Opals
Alanna Smith had the best year of her WNBA career. The league is falling apart
Last month, Alanna Smith was named the WNBA co-defensive player of the year. Next month, she might get shut out of playing in the league.
- Frances Howe
Latest
Opals coach set her WNBA team’s record for most wins. Then she was sacked
Opals head coach Sandy Brondello has been sacked as New York Liberty head coach one season after winning them the championship.
- Frances Howe
- Updated
- Basketball
‘Fearful of sneezing’: How this Australian star came back from spinal fusion and a broken leg
The champion basketballer was in so much pain from spinal fractures that she did not realise she was also playing with a broken leg.
- Brittany Busch
Boomers, Opals defeat New Zealand in Trans-Tasman Throwdown openers
Dejan Vasiljevic’s perimeter brilliance launched the Boomers to an 80-68 victory, while debutant Miela Sowah and Stephanie Reid carried the Opals to an 88-70 win.
- Steve Barrett
Victorian athletes feted in Melbourne as Paralympian calls for gender equity
Melbourne Park gave returning Olympic and Paralympic athletes a hero’s welcome on Saturday – and gold medallist Emily Petricola had a message for the International Paralympic Committee.
- Hannah Hammoud
No-action Jackson: Legend’s fifth medal comes the Ezi way as Opals claim bronze
Lauren Jackson “played” her last game for Australia on Sunday and came away with a bronze medal and a trove of memories.
- Greg Baum
As It Happened: Closing ceremony concludes Paris 2024 Olympics with Tom Cruise, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Billie Eilish
One of the most spectacular Olympics of the modern era have drawn to a close in Paris with smiling athletes, slick French pop and Snoop Dogg – as the Games head for La La Land in 2028.
- Claire Siracusa, Marnie Vinall, Roy Ward, Jordan Baker, Megan Levy and Chris Paine
The Opals’ best hope is bronze – yet there are clear silver linings
The Opals were comprehensively handled by Team USA in their semi-final in Paris. But there’s still hope for excitement, beginning with a debutant.
- Konrad Marshall
‘It may be the best’: Opals stun France to stay alive, face Serbia in quarters
The Australian Opals shocked the host nation in their final group game, defeating France 79-72 to advance to the last eight in Paris.
- Konrad Marshall
Scrappy Opals do it tough against Canada to bounce back from Nigeria shock
It was do-or-die for Australia, and in a tough tussle the Opals kept their Olympic hopes alive with a 70–65 win.
- Konrad Marshall