The Opals are a step closer to the podium in Paris after a in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night. Fuelled by 21-year-old guard Jade Melbourne and comeback queen Alanna Smith, Australia built on its budding momentum to win, 85-67, and set up a tantalising semifinal clash on Friday with the winner of USA vs. Nigeria.
After quarterfinal exits in Rio then Tokyo, Australia reaches the final four for the first time since London 2012. With improved ball protection, greater intensity on defence and a multi-faceted offence humming, this Opals team is growing in form and confidence and is playing contrasting basketball to what it put on the court 10 days ago against Nigeria in one of the program's worst-ever losses. MELBOURNE MAGIC Jade Melbourne was born in 2002 smack bang in the middle of Olympic silver medals won by the Opals in Sydney and Athens.
In her debut Games and first Olympic final, the 21-year-old from Traralgon in regional Victoria rose to the occasion producing her best game in the green and gold. With some early nerves and shaky moments in the opening two games, Melbourne repaid the faith coach Sandy Brondello had kept in her, by leaving the WNBA youngster in the starting line-up, with an influential first half. She scored the opening Australian basket and was in everything in the second quarter scoring nine points.
Like the pool opponents did in Lille, Serbia went after Melbourne physically but she maintained her composure and threw herself all over the floor in pursu.