I wonder what Marty Sheargold thinks?

No

Reid
Amoore
Shelley
Wallace
Bibby
Kunek
Allen
Horvat
Garbin
Magbegor
Tolo

I'd take a few of those names over Rocci.

The squad has been selected from available players at this point in time, taking into consideration those still competing in seasons abroad and others who have opted to take a break

Just listing who's not going.

The Asia Cup is 13 to 20 July 2025 in Shenzhen, China.

The winner get automatic qualifying to the 2026 World Cup.

Need to finish top 6 of 8 teams to make the qualifying tournament.

Australian has Japan, Philippines and Lebanon in their pool. So have to finish top 3 in pool.

Looks like Opals will still have go to those silly qualifying tournaments early in 2026 for the World Cup.

Women's World Cup featuring 16 teams, sexism at it finest.

Yup, better than 12 but should be 24.

Agree re 24 being better, but the majority of those top 24 teams will come from Europe.

There will be a fine line between furthering interest in developing nations by allocating spots to continents, ensuring that the best 24 are actually playing, and avoiding blowouts.

Current FIBA rankings for the top 24 teams show
Europe - 14 teams
Americas - 4
Asia - 4
Africa - 2

However, the FIBA top 16 is interesting in that it makes the continents a lot more balanced
Europe - 7
Americas 4
Asia - 4
Africa - 1

Sara Blicavs seems a little odd, hasn't played since World Cup ????, maybe giving her one last run.

Atwell looks like she is broken probably should be getting fixed rather than this.

Not sure how badly Swain is injured, Talbot and Borlase have been very patchy all WNBL season.

Brondello never deviates too much of what she knows or thinks works.

Probably only really looking to replace Jackson, Madgen , Wallace in the long term.

Sara Blicavs seems a little odd, hasn't played since World Cup ????, maybe giving her one last run.

Atwell looks like she is broken probably should be getting fixed rather than this.

Not sure how badly Swain is injured, Talbot and Borlase have been very patchy all WNBL season.

Brondello never deviates too much of what she knows or thinks works.

Probably only really looking to replace Jackson, Madgen , Wallace in the long term.

Blicavs selection is crazy & doesn't make much sense TBH, Attwell is heading into surgery soon & will need 6 months of rehab so she won’t be ready. Congrats to Ally Wilson for securing a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky which may impact her ability to make the Asia Cup Team if the Chicago Sky pick up her contract for the entire season.

WNBA training camp start date is April 27, so yeah, WNBA aspirants will be ok to attend the Opals camp, but
* Trans Tasman Throwdown is May 7-11
* Asia Cup is July 13-15

Nat Hurst now the NZ tall ferns full time head coach.
Be interesting to see what she can do with a new crop of players next month.
NZ desperately need to bring in the youth. Ncaa players like Shearer and Tamilo a must.

Assistant coaches
Mel Bennett + Kerryn Mitchell.

https://nz.basketball/nat-hurst-to-lead-2degrees-tall-ferns-into-the-future/?cat=

Listened to a podcast yesterday where Bec Allen was interviewed. She confirmed that LA Olympics 2028 was not something she was interested in, nor any other involvement with the Opals. Sounds like it didn't end well in Paris when she was injured on the eve of the games. Brondello also traded her from the NY Liberty a few WNBA seasons ago... maybe it has something to do with the coach as well?

Might also have something to do with the fact that she will be 35 going on 36 when the next Olympics come around.

Yeah the vibe I got wasn't any animosity, just a general feeling that she is preparing to call it a day.

Trans-Tasman Throwdown team announced.
I was hoping that Courtney wood make it.

Sara Blicavs
Isobel Borlase
Abbey Ellis
Alexandra Fowler
Keely Froling
Miela Sowah
Nyadiew Puoch
Stephanie Reid
Maddison Rocci
Lauren Scherf
Alexandra Sharp
Courtney Wood

I wonder if Aokuso got a wnba invite.

Apart from Bourne, the rest either made the team, were injured or are headed to wnba TC.

Opals team for the 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup, set to be held in Shenzhen, China from 13 - 20 July.

Zitina Aokuso
Chloe Bibby
Sara Blicavs
Isobel Borlase
Isabelle Bourne
Alex Fowler
Cayla George
Steph Reid
Maddy Rocci
Miela Sowah
Alex Wilson
Courtney Woods



Tournament Schedule

No Heal or Swain = dumb.
Probably have Garbin over Fowler at this stage too.

Yeah, Garbin is usually excellent in these type of tournaments, and Swain missing out is disappointing I agree.

I guess that George and Blicavs are there for their experience.

Blicavs is still young enough, despite her body problems. Cayla, though???

WC next year.
Imo for Asia, would have tested 12 of the following...

