Six months out from Los Angeles 2028, Australia’s national women’s basketball team is using Berlin as its proving ground. The Opals head into the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, running September 4 to 13 in Germany, as one of the tournament’s most dangerous outsiders.
A Roster Built on Bronze
Head coach Sandy Brondello has leaned heavily on the group that claimed bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Six of those medalists return, including Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Isobel Borlase, Steph Talbot and captain Sami Whitcomb, giving the squad a rare mix of WNBA-tested talent and internal chemistry.
A Tough Group Stage
Australia lands in Group C alongside Puerto Rico, Türkiye and reigning European champions Belgium. The clash with Belgium has already been flagged as a marquee group-stage matchup, pitting Europe’s best against Asia-Pacific’s top program. The top three teams from each group advance, which should give the Opals room to navigate even a tricky draw.
History on Their Side
Australia has medaled in six of its last seven World Cup appearances, including a gold medal run in 2006 led by Lauren Jackson. That tradition of consistency is part of why the Opals are being tipped as genuine contenders again in Berlin, rather than just a dangerous floor team.
- Tournament dates: September 4 to 13, 2026, Berlin, Germany
- Group C opponents: Puerto Rico, Türkiye, Belgium
- Key returnees: Sami Whitcomb, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith
Frontcourt Advantage
The size and skill combination of Magbegor and Smith gives Brondello a frontcourt few nations can match. Magbegor was the most efficient scorer at the qualifying tournament in Istanbul, while Smith carried her Olympic form into that same qualifying window, a strong signal heading into Germany.
For context on where Australia sits among the sport’s power brokers, our breakdown of the top basketball nations explains how the Opals compare to the United States and Europe’s best.
What Success Looks Like
Anything short of a podium finish would be viewed as a disappointment given the roster on paper. But Brondello has been candid that finding the right on-court combinations, not talent, is the biggest question mark before the group phase begins.