World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Opals hold firm against Hungary

The Seven Consulting Opals have come out on top in a hard-fought 71–58 win over Hungary at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul. After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Opals found their rhythm in the second term to build a lead they would maintain for much of the second half. Zitina Aokuso (193-F/C-1998) controlled the paint with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Eziyoda Magbegor (193-C-1999) added 14 points and five rebounds. Captain Samantha Whitcomb (178-G-1988, college: Washington) contributed 12 points and four steals. Aokuso said the Opals had to stay composed against a physical Hungary side. “It was a dog-fight and Hungary gave us a run for our money,” Aokuso said. “I think the girls did a good job of staying with it and putting four quarters together.” Head Coach Sandy Brondello said there were still important lessons to take from the performance. “It wasn’t a pretty game, but it’s a game we can take a lot from,” Brondello said. “We now have these experiences that we can go back and show on video and tidy up areas that we need to.” Brondello said the tournament also provided an important opportunity for the squad to continue building chemistry. “We’re still in an evaluation period,” she said. “We’re playing around with some combinations to see what works and what doesn’t. “It’s still a learning phase for us, and we’re going to get better.” The Opals will now turn their attention to their next matchup against host nation Türkiye at 4:30am AEDT Monday morning. “It’ll be fun to have some fans in the stands tomorrow night and hopefully we can rise to the occasion,” Brondello added.
Courtesy of: australia.basketball