page_title: Australia women's national basketball team
section_title: 2000s: A decade of medals & World Champions
hierarchical_section_title: Australia women's national basketball team / History / 2000s: A decade of medals & World Champions
caption_attribution_description: English: Australia, celebrating after being awarded the gold medals for winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in basketball
context_page_description: The Australian women's national basketball team is nicknamed the Opals, after the brightly coloured gemstone common to the country. From 1994 onwards, the Opals have been consistently competitive and successful having won nine medals at official FIBA international tournaments, highlighted by a gold medal winning performance at the 2006 World Championship in Brazil. At the now-defunct regional Oceania Championship for Women, the Opals won 15 titles. Effective in 2017, FIBA combined its Oceanian and Asian zones for official senior competitions; following this change, the Opals compete in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
context_section_description: With Sydney hosting the 2000 Olympic Games, the Opals gained automatic entry into the tournament. Captained by Michele Timms, the team started out with dominating performances winning all of their first seven games, sending them to their first ever gold medal match, against the USA. The American team proved too strong for the Opals however, as they won 76–54. Australia won the Silver Medal, their best result in international competition at the time. In 2002, the Opals looked to continue their success in China at the World Championships.  Coached by Jan Stirling, captained by Kristi Harrower, and powered by Lauren Jackson’s 23.1 points per game (which led the tournament), Australia won its first five games all by double figures.  In the second round the Opals lost to Brazil, but bounced back with a 78–52 victory over France in the quarterfinal.  In the semi-finals, the Opals lost to eventual gold medalist USA, but recovered the next day to capture the bronze medal with a convincing 91–63 win over South Korea.
  At the 2004 Olympics held in Athens, Greece, the Opals were led by Lauren Jackson’s tournament best 22.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. With Penny Taylor contributing with 14.8 points per game, Australia dominated early winning their first seven games, all by double digits. The Opals set up a rematch of the 2000 Olympic gold medal match against the USA.  The United States outlasted the Opals in the fourth quarter to win 74–63, giving the Opals their second straight Olympic silver medal.
  The Opals headed to Brazil for the 2006 World Championships looking to win their sixth straight medal in international competitions.  Led by Lauren Jackson’s 21.3 points per game and Penny Taylor’s 18 points per game, first and third best in the tournament respectively, the Opals played their best tournament to date.  Australia began the tournament with a forfeit victory over Lithuania. They continued the trend by winning their next seven games decisively, with only one contest being decided by less than 10 points. In the gold medal game against Russia, the Opals led throughout, paced by Penny Taylor’s 28 points and Lauren Jackson’s 11 rebounds.  At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read Australia 91, Russia 74; a convincing victory that delivered Australia’s first ever basketball gold medal. Penny Taylor was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
  At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Opals looked to reaffirm their title as World Champions.  In the lead up, Australia went undefeated against Belarus, Brazil, South Korea, Latvia, Russia, Czech Republic and host China to set up a third straight gold medal match against the United States.  The Opals had trouble hitting the basket and shot just 24% en route to a 92–65 defeat.  The team earned their third straight Olympic silver medal, and their seventh straight international medal finish. The 2000s was a golden era for the Opals, winning at least a bronze medal at every official FIBA tournament.
caption: The National team celebrating after being awarded the gold medals for winning the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in basketball
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