Basketball On The Internet.

DISGRACEFUL. If last night's 91-63 rout of China by the Opals was anything to go by, the visitors should simply skip going to Paris altogether, instead revisiting Basketball Basics 101. Led by Amy Atwell's 17 points, Australia humiliated the world No.2 at John Cain Arena. China was embarrassing.

Their undisciplined, irresponsible play did not even remotely resemble the style of the crew which eliminated Australia in a semi final and battled USA for the FIBA World Cup gold at Sydney 2022.

Considering seven Australian players active in the WNBA all are expected to suit for the Olympics, China was playing Opals B, yet it was the visitors putting in a B-grade standard performance.

Take nothing from the Opals. They were magnificent.

Atwell was sharp, Lauren Jackson was looking in danger of an early foul-caused exit, but then went for an 11-point third quarter and intimidated the bejeezus out of the Chinese, Marianna Tolo was excellent and Steph Reid had herself a night out.

The hustle and harassment of the Opals was exemplary, captain Tess Madgen showing the way, diving on loose balls, Alice Kunek and Darcee Garbin again prominent.

Isobel Borlase, if she didn't already have her name on a ticket to Paris, certainly had it stamped after another exciting display that augurs so well for the present and the future.

Beaten and humiliated, China showed some rare early focus in the final quarter, to little effective avail. But its complete lack of even a skerrick of foul discipline - slapping across players' arms as they drove to the hoop, the type of stuff you teach under-10s not to do - was just embarrassing. 

Conspiracy theorists could be forgiven for thinking China wanted Australia to take 50 free throws so back home the team could give that knowing nod-and-wink and reflect on the Opals' "home cooking" by pointing to the FT disparity.

But that would be as much bullcrap as their defensive commitment. They were appalling, Australia outstanding, its aggression quickly ending this exhibition as a contest.

AUSTRALIA OPALS 91 (Atwell 17, Jackson 13, Tolo, Reid 10; George 6 rebs; Reid 5 assts) d CHINA 63 (Siyu 18) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 6,042