Jackson Makes Fairytale Opals Return

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

The Australian Opals have announced their 12-player squad for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, headlined by Lauren Jackson's return.

The Australian Opals have announced their 12-player squad for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, featuring eight NBL1 players and headlined by Albury-Wodonga Bandits’ Lauren Jackson.

The Opals are aiming to add to their rich World Cup legacy, having won silver in 2018, bronze in 2014 and gold in 2006.

Jackson will compete in her fifth World Cup after coming back from an early retirement nine years ago. She has been dominating the NBL1 East in her preparation to return to the Opals.

Jackson will now compete on the same courts as she did 22 years ago winning silver for Australia in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A moment in ??????? ?<br><br>Head Coach of Australia <a href="https://twitter.com/SBrondello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBrondello</a> tells legendary <a href="https://twitter.com/laurenej15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@laurenej15</a> that she will play with the Opals at her 5th World Cup ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWWC</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketballAus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BasketballAUS</a> ?? <a href="https://t.co/AHwr2k6Ne2">pic.twitter.com/AHwr2k6Ne2</a></p>— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWWC/status/1557113474509053952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Opals squad who will play in Sydney from Thursday 22 September – Saturday 1 October includes Sara Blicavs (Geelong Supercats), Darcee Garbin (Frankston Blues), Cayla George (Cairns Dolphins), Lauren Jackson (Albury-Wodonga Bandits), Tess Madgen (Bendigo Braves), Anneli Maley (Eltham Wildcats), Marianna Tolo (Launceston Tornadoes) and Kristy Wallace (Melbourne Tigers).

The full Opals team is below:

Australian Opals 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Team
Bec Allen
Sara Blicavs
Darcee Garbin
Cayla George
Lauren Jackson
Ezi Magbegor
Tess Madgen
Anneli Maley
Steph Talbot
Marianna Tolo
Kristy Wallace
Sami Whitcomb

Feature image via: James O'Donohue Photography