Opals’ basketball World Cup dream ended by Spain

Ian Chadband |

Spain’s players celebrate after knocking Australia out of the women’s basketball World Cup.
Spain’s players celebrate after knocking Australia out of the women’s basketball World Cup.

Australia’s injury-ravaged Opals have been knocked out of the women’s basketball World Cup, their rousing tournament finally ended in Berlin with an 89-66 hammering by Spain in the quarter-finals.

Without three key players — Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith through injury and Jade Melbourne with illness — the Opals were always on the back foot against the Olympic silver medallists and found themselves 19 points down by halftime.

Basketball Australia reported that captain Magbegor had suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during the first quarter of Wednesday’s victory over Italy.

It continued a tough season for the New Zealand-born Seattle Storm star, who has also missed time with a foot injury and facial fracture.

Coach Sandy Brondello’s never-say-die Opals had, astonishingly, overturned a 26-point deficit to defeat Italy but this time there was to be no comeback as Spain won comfortably to set up a semi-final with Olympic champions USA.

AAP