A defining year for Australian Women’s Basketball

All signs point to the start of a historic era for Australian women’s basketball  

FIBA dropped an early Christmas present with Australia hopping France in the FIBA World Rankings to #4 overall in the world. 

If there was any question on the dominance of Australia in women’s basketball this year, the numbers don’t lie.

Australia’s women only lost a single game in 2025 with an accumulated record of 22 – 1.

There were three gold medals (Asia Cup, U16 Asia Cup, U17 Oceania Cup) and the silver could have been a gold, with the U19 Gems challenging USA in one of the biggest games of the year.  

For the 2nd-ranked Seven Consulting Opals senior team, the greatest challenge presented itself with the FIBA Asia Cup in July.

The group, guided by Associate Head Coach, Paul Goriss (with the watchful eye of Sandy Brondello in the USA) confronted the task of overcoming the best in Asia for the first time. 

The selected roster had familiar connections, with a strong representation of teammates from previous national team duties, in particular the Trans-Tasman series versus the Tall Ferns in May.

This familiarity turned to success, and the connection of the group strengthened as the tournament progressed in Shenzhen.

Champion and leader in Cayla George led the Opals to an important and historic breakthrough. Alexandra Fowler starred in China and was acknowledged as the Tournament MVP and named in the All-Star 5 alongside Steph Reid. 

The U19 Gems caught the eye of the world at the FIBA World Cup in Czechia.

An Australian team, coached by Renae Garlepp and led by Bonnie Deas and a cast of genuine, unique talent, challenged Team USA to the depths in the final. The outcome fell out of reach 88 – 76, but the Gems were in the fight until the final buzzer.

There is a belief amongst many that we are witnessing the start of a historic passage of time for women’s basketball in Australia. 

If you needed a net-positive indicator of that being a reality, the Gems' no-fear performance at the U19 World Cup would be it.

The final touches on the schedule of Australian women’s basketball were added with continental meets in September and December. 

A golden outcome was achieved with two undefeated campaigns. One for the U16 Sapphires at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup and the other at the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup in Samoa.

Isabel Smith was named to the All-Star 5 for her campaign at the U16 Asia Cup alongside breakout star Madi Ryan. Ryan was the youngest player on the U19 Gems and received All-Star 5 honours in the final two junior tournaments.  

Sitaya Fagan was named the Tournament MVP for her work in Apia to clinch the Oceania Cup. Fagan ran at a 13.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG clip for the tournament.