Opals cruise past Puerto Rico in World Cup opener

Australia's women's basketball team have begun their World Cup campaign in Germany with an entertaining and hard-fought 16-point win.

The Opals were pushed throughout by Puerto Rico but ran out 70-54 victors in the Group C opener in Berlin on Friday.

Ranked third in the world behind the USA and France, the Aussies were unbeaten in qualifying and crowned Asia Cup champions in 2025.

Sandy Brondello's side contains six returning Paris 2024 bronze medallists, and they led the world No.13 Puerto Ricans 19-11 at quarter-time and 31-24 at the main break.

Alanna Smith was starring with 10 points, on four-of-five shooting, and eight rebounds, but failed to return to the court in the second half with what looked like a lower left-leg injury.

Puerto Rico opened the third period with a 12-6 run to pull within one point, but went into the final term trailing by 13 after four late, and hugely crucial, Steph Talbot (19 points) buckets.

Ezi Magbegor also reached double figures in scoring with 11 and led the way on the boards with nine.

Jade Melbourne chipped in with 10 points, while Zitina Aokuso and Isobel Borlaise had six each to help get the job done on day one of competition.

Arella Guirantes (14 points), Trinity San Antonio (11) and Imani McGee-Stafford (11) were Puerto Rico's top scorers.

Australia have medalled in three of the past four editions since winning gold in Brazil 20 years ago. They claimed silver in Spain in 2018, plus bronze in Turkey four years earlier and again on home soil in 2022.

The Opals next take on world No.16 Turkey on Sunday and fifth-ranked Belgium 24 hours later.

Australia 70 – Puerto Rico 54

Stat leaders
‍Steph Talbot – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Ezi Magbegor – 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Jade Melbourne – 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals
Alanna Smith – 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Zitina Aokuso – 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal