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Play it again Sami as Opals go 5-0
FORMER Adelaide Lightning WNBL import Kayla Alexander turned in a blinder for Canada at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying series in Turkey, but it still wasn't quite enough to stall the rampaging Opals, players such as Chloe Bibby relishing extended minutes in the absence of two starters.
DJ on song as 36ers storm into Final
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THE NBL's undisputed 2026 MVP, Bryce Cotton, compiled a whopping 109 points in Adelaide's three-game advance to the best-of-five Grand Finals, in the process eliminating South East Melbourne Phoenix at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. But Dejan Vasiljevic's contribution was inestimable.
Aussies escape Turkish inferno to go 4-0
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BUOYED by the rousing support of its home crowd and playing arguably its best game of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Turkey pushed Australia to the limit before Sami Whitcomb, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot, Alex Wilson and a cameo by Cayla George steered the Opals to a thrilling 77-74 win.
Opals secure winning hat-trick at Qualifiers
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A CRUDE unsportsmanlike foul by Hungary's Petra Toman against Opals forward Alanna Smith acted as the catalyst to send Australia rolling away to a comfortable 71-58 victory in Turkey at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying tournament, the USF spurring a match-winning run that broke open the contest.
Vale Ken Cole, unique in so many ways
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"BEWARE the Ides of March" - the classic warning to wannabe emperor Julius Caesar but, as it turns out, a March 15 omen equally appropriate for basketball's undisputed "king" Ken Cole who died peacefully this morning, surrounded by family. The sport's most colourful and controversial figure prepared us for this moment for years.
Deja vu for 36ers and farewell to Wildcats
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IT was deja vu tonight for Adelaide fans as the 36ers coughed up an 18-point buffer to South East Melbourne, with a rabid Nathan Sobey running amok for a career-high 41 points, while Sydney put the Wildcats out to pasture in their rival NBL semi final, a 29-16 final quarter revealing the depleted home side had hit the wall.
Opals go to 2-0 at FIBA qualifiers
JAPAN gave Australia a major hiccup at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Turkey, the Opals' 10-point winning margin deceptive but also reflective of the team's greater depth, a late 3-point barrage and solid bench contribution from Zitina Aokuso raising the green 'n' gold flag for the second time in two outings.
Forget the calls, the bball was epic
WAS it a goal tend? Was it an offensive hook? Questions and queries about the officiating in Game 1 of the NBL's semi final series between Sydney and Perth overshadowed the post-game of what was another epic battle that included heroic moments from the unlikeliest of characters, such as Makuach Maluach.
Cotton controversy? Phoenix feels the fall-out
JUST for the benefit of anyone, or perhaps just that "one" person who wondered if Bryce Cotton's MVP win this season was completely kosher, the NBL's little master last night put on a 42-point extravaganza to secure a 1-0 lead for Adelaide over South East Melbourne in the semi finals.
Brad&Boti: Opals to feast in Turkey, NBL down to 4
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THE NBL is on the threshold of its 2026 best-of-three semi finals, giving Brad&Boti podcast colleague Brad Rosen and I plenty to discuss, but before we even do, over in Turkey our Australian Opals are in action against Argentina, Japan, Hungary, Turkey and Canada.
