I am not what you would call the longest follower of women's basketball. In fact I only really started getting interested in 1994.

 In 1994 Australia was hosting the World Women's Basketball Championships - imaginatively named OZ94 :). Now I didn't even know that this tournament was on, but I stumbled across it one boring Saturday afternoon while I was scanning all of the channels trying to find something to watch.

 The images that I saw for those first few minutes are what converted me whole heartedly to women's basketball for the rest of my life......

 Those first images I saw were of the Australian captain, Roybn Maher, striding past the referee, looking like she was about to slap down a player from the other team!

 Violence!!!

 Those few seconds had me glued to the television. I didn't know who Roybn Maher was at the time. All I knew is that she was Australian and I wanted her to get that player! There I was on the edge of my couch screaming, "Slap her down!!!"

 After all that, she didn't do anything, but the point is that I was hooked. I kept on watching and even though Australia lost to the USA in the bronze medal playoff, I was a fan. I knew every players name by the end of the championships - Timms, Maher, Fallon, Brogan (now Griffiths), Brondello, Gorman (now Sandie), Sporn - the list goes on.

Michele Timms Racheal Sporn Trish Fallon

Things have only gotten better for the girls!!

At the Atlanta Olmypics the Opals won Australia's first senior basketball medal. But boy did they work for it.

The quarter final overtime game they played against Russia was absolutely thrilling! This game had everything - spectacular plays, suspense and yes, my favourite ingredient.... VIOLENCE!!

 There were a couple of nasty incidents throughout the game, such as when Robyn Maher was fouled heavily by I think it was Baranova. In reaction to this Michele Timms followed up jumping into Baranova's face as if to say 'take a step back you!'
But the most spiteful incident happened about 1 second before the end of the match. Michele Timms (again) got tangled up with her opposing player and they both fell to ground. As the Russian player got to her knees she took a long hard look at Timmsy and then deliberatly smacked her in the face. I once heard a great description of the event as saying the Russian player was "trying to use Michele Timms' head as a basketball!"
We ended up winning 74 - 71 in overtime. It was fantastic!!! I still have the highlights on tape.

Roybn MaherShelly Sandie

Australia then lost to the USA in the semi final but went on to defeat Ukraine in the bronze medal playoff. Then there you had it! History for Australian basketball! After defeating Ukraine there were lovely scenes as the girls climbed up into the stands to share the moment with family and friends.

 We have some fantastic young players coming through the ranks. Lauren Jackson, Rohanee Cox, Chika Emeagi, and Alicia Poto. Trust me, keep an ear out for them they're going to be big.