2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball Olympic Qualifying Tournaments: Can Lauren Jackson inspire Australia's next generation?

Olympic qualifying tournaments are all about being your best when it counts and there will be no exceptions for the Australian Opals as they suit up for the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament (WOQT) in Belem, Brazil from 8-11 February.

In a group with Germany, Serbia and hosts Brazil, the world's No.3 women's basketball side will have its work cut out as it attempts to secure a quota spot for Paris 2024.

History points to the European side being a stern test for the Aussies, having previously been bested by number 10-ranked Serbia at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2022.

Throw in a hungry Brazil raring to make an Olympic appearance for the first time since Rio 2016 and an up-and-coming German side featuring Satou and Nyara Sabally, and the showdown in Brazil is arguably the toughest WOQT going.

But even though the road towards a 10th Olympic Games might not look smooth there are plenty of reasons for the Australians to be optimistic as they start their campaign for Paris.

From Lauren Jackson and a potential fairytale end to an Olympic run that started in 2000, to the fresh faces ready to step up, Olympics.com examines the Opals and their qualification chances.

As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

• Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.

The Lauren Jackson effect

After coming off the bench to score 30 points and secure Australia a bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, the world thought it had seen the last of Lauren Jackson in international dress.

Her appearance at the basketball showpiece in itself was a surprise. The 42-year-old ended a six-year-long retirement just to play. But even that glorious finale seems not to be quite the end for Hall of Fame legend Jackson.

In December the basketball superstar made headlines after being named to Opals' 20-player pool for the Olympic qualifiers. That traction then gained further momentum when she was shortlisted for the final 12 bound for Brazil.

With four Olympic medals to her name and three WNBA MVP titles, the former No.1 WNBA Draft pick offers ample experience when it comes to being the best. That, Opals head coach Sandy Brondello hopes, will rub off on the fresh faces named in the squad for what has been described as a nerve-wracking few tournament days.

Should Australia secure one of the three berths on offer in Brazil and if Jackson outlasts her injuries to stay fit and willing, she could become the oldest-ever basketball player to compete at an Olympic Games, potentially adding another stunning chapter to an already historic career.

Next generation Opals

Though the headlines might centre around Jackson as she targets new ground for the Opals, two other players will also be under the microscope in Brazil.

21-year-old Jade Melbourne and 19-year-old Izzy Borlase represent the younger side of the blend Brondello is bringing to Brazil and both are exciting international prospects.

After enjoying a rapid rise, Melbourne’s burgeoning career hit a new peak last year after she spent the last season with the Seattle Storm in the WNBA following her selection in the 2022 Draft.

On Opening Night, she became the youngest player on a roster in the WNBA in the 2023 season after appearing on the team sheet for the Storm.

Now back playing in Australia's WNBL, Melbourne is already making her mark currently averaging 16.9 points, 7.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Just as with Melbourne, teenager Borlase is similarly one to keep an eye out for.

In addition to impressing in WNBL, which she has been competing in since the 2021-22 season, Borlase has also begun developing a compelling international pedigree of her own. 

She debuted for the Australian Gems at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, where alongside Melbourne, she helped clinch silver. Before that, she was part of the Australian team that won gold at the U18 Asian Championships and was named to the All-Star Five after averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game.

With the likes of Jackson, Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo set to be their teammates in Brazil, both will be looking to make the most of the opportunity to shine with a possible Olympic appearance as a reward.

Australia's opposition at Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Brazil, Serbia and Germany

Germany

Germany may not yet have competed in the women’s Olympic basketball tournament but the German side coming to Brazil is one not to be underestimated.

After years in the wilderness, Germany is now a team on the rise marked by their impressive performance at EuroBasket last year.

Making their first appearance at the continental showpiece in 12 years, the Germans finished the tournament in sixth with a 4-3 record. That they managed to achieve without arguably the best talent, Satou Sabally who makes the journey to Brazil.

Currently playing for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA, she was named the league's Most Improved Player last season and finished fifth in Most Valuable Player voting.

While Germany might lack experience in make-or-break games, the hunger to write history will be something driving this team and it is somthing the Opals won’t be taking lightly.

Brazil

Like Germany, hosts Brazil will have a point to prove when they take to the court in Belem.

Last making an appearance at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 the former basketball powerhouse is looking for a way back to the Olympic podium having clinched a silver in 1996 and bronze in 2000.

And there is good reason to believe Brazil can do what it takes to get to Paris.

The team, led by Kamilla Soares of the South Carolina Gamecocks, routed Team USA in the final of last year’s AmeriCup. While it wasn’t a full-strength USA team such as the one that will feature in the WOQT in Belgium there were some high-profile names including 2023 NCAA Champion Angel Reese, marking it as a significant victory. And with Soares set to rejoin Brazil in Belem after receiving the greenlight from Gamecocks' coach Dawn Staley to miss NCAA commitments to play, the Brazilians could well cause more upsets.

Serbia

Two-time Olympic semi-finalists and 2021 EuroBasket champions Serbia pose arguably the strongest threat to Australia.

Having beaten Germany 78-62 on the final day of EuroBasket last year and with wins against Australia and Brazil at the Women's World Cup Qualifiers in 2022, Serbia has a strong record to lean on coming to Brazil where they will be hunting a third-consecutive Olympic appearance.

Yvonne Anderson, 33, will be a key figure in the European team's line-up and will be one all teams will target when they come up against Serbia. If they hope to do that they will also have to side-step Serbia's bigs including Dragana Stankovic and Tina Krajisnik who both have Olympic experience under their belt.

Just like their opponents, Serbia also will be looking to blend in some of their fresher faces and UCLA's Angela Dugalic is no exception. Having made her debut for Serbia aged 19 at EuroBasket 2021, and competed at Tokyo 2020 in 2021, the now 22-year-old will be looking to become a staple in the Serbian side with a potentially big year ahead.

Australian Opals 12-player roster selected at Women's Basketball Olympic Qualifying Tournaments:

• Rebecca Allen
• Sara Blicavs
• Isobel Borlase
• Cayla George
• Lauren Jackson
• Tess Madgen
• Ezi Magbegor
• Jade Melbourne
• Stephanie Reid
• Alanna Smith
• Marianna Tolo
• Samantha Whitcomb

Head coach: Sandy Brondello

Assistant coach: Paul Gori

Assistant coach: Cherly Chambers