Opals return to Olympic podium with basketball bronze on final day of Paris 2024

It was not the gold medal they sought, a medal that has for so long eluded the Australian women’s basketball team. But on Sunday, midway through the final day of Paris 2024, the Opals returned to the Olympic podium for the first time in 12 years, beating Belgium by four points in a thriller to win bronze.

Ezi Magbegor starred for Australia with 30 points, shooting 71% from the field, along with 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Julie Vanloo led the scoring for Belgium, contributing 26 points, while Fenerbahçe power forward Emma Meesseman tipped in 23 points.

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The Opals have a storied Olympic history: silver medals at successive Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008, with bronze medals either side – 1996 and 2012. But the past two Olympics, in Rio and Tokyo, have ended in disappointing quarter-final exits. Their opponents on Sunday, meanwhile, are Olympic newcomers – Belgium’s Cats, as they are nicknamed, only made their basketball debut at the last Games.

But Belgium’s relative inexperience on this grand stage was not apparent early, as they went out hard and fast against an Opals side perhaps still stunned by their heavy semi-final defeat to perennial rivals the United States. Belgium raced to an early lead in the first quarter, before Australia sought to slow the tempo and exert their influence on proceedings. In time, Belgium’s initial exuberance was tempered; some improved Opals defence, and a three-point shot from Isobel Borlase on the buzzer, gave the Australians a one-point lead at the first break.

The game settled in the second half, with neither team able to find much shooting accuracy in the opening minutes. When the going got tough, the Opals turned to star centre Magbegor, who managed three difficult buckets under pressure in the paint to retain the Australian advantage. A late flurry from Belgium, including a beautiful step-back jumper from Meesseman, edged the Cats ahead, before another buzzer beater from Australia maintained the Opals one-point lead at the half.

That lead would build during the third quarter, as the Opals’ experience at this rarefied level gave them the upper hand over Belgium. At one point Australia led by nine points, before Belgium closed in the latter minutes of the penultimate quarter. It seemed the seesawing nature of this game was set to continue, and true to form Belgium soared into the lead with a minute on the third quarter clock, and withstood a late Steph Talbot three to lead by one at the final break.

It set up an enthralling final quarter with the bronze medal on the line. The teams traded leads: Belgium, Opals, Belgium, Opals. As the clock ticked down, neither team was able to lay the definitive blow. Until, with four minutes remaining, Magbegor asserted herself at both ends of the court within seconds: a big defensive rebound followed by a clutch two points in the paint despite being surrounded by the Belgian defence. At an Olympics which mark a generational transition for these Opals, it was apt that Magbegor, 24 and already a star of this team, would lead the Australians to the medal. Belgium fought hard in the final minutes, but the Opals held on to a 85-81 victory.

“It’s still rose gold to us,” Magbegor said afterwards, echoing the label for bronze coined by male counterparts the Boomers in Tokyo. “Obviously losing to the US in the semis was tough; gold was the ultimate goal. But being able to bounce back after the loss is a testament to the team that we have.”

The close-fought triumph over Belgium will likely be the last game of Lauren Jackson’s extraordinary Olympic career; the 43-year-old did not see any minutes on Sunday, but did earn floor time in the semi-final. Paris is Jackson’s fifth Olympics for the Opals – a feat made all the more remarkable given she retired ahead of Rio and missed Tokyo, before returning to the team two years ago.

“I never, ever could have dreamed of this – it really is so special,” said Jackson. “Five Olympics, five medals – it’s crazy.”