The Seven Consulting Opals have completed their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying campaign with a 82–76 victory over Canada in Istanbul, finishing the tournament with a perfect 5–0 record.
In a back-and-forth battle, the Opals delivered when it mattered most, closing out the win behind Sami Whitcomb’s 23 points, including a flawless 5-of-5 from the arc.
Isobel Borlase added 13 points, while Alanna Smith also provided strong support with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Whitcomb said the performance was the team’s toughest of the tournament.
“I thought all of our games we had to dig deep at different stages, but that was our grittiest, toughest game and I’m really proud of us. They (Canada) obviously were playing for their lives.
The Opals’ depth was again on full display, with contributions across the board.
“It was such a good opportunity to get that back-against-the-wall kind of feeling. When you’re at the end of a tournament, you’re exhausted and everything’s on the line. So, I was proud of how we stepped up. Everybody played a really important role,” Whitcomb added.
Brondello also pointed to the team’s leadership group as a driving force behind the campaign.
“I trust them. They make everyone play with a little bit more calmness and poise, especially Sami, Cayla, and Lan.
“The leadership group do such a good job of making sure that they’re having fun. There’s a lot of laughter, and when we have a connected group off the court, it helps us on the court.”
Having secured World Cup qualification at their Asia Cup campaign last year, the Opals were formally recognised following tonight’s game and will now turn their attention to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin Germany.
