Six former and current NBL1 stars named in Opals' 2021 Olympics team

Six former and current NBL1 stars have been named as part of the 12-strong Australian Opals women's basketball team for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. 

Headlining the squad is dual olympian Jenna O'Hea, who will again captain the side, Rio Olympians Cayla George, Marianna Tolo and Tessa Lavey and Olympic debutants Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor. 

In line with her Olympic preparations, O'Hea has also been representing the Sandringham Sabres in the NBL1 South competition, where she has averaged 23.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

Even though the NBL1 North season has only just started, Mackay's George is already making a huge impact, notching up big double-doubles in both of her appearances for the Meteorettes. 

Tolo has been representing the Knox Raiders in NBL1 South and has led the team brilliantly in her four games, averaging a whopping 20 points and 5.8 rebounds.

She also recently announced that she would be taking her talents to France to play for Basket Landes.

Lavey has had a season full of highlights so far with the undefeated Frankston Blues, notching up impressive averages of 15.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists. 

Before NBL1 South began, the Bendigo Spirit star also took her talents to the AFLW, suiting up for Richmond in her debut season. 

After a stellar season with the Bendigo Braves so far, it's no surprise to see Madgen making her Olympics debut. 

Her season was highlighted by an incredible 43-points, nine rebounds and nine assists performance earlier in the season against Dandenong. 

The 30-year-old was ecstatic to make her Olympic debut.

"After being in the squad for 10 years, this really is a dream come true," Madgen said.

"It goes to show that you should never ever give up on your dreams and keep working every day to achieve them.

"Being a part of the Australian Olympic Team is the highest honour in basketball and the team and I can’t wait to get to Tokyo and continue the proud medal-winning legacy of the Opals."

Magbegor is a former NBL1 star, having represented the Geelong Supercats in the 2019 NBL1 season. 

Since then, she has become a WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm, was named in the All-WNBL Second Team last year and is now on the cusp of an Olympics berth. 

The Opals, who are ranked number two in the world, have been drawn in Pool C for the upcoming Olympic Games, with pool matches against Belgium, Puerto Rico and China tipping off on 27 July in Saitama Super Arena.