Olympic dreams will be realised in Paris for 12 members of the Opals, Boomers and Gangurrus.
For some, it’s been a childhood dream which began watching Australian teams compete on world sport’s biggest stage and for others it’s been a new-found goal as basketball has changed the course of their life.
Four Boomers will become Olympians in Paris.
Budding international superstars Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels made their major tournament debut at last year’s FIBA World Cup and now the 21-year-olds represent their country at their first, of many to come, Games.
It’s been an incredible year for Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay who helped guide the Tasmania Jack Jumpers to their inaugural NBL title in March. Now, the Queensland-born duo will wear the green and gold in Paris after earning selection in the final 12-player team.
The Opals will also have four first-timers who all boast contrasting Olympic journeys.
Isobel Borlase, at 19 years of age, will be the youngest Australian basketballer competing in Paris.
She was born in September, 2004 a month after Lauren Jackson, now competing in her fifth games, and Sandy Brondello, now head coach, won silver with the Opals in Athens.
Sami Whitcomb was born in California and her Olympic dreams would have featured visions of suiting up for powerhouse Team USA.
But basketball changed the course of the guard’s life when she came to play in the WA state league a decade ago. She would become a WNBL star then mature-age WNBA recruit and two-time champion. Now a naturalised Australian who’s played at two FIBA World Cups, Whitcomb will represent the green and gold in an Olympic Games.
Jade Melbourne was 12-years-old and glued to the television when Belinda Snell, who like Melbourne hailed from Gippsland in regional Victoria, sunk a famous half-court buzzer-beater to send the Opals to overtime against France in London, 2012.
Now 21 and leading the Opals next gen, Melbourne makes her Olympic debut in Paris.
Kristy Wallace has overcome multiple ACL injuries to become a poster girl for resilience. After experiencing so much adversity, the 28-year-old guard now reaches sport’s biggest high.
For the first time, Australia will the fly the flag in 3x3 at the Olympics.
Anneli Maley won a bronze medal with Australia at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney and will now become an Olympian with the Gangurrus.
Marena Whittle, Lauren Mansfield and Ally Wilson also etch their names into the history books as the first Australians to compete in the sport’s abbreviated format on the Olympic stage.
