The Seven Consulting Opals start preparations for this year's Olympics with Asia tour. GETTY IMAGES

Australian women’s basketball team the Seven Consulting Opals will kick start their world tour in Asia tomorrow: playing three games against China in the next week, then on to Japan for the Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024. The Opals clash with China again, hosting the team this time at the Ford BALLIN’24 series this July, according to Basketball Australia who posted the team’s schedule last week. 

Looking towards the hometown Ford BALLIN’24 series against 2nd ranked Team China, duo Olympian Cayla George expressed excitement.  

"Anytime you get an opportunity to wear the green and gold is an honour – and on home soil, it’s even better," said George 

"These preparation games are critical and China is one of our toughest opponents. It will be a great match-up for us." 

The Opals will go on the road again after Ford BALLIN’24, going against Spain and Canada at the Spain Invitational Tournament in Segovia. 

Then it’s off for the Paris 2024 Olympics for the Opals, starting with a game against Nigeria.They are currently number three in the world ranking, the Opals have worked their way to a medal at five of their 10 Olympic Games.



"These games provide an opportunity for coaches to assess all players in the Opals squad on the international stage. Every team that we will play in this window are in the FIBA top 10 rankings. Head Coach Sandy Brondello will assess the players in the WNBA and keep a close eye on the players selected for the series in Asia and Australia over the coming months," said Trish Fallon, Olympian and Opals Team Manager.  

"All teams play a vastly different style of basketball which will be pivotal in our preparations when we encounter similar styles at the Olympics." 

OPALS – 2024 SCHEDULE   

29 MAY – China Series* 

Opals vs China | Benxi City, Liaoning Province, China 

Time Zone Guide: 7:30 (AWST) - 9:00 (ACST) - 9:30pm (AEST)

  31 MAY – China Series* 

Opals vs China | Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China 

Time Zone Guide: 7:30 (AWST) - 9:00 (ACST) - 9:30pm (AEST)

2 JUNE – China Series* 

Opals vs China | Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China 

Time Zone Guide: 7:30 (AWST) - 9:00 (ACST) - 9:30pm (AEST)

20 JUNE – Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024   

Opals vs Japan | Hokkaido Sports Center, Sapporo, Japan  

Time Zone Guide: 7:00pm (AWST) 8:00pm (ACST) 9:00pm (AEST)  

  21 JUNE – Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024   

Opals vs Japan | Hokkaido Sports Center, Sapporo, Japan  

Time Zone Guide: 7:00pm (AWST) 8:00pm (ACST) 9:00pm (AEST)  

  3 JULY – Ford BALLIN’24 Melbourne   

Opals vs China | John Cain Arena, Melbourne  

Time Zone Guide: 5:30pm (AWST) 6:30pm (ACST) 7:30pm (AEST)  

5 JULY – Ford BALLIN’24 Melbourne   

Opals vs China | John Cain Arena, Melbourne  

Time Zone Guide: 5:30pm (AWST) 6:30pm (ACST) 7:30pm (AEST)  

22 JULY – Spain Invitational Tournament   

Opals vs Spain | Calle de Damaso Alonso, Segovia   

Time Zone Guide: 23 July, 2024 – 2:00am (AWST) - 3:30AM (ACST) 4:00am (AEST)  

  23 JULY – Spain Invitational Tournament   

Opals vs Canada | Calle de Damaso Alonso, Segovia  

Time Zone Guide: 24 July, 2024 – 12:00am (AWST) - 1:30AM (ACST) 2:00am (AEST) 

29 JULY – Paris 2024 Olympics   

Opals vs Nigeria | Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille, France  

Time Zone Guide: 30 July 2024 - 1:00am (AWST) 2:30am (ACST) 3:00am (AEST)  

  1 AUGUST – Paris 2024 Olympics |   

Opals vs Canada | Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille France  

Time Zone Guide: 2 August 2024 - 3:30am (AWST) 5:00am (ACST) 5:30am (AEST)  

  4 AUGUST – Paris 2024 Olympics |   

Opals vs France | Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Lille France  

Time Zone Guide: 5 August 2024 - 3:00am (AWST) 4:30am (ACST) 5:00am (AEST)  

 *Games will not be available via broadcast.