Opals rally from 18 down to sweep China

The Australian Opals have stormed back from an 18-point half-time deficit to edge China 84-82 in a thrilling finish, completing a two-game series sweep ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

After a single-digit victory on Tuesday night, the Opals produced a stunning second-half turnaround, with Adelaide’s Zitina Aokuso stepping up when it mattered most.

With less than 10 seconds remaining, China forced a turnover and stormed down the court, threatening to steal a road win. But Aokuso read the play perfectly, using her quick hands to intercept the pass and all but seal the Opals’ comeback victory.

Scoring a team-high 14 points, the Lightning recruit proved once again her impact on winning basketball at the highest levels.

Despite the defensive attention of Aokuso, the towering 7'3" Ziyu Zhang still finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, using her size advantage to dominate in the paint and score with remarkable ease.

The unsung hero for the Opals was Ally Wilson, who hit three triples and dished out two assists in the third quarter alone to swing the momentum.

Finishing with nine points and five assists, the Sydney Flames recruit pulled off another spectacular performance after her All-WNBL First Team season.

With the two-game series complete, all eyes turn to Berlin as the FIBA Women’s World Cup is set for September 4-13.

To find out who makes the final roster, follow the WNBL on social media for all the latest updates.

>> Box score

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