Australia would love nothing more than to win their second FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on the 20th anniversary of its only championship.
The third-ranked country in the FIBA rankings returns half of the roster that won bronze at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Isobel Borlase, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Alanna Smith and Steph Talbot form the foundation of a team hoping to upset the top-ranked Americans this cycle.
Save for 2010, when the Australian Opals finished fifth, the country has won at least bronze in every World Cup since 1998 – the last year the tournament was held in Berlin.
They share Group C with fifth-ranked Belgium, 13th-ranked Puerto Rico and 16th-ranked Türkiye.
Here’s what you need to know about Australia.
FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 – Australia’s roster
Guards: Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream), Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm), Steph Reid (Tasmania Jewels), Miela Sowah (Townsville Fire/Golden State Valkyries), Steph Talbot (Las Vegas Aces), and Alex Wilson (Sydney Flames)
Forwards: Chloe Bibby (Minnesota Lynx), Isabelle Bourne (Sydney Flames), Alex Fowler (Townsville Fire), Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm) and Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings)
Centres: Zitina Aokuso (Adelaide Lightning)
Who are Australia’s stars to watch at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup?
With the sudden withdrawl of captain Sami Whitcomb, 38, this week due to knee soreness, the Opals now turn to Magbegor in the frontcourt.
The Seattle Storm forward led Australia in scoring (14.7) and was second in both rebounds (5.3) and assists (2.7) as the team made its way through the World Cup qualifyers.
A lot was already being asked of Magbegor, due to the health of Smith. The reigning WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year just returned from a right leg injury that kept her out of four games until 31 July. In five qualifier games for Australia, Smith finished with 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Now, Australia, as a collective, will have to make up for the 13.8 points and 2.2 steals that Whitcomb averaged through the 2026 qualifiers and her experience which helped lift the Opals to bronze in Paris.
Filling in for the veteran is Miela Sowah, a two-time WNBL champion (2018 and 2026), who joined the Golden State Valkyries this May as one of their two player development spots. She adds more shooting depth and gives the Opals a player who is capable of spreading the floor to open up the offense.
