Opals and Gangurrus name Olympic Squads

This morning the Seven Consulting Opals and Australian Gangurrus announced their teams for the Paris Olympics.

For the Opals, Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson headlines the team as she heads to her fifth Olympic campaign.

Cayla George (Sydney Flames) and Marianna Tolo (Bendigo Spirit) will play at their third Games while Captain Tess Madgen, Rebecca Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Steph Talbot (Adelaide Lightning) will compete for the second time.

Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne (UC Caps) and Isobel Borlase (Adelaide Lightning) all make their Olympic debut.

All twelve players have spent time in the WNBL with eight of them playing in the season just gone.

Opals Captain Tess Madgen drew on the legacy of the Opals to inspire the team going to Paris.

“I can’t believe I’m talking about going to my second Olympics, it feels very surreal,” she said. “I’m beyond honoured and excited to represent Australia, everyone who knows me will tell you that it brings me to tears, every time.We have the absolute best team of athletes, we are much more than a team, we are a sisterhood and we carry with us all the Opals from the past and we draw on their strength.  Every time I put on the green and gold it gives me goosebumps, it’s hard to really put into words what it means. We are all so grateful to be here and make no mistake we are very hungry so bring on Paris.”

The Gangurrus will head to Paris for the first time with Captain Anneli Maley (Perth Lynx), Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Alex Wilson who will all make their Olympic debut as the Gangurrus contest the Olympic 3×3 Basketball competition for the first time, after the discipline made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

All four have spent time in the WNBL with three of the four playing in last season’s campaign.

Anneli Maley said Aussie fans are going to fall in love with the 3×3 format.

“I’m so incredibly proud to be going to the Olympics,” she said. “This is the 3×3 Olympic debut for Australia and to be part of that history is absolutely wild. Our team is incredible, we have overcome so many challenges to get here so we won’t be leaving anything on the court in Paris. This is a dream for me and for those who don’t know about 3×3 – tune in you’re gonna love it. Bring on Paris I can’t wait.”

Head to Basketball Australia for more information and scheduling.