Australian Opals World Cup Preview: How to watch, squads & more

The 2026 FIBA World Cup tips off on Friday night, as the Australian Opals take on Puerto Rico in Berlin.

The intense preparation for Sandy Brondello's Opals will now be put to the test, as Australia try to replicate the Opals' gold medal-winning efforts of 2006.

Headlining Brondello's squad are nine WNBL players, including Adelaide's Zitina Aokuso and Steph Talbot, Sydney's Ally Wilson and Isabelle Bourne, Bendigo's Jade Melbourne and Isobel Borlase, Townsville's Alex Fowler and Miela Sowah and Tasmania's Steph Reid.

Rounding out the squad are WNBA talents Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Chloe Bibby, with stars Cayla George (pregnant) and Sami Whitcomb (injured) unavailable.

Ahead of the first game on Friday, WNBL Media previews the Opals' chances in Germany, as they hope to build on 2022's bronze medal in Sydney.

Of note, other WNBL connections to the World Cup include Chinese trio Han Xu (Geelong), Wang Siyu (Southside Melbourne) and Yang Shuyu (Sydney) and Germany's Marie Gülich (Townsville).

Read more >> "This is what you play for": Aokuso

How to watch:

All Australian Opals games will be broadcast live on ESPN in Australia or via Courtside 1981 for overseas viewers.

Live scores & stats

Live box scores and standings are available via the FIBA website.

>> GAME CENTRE

Australian Opals' 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup squad:

- Zitina Aokuso (Adelaide Lightning)
- Chloe Bibby (Minnesota Lynx/WNBA)
- Isobel Borlase (Bendigo Spirit and Atlanta Dream/WNBA)
- Isobelle Bourne (Sydney Flames)
- Alex Fowler (Townsville Fire)
- Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm/WNBA)
- Jade Melbourne (Bendigo Spirit and Seattle Storm/WNBA)
- Steph Reid (Tasmania Jewels)
- Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings/WNBA)
- Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire and Golden State Valkyries/WNBA)
- Steph Talbot (Adelaide Lightning and Las Vegas Aces/WNBA)
- Ally Wilson (Sydney Flames)

Australian Opals' 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup schedule:

- Australia v Puerto Rico - Friday, September 4 -7.30pm AEST
- Australia v Türkiye - Sunday, September 6 - 7.30pm AEST
- Australia v Belgium - Monday, September 7 - 7.30pm AEST

Players to watch

Ezi Magbegor

With Whitcomb and George not in Germany for the September 4-13 tournament, Magbegor was named the Opals' 15th-ever captain.

This marks the third World Cup for the 27-year-old, after claiming silver and bronze in Tenerife (2018) and Sydney (2022), respectively.

The centre, who is currently playing for Seattle in the WNBA, will be counted on heavily to dominate the paint for the Opals and lead the way on both ends of the floor.

All signs point to the WNBA and WNBL champion having her best international tournament to date.

Alanna Smith

Smith will join Magbegor in the Opals' starting frontcourt, in what is one of the most imposing starting frontcourts in the whole tournament.

The 2025 co-WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, who is part of the Opals' leadership group alongside Steph Talbot and Jade Melbourne, looms as a pivotal piece for Brondello's side.

With a silver medal in her pocket from Spain in 2018, the current Dallas Wings forward will do everything in her power to one-up that in Berlin.

Jade Melbourne

Arguably Australia's most in-form player headed into the World Cup is Melbourne, who has been dominating for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.

The Victorian guard has scored in double figures in six of her past eight WNBA fixtures, including a career-high 23 points against Portland on August 8.

The Bendigo Spirit recruit will be the fulcrum of the Opals' offence in Berlin and will shoulder a big responsibility at her first World Cup.

Isobel Borlase

With Whitcomb withdrawing from the tournament due to a knee injury, Borlase has a big opportunity to assert herself as one of the Opals' main offensive options.

The reigning WNBL MVP, who is enjoying a strong WNBA season with Atlanta, appears ready to take another jump in her career, despite being only 21 years of age.

Look for her and fellow Bendigo star Jade Melbourne to spend plenty of time in the backcourt together, in what looms as a key pillar of the Opals program moving forward.

What they've said

Head Coach Sandy Brondello

"The depth in the women's game globally is probably as strong as it's ever been.

"There are more countries capable of beating the top teams now, so you simply can't take anyone lightly.

"We've seen different nations develop really distinct styles, and there's so much talent playing across the best leagues in the world.

"At a World Cup, every possession matters, and you have to be ready from day one. I think that competitiveness is great for our game."

Captain Ezi Magbegor

"Sandy [Brondello] kind of said it, 'Everyone's kind of a leader on this team', so not changing too much.

"Just being able to see what my teammates need, be more of a leader, a lead-by-example kind of player on the court.

"I just want to be that person that's reliable, consistent for my team, and just be there for whatever anyone needs and just being an extension of Sandy and supporting my teammates.

"With my kind of personality, I'm definitely an observer, and I feel like I've, over the years, just watched different leadership styles.

"Having Jenna, and then Tess [Madgen] and Sami [Whitcomb], just learning that you can be a different type of leader.

"You don't have to be the same, and I think I kind of hopefully took things off of each of them, and they've definitely prepared me for this moment.

"But still learning and still leaning on the rest of my teammates as well.

"I definitely give credit to Jenna [O'Hea], Tess, Sami, and Cayla [George] as well.

"Cayla definitely was someone who took me under her wing, and although she wasn't officially captain, she definitely was a huge leader for this group."

World Cup debutant Alex Fowler

"I'm super excited; anyone who has a chance to represent their country is over the moon.

"Any chance you get to play against this level of talent from across the world, who are the best out there, I'm going to try to learn as much as I can and be the best version I can be of myself.

"Starting off strong is really important for any team going into a major tournament, and we will be looking to build off our success at the Asia Cup and Turkey earlier in the year."

World Cup debutant Steph Reid

"Every time you put on an Australian jersey, you think about everyone who has worn it before you, your teammates beside you and everyone back home you are representing.

"We're really excited to be the first national team to wear the new designs over these next couple of weeks in Germany."