Source : ABC NEWS
The Opals have produced a consistent pipeline of global superstars throughout their silverware-packed history, an impressive feat in one of the world’s most competitive sports.
In the 2026 incarnation of the Opals, Ezi Magbegor, 27, carries that tag.
After bursting onto the international stage as a highly promising 18-year-old, she is now a defensive linchpin, a leader, and the type of player whose influence will likely dictate how far the Opals go at the Women’s Basketball World Cup.
And she is in her prime-time era.
Magbegor was part of the team that won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Getty Images: Gregory Shamus)
Throwing a fit
Magbegor entered this WNBA season as a hot commodity — becoming the equal highest paid Australian player in the league, and one of the richest female Australian athletes overall.
But an Achilles injury, then broken nose, wiped her out for most of the season, delivering a harsh reality check for the Seattle Storm forward-centre.
Magbegor has been wearing a mask for the Seattle Storm, since returning from a broken nose. (Getty Images: Olivia Vanni)
“I’ve been so blessed to not have many injuries at all in my first seven years of my W season,” she told ABC Sport.
“You just realise injuries are a part of sport and it’s about how you reset your mind and bounce back and prepare for the next thing.
“And so, yes, I was injured, but I just used it as a great opportunity to work on my body and put myself in the best position to be ready.”
It also gave her a chance to spend some time on her ‘tunnel fits’, aka the casual outfits that players wear when arriving at arenas, which have become a core part of the WNBA.
“This year I really wanted to lean into my Nigerian culture and heritage, and my mum’s been begging me to wear traditional clothing,” she said.
“My favourite was definitely my traditional attire. My parents had bought the material from Nigeria and then one of our friends had sewn it together in Melbourne.
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“I worry about being too dressed up sometimes, but my mum’s like, yeah, it’s not enough, nothing’s too dressed up. So, it was really fun to be able to share that with her.”
She traded high fashion for a protective face mask when she returned to the court for the Storm in late July, adding to her already intimidating aura as one of the league’s best shot blockers.
And while her domestic season has been stunted, she is coming back to full fitness and form just in time for the World Cup, tipping-off in Berlin this weekend.
Opals going big
Magbegor was part of the team that won World Cup silver in 2018, bronze at home in Sydney in 2022, and bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Magbegor is known as an elite rim defender and shot blocker. (Getty Images: Gregory Shamus)
There has been substantial turnover since Paris with the emotional core of the team including Tess Madgen, Lauren Jackson, Cayla George, and Marianna Tolo, all missing.
And with captain and point guard Sami Whitcomb belatedly ruled out of this World Cup, the side’s star power now largely shines around Magbegor and Alanna Smith.
“It’s expected for me to pass on the cultural values and expectations onto the next group coming up,” Magbegor said.
“But for me it’s just about leading by example, touching base with my teammates, making sure that I’m being the best professional, best teammate, best person I can be come tournament play, and in the lead up as well.
“I’ve been in the Opals team and squad for a while now and I want to have an impact for the team in any way I can, whether that’s on the floor, off the floor.
“But definitely looking to play my best basketball for the group and hopefully come away with the medal.”
Smith, who was last year named WNBA defensive player of the year, had her own injury interrupted start to the season.
Alongside Magbegor, Dallas Wings player Alanna Smith is regarded as one of the Opals’ best players. (Getty Images: Stacy Revere)
Coach Sandy Brondello is confident Magbegor and Smith are recovered and ready to lead Australia’s charge in Berlin.
“They can hold themselves with any of the best post players in the world here. And that’s what we’re going to need from them without putting pressure,” Brondello told ABC Sport.
“I’ve coached [Ezi] since she was 18. And this is her time, back healthy.
“The best is to come to her, but I’m just excited for her to get out, her athleticism, her rim protection. But now she’s a three-level scorer, so that’s a great asset.
“And Alanna was our best player in Paris, most consistent player over the whole tournament.
“And it’s good to see her getting some rhythm now and getting that confidence back because we need them. We have to lean into them. They’re our two best bigs.”
Chasing the elusive gold
The Opals enter the World Cup ranked third. The Olympic bronze was followed by a breakthrough Asia Cup win last year, without any WNBA players, and they had a limited preparation for this tournament.
Coach Sandy Brondello says the team’s culture is key to its continued success over many years. (Getty Images: Gregory Shamus)
“The results that we’ve had, it shows that the continuity that we’ve developed over many years, not just one year, is showing because our chemistry is strong, our culture is strong,” Brondello said.
“Everyone’s accepting their roles and coming in and playing at a high level. And that’s the beauty of Australian teams that we have.”
Culture is always the constant with the Opals and what they attribute their sustained performance over decades to.
“It really just comes down our sisterhood and how gritty and tough we are and how we play together and we’ll play whatever role to help us to have great success,” Brondello said.
“These players, they’ve become family.
“Playing at the highest level just means everyone has to buy into the values for the success of the program. And there’s no one player bigger than the program.”
While the Opals are perennial podium finishers at major tournaments, gold has eluded them since their one and only world title in 2006.
Players from the 2006 World Champion Opals met with the current squad during a series in Melbourne in July. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
“It’s just something that comes with being an Opal, that legacy piece and recognising and acknowledging who put us in this position and who started that legacy,” Magbegor said.
“Medals is quite synonymous with Opals, and we’ve won in the past and want to continue to win.”
As had been the case for decades, the world number one USA is a seemingly immovable object from the top step of the podium, although was pushed all the way by France in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics.
“[The USA are] the best of the best and they’re great, but they’ve got the best talent,” Brondello said.
“But we’ve got a talented group, we’ve built some more chemistry over the years, and that’s what we have to lean into.”
Growing the game
Half the Opals squad plays in the WNBA, the rest are in the local WNBL, and both leagues have experienced significant changes in the past year.
Zitina Aokuso is one of the local WNBL players in this World Cup squad. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
After drawn out, often bitter negotiations, the WNBA and players’ association finally signed a new collective bargaining agreement which saw player salaries skyrocket.
Magbegor went from earning $US186,000 ($260,000) a year to $US1.25 million, a figure matched by Smith at the Dallas Wings, and significantly larger than the base salaries of other leading Australian female athletes in team sports, including the top Matildas and cricketers.
“I think that’s just a testament to people that came before us and really pushing for the growth of women’s basketball in particular, but just women’s sports in general,” Magbegor said.
“And I think now is a greater time than ever to push forward, invest in women’s sports and just advocate for ourselves, but each other as well.”
The WNBL has been making its own moves on a much smaller scale, including a new ownership group taking over last year.
And after starting her career there, Magbegor hopes it too can thrive.
“That’s what is probably lacking right now, exposure, and knowing that it’s going to pay off in the long run,” she said.
“People need to see the product and see the game and realise that women’s basketball, basketball is incredible.
“We have great athletes, especially coming up, and I think it’s just a matter of investing, a matter of showing up and a matter of supporting.”
