now for a new-look Opals team that will strive for the podium finish that's become the Australian standard at FIBA Women's World Cups.
The task of winning a medal for the seventh time in eight World Cup campaigns will be a tougher one in Berlin starting Friday given the absence of two of the program's most experienced campaigners in Cayla George and captain Sami Whitcomb.
Following the qualifying tournament in Türkiye in March, coach Sandy Brondello couldn't have forecast many, if any, changes to her 12 but in July, George announced her pregnancy then last week Whitcomb withdrew as she manages a knee injury she had surgery on in May.
The duo leave an irreplaceable hole with a combined 102 national games, major tournament experience (4 World Cups, 4 Olympic Games) and leadership. Following the departures post-Paris of Lauren Jackson, Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo, the first major competition of a new international four-year cycle signals a changing of the guard.
More responsibility now falls on the capable shoulders of WNBA trio Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor and Steph Talbot while seven debutants bring exuberance with Brondello urging her new faces to play with no fear.
"How exciting is that?" Brondello said of her magnificent seven
"It's an opportunity for players to step in and the newcomers we have have earned their right to be here in the Opals uniform and we expect them to just bring all the things they were picked on and the strengths they've shown not just this year but in the years before.
"The team is going to change and you always try and plan for the future as well and I think we still have a great mixture of veterans and some youthful players we've been investing in. I'm excited to see where we're at."
Grouped in Pool C, the world No. 3 Opals play Puerto Rico (13th), Türkiye (16th) and Belgium (5th) across four days.
Should the Opals finish top of their group they will advance directly to the September 10 quarterfinals. If they finish second or third, they will crossover and play an opponent from another pool in a knockout game on Sept. 8 or 9 while a bottom-of-the-pool finish would see Australia eliminated.
The semifinals will be played on Sept. 12 with the medal games the following day on Sept. 13.
While the team may not be brimming with major tournament experience, there is versatility, scoring and length across the floor.
Jade Melbourne is primed for a big campaign, bringing strong form and confidence off a career-best WNBA season with Seattle, Ally Wilson displayed her point of difference in the one spot during the March qualifiers while Steph Reid is equipped with all the qualities of a traditional point guard. All can facilitate and score.
From Whitcomb's replacement in three-point bomber Miela Sowah to reigning WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase, in the middle of her rookie WNBA campaign, to Chloe Bibby and FIBA Talbot, who clicks into another gear on the international stage, there are a plethora of scoring options from deep.
There are big wraps on Alex Fowler, and deservingly so, she was crowned Asia Cup MVP when the Opals took out the tournament for the first time last year and could produce anything in Germany. Zitina Aokuso brings physicality, strength and total power inside and complements the international superstars that are Smith and Magbegor.
Despite two changes to the lineup that last flew the flag in March, Brondello wants to see an extension of the basketball the Opals played in Turkey.
"Our versatility is a strength. We can play so many different ways and I think our continuity and chemistry (are too) even though we haven't had much time together we've been on this journey for quite some time especially the ones I've coached a lot and players have been in and out," she says.
"We've changed a little bit how we play offensively, defensively its always going to be that grittiness, that toughness, physicality and rebounding.
"Offensively it's the style we feel that fits our team and what I've learned now, because of limited preparation, is less is more. We keep it simple and we rely on our defence creating our offence with our pace and our .5 mentality and where we can exploit the opposing teams but just making good to great.
"The simple concepts, that's our identity and that's why we rely on a team. It's us being confident, knowing what got us here but knowing how hard it is to find that consistency but keep believing in the process and each other."
Australia will be desperate to start its campaign on a winning note after dropping the opening game of its past two major tournaments; an opening night defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney and a shock loss to Nigeria in Paris two years ago.
Opals team: Zitina Aokuso, Chloe Bibby, Isobel Borlase, Isabelle Bourne, Alex Fowler, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Steph Reid, Stephanie Talbot, Alanna Smith, Miela Sowah, Ally Wilson
Opals World Cup fixture
September 4: Australia vs. Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m. AEST
September 6: Australia vs. Türkiye, 7:30pm AEST
September 7: Australia vs. Belgium, 7:30pm AEST
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!
