2006 Opals
It’s only fitting that the first Australian team to win a senior gold medal is the first team inducted to the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
Continuing on the success and momentum established by the bronze-medal winning Opals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, this star studded young Aussie team took all before them in Brazil a decade later at the 2006 FIBA World Cup.
A forfeit by Lithuania meant Australia didn’t take to the court in Pool B until their second game against Senegal who they accounted for before defeating Canada to progress from the group stage.
The Opals continued to build on their strong campaign by accounting for France, 79-66, in the Quarter Finals then host nation Brazil, 88-76, in the Semi-Finals.
In the other Semi-Final, Russia ousted powerhouse USA in one of the sport’s biggest upsets to set up a gold-medal match with the Aussies.
Already an international star, Penny Taylor shone on the biggest stage with 28 points and 9 rebounds leading the Opals to an historic 91-74 victory in the Final.
At the peak of her powers, Opals captain and global superstar Lauren Jackson teamed 16 points with 9 rebounds, while Kristi Harrower, proving why she was one of the best point guards in the world, added 15 points and dished out 5 assists.
Taylor was crowned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for her brilliant campaign and produced her best displays in the final two games with 26 points in the semi-final then her gold-medal heroics.
Jackson was the tournament’s top scorer averaging 21.3 points per game.
The first female coach of the Opals, Jan Stirling cemented her top status in the sport with her outstanding coaching performance and leadership, in the lead up to and, during the tournament.
At 32-years-of-age, centre Jenny Whittle was the team’s most experienced player, making history a decade after doing so in the Opals’ 1996 triumph. Emerging guard Erin Phillips was the youngest Opal at 21.
