The Australian Opals have announced their team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and with so many elite WNBA players on the roster, the team is sure to be a contender for a medal.
After a disappointing quarterfinal exit at the Tokyo Olympics, the team bounced back in a big way at the 2022 FIBA World Cup, missing out on the gold by just two points but winning the bronze medal.
Two years on, Australia will be hoping to continue their momentum with former WNBA All-Star Edji Magbegor and Opals icon Lauren Jackson making their fifth appearance.
Magbegor, Smith and Allen highlight WNBA talent on Opals team
The Paris 2024 Olympic Opals will bring together some of the WNBA's best players to don the green and gold.
Chief among them is Seattle Storms player Edgie Magbegor, a two-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection and 2023 All-Star who is upset that she wasn't selected this season.
Alanna Smith was another player many projected to be an All-Star and is currently enjoying the best year of her career with the championship-contender Minnesota Lynx.
Other WNBA talent for the Opals include Washington's Jade Melbourne, Phoenix's Beck Allen, Los Angeles' Steph Talbot, Indiana's Christy Wallace and Seattle's Sami Whitcomb.
Issy Bolas, the 20th pick in the 2024 draft, is also on the team, although the youngster is yet to move to the US and make her WNBA debut.
The team is made up of a strong collection of WNBL talent including Kayla George, Tess Majen, Marianna Toro and Australian basketball icon Lauren Jackson.
| player | team |
| Beck Allen | Phoenix Mercury |
| Issy Borlase | Adelaide Lightning |
| Kayla George | Sydney Flames |
| Lauren Jackson | Southside Flyers |
| Tess Magen | Sydney Flames |
| Ezi Magbegor | Seattle Storm |
| Jade Melbourne | Washington Mystics |
| Alana Smith | Minnesota Lynx |
| Steph Talbot | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Marianna Toro | Bendigo Spirit |
| Christy Wallace | Indiana Fever |
| Sami Whitcomb | Seattle Storm |
Lauren Jackson qualifies for fifth Olympic Games
The greatest comeback in Australian sporting history continues with Lauren Jackson being named to her fifth Olympic team.
Jackson, who first retired in 2016, came out of retirement in 2022 to play for NBL1 team Alverley Wodonga Bandits.
The news spread quickly and she was soon to return to the WNBL with Southside Flyers and represent Australia at the 2022 World Cup.
After helping the Opals qualify for the 2024 Olympics earlier this year, she again briefly retired, but the allure of the green and gold was too strong and she was named to the squad for the Paris Games.
This will be Jackson's fifth Olympic Games – she represented Australia in Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, winning medals in all four.
Jackson, who missed the 2016 and 2020 games due to injury and subsequent retirement, returns with unfinished business as the Opals look to return to the podium after coming up empty-handed in Japan.
