George’s Opals fine-tune Olympics preparations
The Australian Opals, headlined by Sydney Flames’ Cayla George, will take on two of the world’s top female basketball nations leading into the Olympics, with games against Spain and Canada on July 23 and 24.
Coming off a third-place finish in the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia goes into Paris as the third-ranked team in the world.
The Opals sit behind the USA and China, with Spain and Canada fourth and fifth respectively.
The matches will be played for the Invitational Cup in Segovia, Spain, allowing the team a vital final opportunity to test their rotations before their Olympics campaign tips off early next week.
The games can be viewed via Courtside 1891.
Opals coach Sandy Brondello is set to represent her country at a sixth Games, four as a player and two as a coach.
Star Lauren Jackson will join Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Andrew Gaze as a five-time Olympian, after making her Opals debut in Sydney in 2000.
Australia has been grouped with Nigeria, Canada and France, with its first game in Paris coming on July 29.
Australian Opals vs Spain
Tuesday, July 23 – 4am AEST
Calle de Damaso Alonso, Segovia
Australian Opals vs Canada
Wednesday, July 24 – 2am AEST
Calle de Damaso Alonso, Segovia