PG - 1 WC spot
Reid
Heal - wnba cut
Rocci

SG - 2 WC spots
Sowah - earnt an Asian spot after Tasman series
Swain - wnba cut
Wilson - wnba cut
Borlase

SF/CF/PF - 1-2 WC spots
Bibby - wnba cut
Maley - wnba cut
Blicavs
Bourne
Garbin

C - 0-1 WC spot
George
Aokuso



Fair to drop ftm
Ellis
Woods
Sharp
Puoch
Fowler
Froling
Scherf


WC Squad you would assume atm
CG Melbourne
CG Whitcomb
SF Talbot
SF Allen(maybe, maybe not)
PF/C Smith
C/PF Magbegor
C/PF George
C Tolo(maybe, maybe not)

Melbourne/TBD
Whitcomb/TBD/TBD
Allen*/Talbot
Smith/George/TBD
Magbegor/Tolo*

*Hinted at potential exit

Sun July 13 6:30pm AEST: Opals vs Philippines (ESPN2 / Kayo)

Mon July 14 6:30pm AEST: Opals vs Lebanon (ESPN / Kayo)

Tue July 15 6:30pm AEST: Opals vs Japan (ESPN / Kayo)

Fri-Sun, TBA: Qualification games & finals

--

Updated Team:

Zitina Aokuso
Chloe Bibby
Sara Blicavs
Isobel Borlase
Isabelle Bourne
Alex Fowler
Cayla George
Steph Reid
Abbey Ellis (replaces injured Rocci)
Miela Sowah
Alex Wilson
Courtney Woods

--

Tournament Home Page

Guessing the starting 5 to be Reid-Wilson-Borlase-Bibby-George but could be anyone really.

I'm hoping Chloe's GSV form can continue for us, she'll be back over there for someone if it does.

So does this mean that we're likely to play Japan in the final (because they can’t knock us out in the semifinal like they’ve done too often)?

Seems like Japan is a very different beast these days. Hard to believe they only beat this Lebanon team by 4 points last night.

Horvasse was a great hc.
Went backwards with Onzuka.
Now with Gaines who imo ain't a good pick for them. Just listen to his pressers...

Japan beat Philippines by 3.
Hard to believe.
Japan might struggle to make the semis.

does Japan still have the same coach ? Listened to a podcast with him and he is a master - he discussed how long they had to prepare for the 202 Olympics.

Around that time - Japan were sensational with their 5 out motion offence and defeated the opals a few times.

What happened to Aokuso? Injured?

Fingers crossed it was just management

Ally Wilson and Zitina Aokuso both being rested due to knee soreness.

Honestly could we have sent better commentators to the Asia Cup? I'm watching all games with Zero Volume!

Re commentators - who is the other commentator besides Lori Chizik?

Yeh the play by play caller is awful. Surely someone better was available?

Yeh the play by play caller is awful. Surely someone better was available?

Julia Montesano has been the other commentator

She has tried to tone it down, doesn't work.

Ally Wilson remains sidelined with knee soreness for tonight's Opals clash against Japan, while Zitina Aokuso returns to the line-up.

Why take wilson if she was inj...
Had a few days to get someone else into the squad.

We suck on defense.

Japan on fire from 3 9/17, with 6 different players to hit from deep. Started with some silly helps off the corners which left wide open shots and escalated from there. Then Mawuli going on a scoring run, geez.

Don't need to be rotating 11 players. Bourne and Woods dont need to play in the 2nd half.

Japan good at moving the ball, draggging out the 5 spot and then posting up our smaller PG.

Referee's wildly inconsistent from quarter to quarter.

Fowlers cutting has been good but her finishing has been woeful tonight. Missed about 5 bunnies.

no Sowah in the 3rd quarter, i would have her on before Bourne or Woods. Woods gets too scared to do anything.

Woods 18 mins over Bibby with 10 and Sowah with 7. Crazy. Woods with 0 points.

Agree, more Sowah in this one.
Woods just too slow for this level, beaten off the dribble everytime.

How many times we gonna fumble a rebound resulting in pts for japan...

Japan only 16 points in the 2nd half.

Opals shortened rotations helped on defence.

Adjustments to offence playing with more drags to use the bigs more.

Reid and Aokuso both tough all game. Blicavs stepped up when needed.

Good win in the end.

Should make the final, gold or silver is better than the last 3 campaigns.

Korea, Phillipines or Lebanon in the semi.

"Woods 18 mins over Bibby with 10 and Sowah with 7. Crazy. Woods with 0 points."

Woods at +15, more to the game than scoring but i guess you know that don't you.

+/- is a terrible indicator of performance. Hope n.t staff don't use it as a reference.

