Basketball On The Internet.

THERE is no shortage of players unlucky to be omitted from Sandy Brondello's Australia Opals team competing in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Turkey from Wednesday but perhaps none moreso than Courtney Woods. Hot off leading Townsville to the WNBL championship, Woods claimed the Rachael Sporn Medal en route!

That acknowledges the fact in the most significant matches on the domestic Australian women's basketball calendar in 2026 - the WNBL's Grand Final Series - Woods was our best player.

When you consider there were only two players selected for the Opals from that championship series, and two others from among the semi final losers, not to mention three more from teams idle during the WNBL playoffs, Woods has to be deemed as EXTREMELY unlucky.

In Game 1 as Townsville seized its 1-0 championship series lead win an 88-79 win over Perth Lynx, Woods enjoyed a game-high 22 points at 65 per cent, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. In the key third quarter when the Fire wrested control, Woods had 10 of their 24 points - the total Perth mustered for the period.

In Game 2 in Perth, a 108-105 overtime epic, Woods produced a career-high 28 points at 62 per cent, eight rebounds, seven assists and a steal.

A career-high in the most important game of your career? If that's not Opals-worthy, I confess I no longer have a clue what is.

The good news though is Australia already has qualified for the FIBA World Cup so these upcoming matches should prove great preparation without anything riding on the result.

The team in Turkey for match prep against Argentina, Japan, Hungary, Turkey and Canada is:  Zitina Aokuso (Canberra Capitals, WNBL), Chloe Bibby (Uni Girona CB, Liga Femenina de Baloncesto), Isobel Borlase (Bendigo Spirit, WNBL), Alexandra Fowler (Townsville Fire, WNBL), Cayla George (Southside Flyers, WNBL), Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm, WNBA), Jade Melbourne (Canberra Capitals, WNBL), Steph Reid (Sopron Basket, EuroCup Women), Alanna Smith (Minnesota Lynx, WNBA), Steph Talbot (Adelaide Lightning, WNBL), Sami Whitcomb (Beşiktaş, Turkish Super League), Alex Wilson (Perth Lynx, WNBL).

The matches will be telecast by ESPN and streamed on Disney+

The schedule is: Argentina, Wednesday, 10:30pm AEDT

Japan, Thursday, 10:30pm AEDT

Hungary, Saturday, 10:30pm AEDT

Turkey, Monday, March 16, 4:30am AEDT

Canada, Wednesday, March 18,1:30am AEDT

Brondello has taken a competent group to Turkey and its evolution after the era of Tess Madgen, Lauren Jackson and Co augurs well, WNBA stars Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith sure to be at the forefront of this next stage of the Opals.