Madgen Calls Time

Just weeks after guiding the Seven Consulting Opals to an Olympic bronze medal in Paris, captain Tess Madgen has called time on a decorated career.

The 34-year-old guard, who debuted for her country at the 2011 FIBA Oceania Championships, represented Australia at two Olympics Games (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), two World Cups campaigns (winning a silver medal in 2018 and bronze in 2022) and in a home FIBA Asia Cup tournament in 2023.

Since being appointed captain in 2022, under Madgen’s leadership, the Opals have won a bronze medal at their past three tournaments – the 2022 FIBA World Cup, 2023 FIBA Asia Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.

A product of South Australian club Eastern Mavericks and an SA Country junior representative, Madgen attended the AIS on a scholarship and represented the AIS in the WNBL between 2008 and 2010.

She went on to play for the Bendigo Spirit, Bulleen Boomers, Melbourne Boomers, across two stints, Townsville Fire and Sydney Flames reaching 250 games and WNBL Life Membership last December.

Madgen won a WNBL title with the Boomers in 2021-22 and a Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship with Northern Kahu last year.

She also spread her wings abroad, with the Phoenix Mercury (2015) in the WNBA and Europe for Polish outfit AZS UMCS Lublin (2016-17).

Five-time Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson described Madgen, who she played with at the last World Cup and Olympic Games, as one of the finest leaders the national program has seen.

“Tess is a really impressive person on and off the court and in terms of her leadership, she has been one of the best captains the Opals has had,” Jackson said.

“She is solution-orientated and holds people accountable, works through problems and is someone you can count on. I really appreciated her leadership style and she made me feel really comfortable and welcome into the group and was someone I absolutely trusted.

“As a player, she was very consistent and someone who put her heart and soul into everything she did and it made everyone around her want to better.”

Jackson, Basketball Australia’s Head of Women and Girls, said Madgen had continually given back to the game through her involvement with She Hoops running coaching sessions and mentoring young players.

“Right from day dot, Tess wanted to be involved and help elevate women and girls’ basketball in Australia.

“A lot of that stems from her being a very caring person but she genuinely wants to see the sport thriving and that says a lot about who she is but she’s also willing to do the hard yards and put in that hard work.

“It’s been incredible working with Tess on She Hoops and we looking forward to that continuing.”