Yeah Wombat, Woods stood in the corner on offense so she didnt have to touch it, whilst they were running the drags. The bank Japanese 3 in the 3rd Q was Woods breakdown. The only shot she hit was on the buzzer when she didnt have to think about it and just let it fly. Woods unfortunately played like Nicholson does at Opals level. She nearly travelled passing the ball in before half time, thats how nervous she was. As soon as she is required to bring the ball up she wants to pass it, she is an excellent passer, but it is so predictable. Woods does well on defence keeping her hand up on the shot and using her length. Woods would do better with Borlase/Sowah next to her. I guess Wilson would slot into minutes here, hopefully she is fit enough to play some minutes next game.

Essentially that +/- is from playing next to Reid.

I wouldnt have Wood/Bourne/Fowler on all together, ever.

Be interesting to try Reid and Ellis together for more than 5 seconds.

Great problem for the coaching staff to have so much talent and depth.

does Japan still have the same coach ? Listened to a podcast with him and he is a master - he discussed how long they had to prepare for the 202 Olympics.

Around that time - Japan were sensational with their 5 out motion offence and defeated the opals a few times.

Slightly off the topic but ... while I've enjoyed the Opals up-tempo game, I’ve also been really impressed by NZ (well, apart from the second half meltdown against Japan).

I haven’t seen much of the NZ women over the years, but in this tournament they seem to be much stronger, more skilled and better organised than in previous years. They seem to have caught up on the rest of East Asia a fair bit. Or have I got it wrong?

Opals-Korea semi final is at 6:30pm AEST

China-Japan at 9:30

Both games live on ESPN

Nz in a transition, you don't really see Purcell or Davidson in the mix anymore or others like Beck, paalvast, Taia, karatiana, Goulding etc etc

The new crop will be very good when all available.

Dos the credit go to the new coach or was it already underway before she arrived?

They went backwards under molloy so yes much improved under hurst.
WC qualifiers will be interesting in March but not sure everyone will be available.

Great to see Ally Wilson recovered and into the action.
Opals have started well.

Lots of lazy rebounds from the opals this tournament, trying to tap it to yourself several times before grabbing it. Use 2 hands ladies.

Ally Wilson has been a complete disaster in the 1st half. Playing as point guard team completely lost its flow. Defensively stuffed up, over and over again, cost about 10 points. Shows the difference between 3x3 and full court

Cmon opals, pull ya finger out.

Goriss has barely played Aokuso, Ellis, Sowah, Bourne and Wilson.

Hooping - full of crap! Remember Wilson was the PG of the Allstar Five in WNBL season. Don't play that garbage 3X3 line. Wilson playing first minutes of Asia Cup, it’s going to take a minute.

Nice rim running from fowler

Wtf is Goriss doing, sub reid off and let her rest. Will have nothing left next game.

Wilson was woeful as a PG. Ellis has been lighting it up behind Reid. There was no reason to make a change.

Defensively Wilson was even worse. Could have played her as 2 guard backing up Borlase and her get can back into the flow of the game. 3x3 known as top defenders - she was all at sea.

PG
Reid 28.30m
-
Wilson 9.35m
-
Ellis 2.56m...…


SG
Borlase 25.27m
-
Woods 13.17m
-
Sowah 1.51m…….


SF
Blicavs 31.35m
-
Bibby 14.08m


PF
Fowler 30.33m
-
Bourne 2.20m……


C
George 29.53m
-
Aokuso 9.45m…….


They may get slaughtered tomorrow…. Played to exhaustion.

I agree that minutes should have been managed better.
Max was 31:45 which is not ideal, but not massive either.

I agree that minutes should have been managed better.
Max was 31:45 which is not ideal, but not massive either.

Asia Cup Final: Opals vs Japan - Sunday 9:30pm AEST

Sara Blicavs redemption opportunity for the 2017 Final that we lost 73-74
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/history/305-fiba-womens-asia-cup/10777/games/79239-AUS-JPN#boxscore

What a solid win for japan, didn't think they could recover and make the final.

Wow didnt see that Japan win coming. They can certainly be dangerous with their perimeter game.

Big game tonight - Winner qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.

Japan was very focussed and disciplined, and always had options on offense. Their defence was great - efficient and effective !

I think the Chinese players and coach might have been a bit over-awed by the crowd and the expectations because they didn't often seem to know what to do apart from throw it to their tall players (which they should have done more, especially when they were double and triple-teamed). I’d put that loss on the coach.

Good half of team basketball by Aus. Tanaka is a freak though.

Why so little Bibby so far?

Opals up 54-43 at half time.

Probably more defensive breakdowns than we'd normally like, but more than offset by how well the offense is functioning.
Fowler & George got us off to a good start, and Aokuso was dialed in and aggressive from the second she checked in. Loved it. Reid excellent so far.

Opals all doing well. Thought Bibby must have been injured but she came on that last minute. Reid only played 12 (dominate) minutes, so hopefully fresh for another great half.

