Australia Finalizes Squad for Women's World Cup

As the French team makes gradual progress, the Australian Opals have already finalized their definitive roster for the Women's World Cup, scheduled to take place in Berlin from September 4th to 13th, 2026. Six players who earned bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be part of the 12-player squad: Alanna Smith (Dallas), Ezi Magbegor (Seattle), Jade Melbourne (Seattle), Isobel Borlase (Atlanta), Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix), and Steph Talbot (Las Vegas).

In addition to these six WNBA players, Chloe Bibby (Chicago) makes it a seventh player from the league. The remaining five players—Steph Reid, Ally Wilson, Alex Fowler, Isabelle Bourne, and Zitina Aokuso—play their basketball in Australia and internationally.

Head coach Sandy Brondello expressed optimism about Australia's prospects, stating in the official press release:

"I have immense confidence in this group. We have an excellent mix of experience, talent, and cohesion. Sami (Whitcomb) is the captain of the Opals and an outstanding leader. She will be well supported by Ezi, Alanna, Steph, and Jade. We weren't just looking for talent in this selection; we also wanted players who fit our style of play and prioritize the team above all else. (...) With only three days of preparation before the World Cup, continuity was essential. We believed that players already familiar with our system would have developed good cohesion within the group and would be ready to go immediately. We are convinced that this group offers us the best chance of success in Berlin. (...) Although our preparation with this full squad is brief, we have faith in the work accomplished in recent years, we believe in each other, and now it's about being at our peak form at the crucial moment. If we play while staying true to our identity, we know we can compete with anyone."

Australia's initial objective will be to qualify for the knockout stages of Group C, which also includes Belgium, Puerto Rico, and Turkey.