Stirling had immediate success as national coach, winning a bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships in China. She then led the Opals to silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, to gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, gold at the 2006 FIBA world championship in Brazil and silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. As a result, Stirling has been described as Australia's most successful basketball coach.