Tanaka is tough, she is playing at another level. Taken 12 of the 26 Japanese shots, next highest player 2 shots. She could have been playing at the u19 world cup.

Plenty of rest for the starters, though maybe not for the ideal reasons.
Aokuso still standing tall for the bench squad.

playing with fire with these rotations.

Reid sitting for so long, started 4 trying to do a lil too much.

Woods has gone missed layup, missed blockout, turnover, missed shot - plenty of talent on the bench.

Eek. Horror start to the quarter

Reid on 4 fouls.
George with a total non block out on a free throw, lucky it didnt cost a score.

Cracking game.

Ally Wilson coming up big in the 4th

Who would have guessed Ally Wilson would be so important? Great stuff.

Nervous times, but we kept our cool and finally did it.
Stoked for the Opals!

congratulations Opals, had to earn it. Off to the World Cup in Berlin.

Wilson scoring in the last quarter vital. Woods fits in well defensively with Wilson.

Bibby made a big difference when she had minutes. Blicavs had played a lot of minutes without scoring a field goal, and sitting her allowed Bibby to come and and play with a bigger 3 at the back which steadied things.

A real team effort all tournament, with all players being given opportunities to contribute.

Fowler solid every game. Reid classy general.

Big contribution from Ally Wilson , great to see her drawing so many fouls to turn the pressure back on Japan. All the players and coaches should be congratulated !

Fowler wins Player of the Game. She was excellent, especially early on. Had a great tournament.

Steph Reid & Alex Fowler both earn spots in the tournament All Star 5

I didn't always understand what the plan was with our subbing patterns, but I can't complain about how it worked out.
(After the early look at the Reid-Wilson backcourt pairing I thought they might go back to that again, but didn't until very late. The non-use of Bibby was strange as well)


Alex Fowler wins tournament MVP!

Auto WC spot is awesome, gives you a chance to test a good crop of players in the several lead up games before the tournament.

Reid probably secures her backup pg position behind Melbourne. Ellis was hardly used, so too Sowah. Heal+Rocci got a big hill to climb to make the team.

George will make the team and Aokuso is the next best C if Tolo is does not commit.

Apart from that, not sure any are WC level -Wilson potentially? could play a couple of positions. -Not sold on Borlase anymore.

Fowler had a great tournament, how effective would she be against bigger, more athletic, quicker opponents?, -same for Bibby and woods, may struggle.

Bourne no chance, way too early.

Blicavs had an up and down tournament, Im pretty sure she makes the team though, very much loved on n off the court by players n coaches.


WC team they'll go with?

Reid PG
Melbourne CG
Whitcomb CG
Wilson SG/PG/SF
Talbot SF/SG
Allen SF
Blicavs SF/PF
Smith PF/C
Magbegor C/PF
George PF/C
Tolo(Aokuso*) C

+1 more (need a true guard but probably will be another forward with Talbot primarily playing the 2)

Fowler wins All Star 5, Game MVP & Tournament MVP and within hours is written off the WC team. Hilarious.

Look back mate

23' Kunek made the ATT, didn’t mean anything the following year. Atwell made the WC team.
Whitcomb same thing, replaced by Mitchell.
Don’t forget Griffin either... replaced by Whitcomb with Garbin stepping into the 4 spot.

Success in Asia doesn’t guarantee them a spot at worlds.

Olympic team'

Congrats to the girls for a very good tournament and for the ultimate success. They were fun to watch, and I lIke their playing style end-to-end. Credit to the coaches as well.

I'll eat my hat on George and Blicavs - their experience and quality made a big difference, especially at key times.

Fowler and Reid were much better than I expected, consistently good, and deserved to make the Tournament Team.

I’m not sold on Aokuso or Wilson, though, in spite of the commentators’ hype - lots of good moments on attack to contrast with some obvious poor moments on defense.

Regardless of how many of this team would make the Opals A side, it’s obvious that we have lots of talented players pushing for a spot now or in the near future. Woohoo!!!

Great work Opals! Very nice addition to the trophy cabinet.

I wasn't always convinced by the subbing patterns, but Paul has delivered the silverware and subbed in players who got it done when the final was in the balance. Woods and Wilson with some crucial efforts. But the overall selections look like it was a Townsville Fire reunion, past and present. As such, Shannon Seebohm's fingerprints are all over the composition of this version of the Opals!

"Fowler wins All Star 5, Game MVP & Tournament MVP and within hours is written off the WC team. Hilarious."

Even better is that Fowler came in as a injury replacement for Bourne before the NZ series.

Brondello watched both Opals and Gems...

Players that caught her eye

OPALS
>
Fowler
George
Reid
Blicavs
Wilson

GEMS
>
Deas
Fagan
Harvey
Ryan
Bobongie
Puoch