Paris Olympics 2024: Opals add to Australia’s historic medal haul with drought-breaking basketball bronze

30 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and a bronze medal; Ezi Magbegor has played the game of her life to overcome a Belgian shooting spree and lead the Opals to their first Olympic medal in 12 years.

Australia’s early shock loss to Nigeria and disappointing semifinal defeat to powerhouses America were quickly forgotten as the bench rushed onto the Bercy Arena court to soak in the 85-81 triumph, adding to their nation’s historic medal haul.

Perth’s Sami Whitcomb was the Opal’s second-leading scorer after overcoming going one for six from deep in the first half to finish with a valuable 14 points, one more than Alanna Smith.

At the other end, it was a valiant effort from Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo, who pulled out all their tricks to keep Belgium neck-a-neck with Australia until the closing stages of the five-point defeat.

The win will surely mark the final end of a legendary career for Lauren Jackson, who has already retired three times from the international game before later reversing the decision.

Her most recent retirement came after the Opals sealed Olympic qualification in February, but she later reversed the decision.

The 43-year-old, who initially retired in 2016 after an injury-plagued period but made a WNBL and international return in 2022, did not take to the court in the match but added a second bronze to her three silver medals at her first game since 2012.

The Opals won five straight Olympic medals between 1996 and 2012 but had not tasted silverware since London.

Much of the focus coming into the contest was on Meesseman, but Antonia Deleare drilled two threes in the opening minutes to show they had more than one scoring threat.

After the two teams traded baskets in the remainder of the term, Isobel Borlase drilled a stepback three on the quarter-time buzzer to give Australia a 20-19 lead.

The Opals threatened to blow the game open in the second term with a 10-2 run fuelled by eight points from Magbegor, but the Belgians responded with an 11-0 blitz of their own, the Opals again forced to beat the buzzer to take a one-point lead into the main break, Whitcomb drilled her only three of the half.

Julie Vanloo took over the scoring from Meesseman after the long break, reeling off shots from distance to convince the Opal’s defence to come out before dropping into the gaps they left behind.

A ridiculous last-moment heave from the paint as the shot clock expired gave Belgium a one-point lead with half a quarter to play, but the Aussies stepped up their defence and started to use their physical presence to earn easy points from the charity line.

Magbegor continued to carry the scoring for the Opals as they broke away to a seven-point lead with 4:08 on the clock, forcing Belgium into a time-out.

They continued to keep pace with the Opals, a late three closing the margin to one bucket.

Steph Talbot produced an incredible block on a three-point attempt in the corner that would have levelled scores with 25 seconds remaining.

Belgium used another timeout, but forgot to discuss the fact the shot clock had not reset and ran out of time as they tried to find an open shot.

They sent Tess Magden to the line, but the captain came up ice cold, giving the Australians an 83-78 lead 15 seconds away from the final whistle.

Magden hit two more free throws to clinch the bronze medal.