Basketball On The Internet.

WE'RE departing from our customary and extremely popular WNBL Team of the Week format this round to branch out into new areas - international areas frankly. Because while they haven't had the opportunity to capture the mainstream public's imagination in the way the Matildas did, our Opals have certainly been the focus of women's basketball fans nationwide this week.

Travelling to Belem, Brazil to face the host nationa first, then Germany and Serbia, and needing to win one or more games to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games always was going to be a tough ask.

Yet in the end, the Opals not only qualified but swept the series 3-0, staving off Brazil 60-55, Germany 85-52 and Serbia 75-73.

The only other qualifiers who won their group stages 3-0 were the USA and France ... and they were both playing with "house money" as they already were qualified as the reigning World Champion and host nation respectively.

So Round 13 is most definitely not unlucky as our elite women qualifed for their 10th Olympics and their eighth in succession since the minor hiccup of Barcelona 1992.

Ezi Magbegor led from the front(court) in the win over Brazil before veterans Cayla George (threeball) and Tess Madgen (layup) put it out of reach.

Then it was vintage Madgen with a wicked shooting performance and Lauren Jackson in what would prove her international swansong, who set up Australia's rout of Germany with their blazing and inspirational first halves.

Then with Jackson and Madgen sitting out the last match against Serbia, and Alanna Smith playing a minimal role, it was the young guns - the "fearless freshmen" such as Isobel Borlase and Jade Melbourne - who made their presence felt.

The Opals turned back a 10-point deficit to clinch that game. In the process, Ezi Magbegor was named the tournament's MVP and fellow starter Bec Allen named to the All Star Five.

To say the series was a win on every front would be an understatement. Although the formal retirement from international basketball of Australia's greatest player, Lauren Jackson, still is a blow.

Those who follow her across social media platforms already had a "heads up" of her intentions pre-series, her young sons needing their mother now more than she needed the accolades of a fifth Olympic appearance.

At 42, her comeback has been phenomenal, her 30-point game against Canada to win the 2022 FIBA World Cup Bronze Medal a fitting finale.

But selected for the national team yet again, her international career now culminates in one of her most memorable destinations - Brazil, site of Australia's 2006 World Cup Gold - as she plays a key role in qualifying the Opals for Paris.

Will she still be in Australia's 12 best come those Games? You bet. But right now, respecting her decision to call "time" is not a huge ask after all she has given the sport. And the future certainly looks bright for the Opals.

“We have a good mix of experience and the young players coming through. You saw the depth shine through with Izzy Borlase, Jade Melbourne and Steph Reid who showed what they’re capable of and I was really rapt for them,” national coach Sandy Brondello said.

So the Opals as our WNBL Team of the Week? Well yes, of course!

Let's look at the team and start with Sami Whitcomb (Townsville Fire), Tess Madgen (Sydney Flames), Lauren Jackson (Southside Flyers), Sara Blicavs (Melbourne Boomers), Jade Melbourne (Canberra Capitals), Isobel Borlase (Adelaide Lightning), Stephanie Reid (Townsville Fire), Cayla George (Sydney Flames) ... all current WNBL players.

Ezi Magbegor, Bec Allen, Alanna Smith and Marianna Tolo - another huge performer in the win over Serbia - are all past and/or future WNBL players. So yes, this round's Team of the Week was as easy as 1, 2, 3 ... just as they wracked up the wins, 1, 2, 3.

BASKETBALL ON THE INTERNET TEAM OF THE WEEK
Round 13 Australian Opals
Round 12 Southside Flyers
Round 11 Bendigo Spirit
Round 10 Melbourne Boomers
Round  9 Sydney Flames
Round  8 Uni of Canberra capitals
Round  7 Townsville Fire
Round  6 Melbourne Boomers
Round  5 Perth Lynx
Round  4 Townsville Fire
Round  3 Adelaide Lightning
Round  2 Melbourne Boomers
Round  1 Perth Lynx