The Opals will face China on 7 and 9 July in the heart of Melbourne, offering Australian fans a rare opportunity to witness a world-class matchup between two of the leading nations on home soil as anticipation builds towards the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany this September.
Delivered in partnership with Visit Victoria and TEG Sport, the series reinforces a shared commitment to bringing premier global sporting events to Melbourne, while continuing to elevate the profile and visibility of women’s sport on the national stage.
Basketball Australia CEO Matt Scriven said this would be a major opportunity to showcase international basketball in Melbourne.
“This event is a fantastic opportunity to welcome China to Australia and see two world-class programs go head-to-head.
“We’re proud to be bringing another major international women’s sporting event to Melbourne while continuing to showcase the strength of basketball in Australia.”
Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, welcomed the announcement of the international series, saying it would deliver benefits for both sport and the Victorian economy.
“This is another slam dunk for Victoria, with two of the highest-ranked teams facing off right here in Melbourne.”
“This is a win for our visitor economy – filling our hotels, restaurants, bars, and showcasing Victoria to millions of viewers around the world.”
The series will include the She Hoops Festival of Girls to celebrate, develop and elevate women and girls across Australia’s basketball community.
The initiative will combine community participation experiences with visible development pathways for emerging female players, coaches, officials and media talent, leveraging the profile of the Opals to inspire the next generation of girls in basketball.
Lauren Jackson AO OLY, Opals legend and National Ambassador and Advisor for Women, said the series represented another significant moment for the sport.
“The growth of women’s basketball in Australia continues to build incredible momentum, and events like this are a huge part of that,” said Jackson.
“Opportunities for fans and the wider community to watch elite female athletes compete on home soil are powerful and play an important role in the continued visibility of the game across Australia.”
For Opals Head Coach Sandy Brondello, the series represents a vital opportunity to build cohesion and to strengthen the foundations established during the team’s undefeated World Cup qualifying campaign in Turkey.
“These games are a great opportunity for us to continue building our identity and strengthening the cohesion within the group,” said Brondello.
“We saw during the qualifiers in Turkey what’s possible when we play our system the right way, and this series is another important step in continuing to grow that consistency.”
Tickets will go live via Ticketek on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 10:00am AEST. Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria, Ticketek and Visit Victoria members will receive priority access via a pre-sale beginning Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 10:00am AEST.
Qantas Frequent Flyer is a valued pre-sale partner and Qantas members can access the pre-sale here and use Qantas Points towards their tickets between 10 a.m. (AEST) on 26 May and 10 a.m. (AEST) on 27 May, unless sold out prior.
The Seven Consulting Opals vs. China series in Melbourne is supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria.
