STWF Sports | ARLINGTON, Texas | July 27, 2026 — Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith will once again represent her country on the international stage after being selected to Australia’s final 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
Alanna Smith’s Impact on the Opals
Basketball Australia announced the roster Monday, confirming Smith as one of six players returning from the Opals team that earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The World Cup is scheduled for Sept. 4-13, bringing together the top women’s national teams for one of basketball’s most demanding international competitions.
Smith will be joined by fellow Olympic medalists Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Isobel Borlase, Sami Whitcomb and Steph Talbot. The returning core gives Australia valuable continuity as it prepares for the tournament with a limited window to assemble its full roster.
Opals head coach Sandy Brondello said the team’s combination of experience, talent and familiarity should help Australia compete against the world’s strongest programs.
“I’m very confident in this group,” Brondello said. “We have a great mix of experience, talent and chemistry.”
Smith is expected to play an important role within Australia’s frontcourt because of her versatility on both ends of the floor. Her ability to defend multiple positions, protect the rim, rebound and stretch the floor provides the Opals with several lineup options.
Brondello identified Smith, Magbegor, Talbot and Melbourne as key members of the leadership group supporting Whitcomb, who will captain the team in Berlin.
The selection adds another significant international accomplishment to Smith’s career. She helped Australia return to the Olympic podium in Paris and has become an established presence within the Opals’ system. Her experience in the WNBA and international basketball should be especially valuable during a tournament in which preparation time will be limited.
Australia’s complete roster also includes Zitina Aokuso, Chloe Bibby, Isabelle Bourne, Alex Fowler, Steph Reid and Alex Wilson.
Brondello said continuity played a major role in the selection process because the complete team is expected to have only three days together before the World Cup begins. With such a short preparation period, Australia prioritized players who already understand the program’s system and expectations.
“We weren’t just looking at talent,” Brondello said. “We were looking for players who fit our style of play, embrace what it means to represent Australia, and put the team first.”
The Opals will enter Berlin with a history of success under Brondello. Australia earned silver at the 2018 World Cup in Spain before capturing bronze on home soil in Sydney in 2022. Berlin will mark Brondello’s third World Cup campaign as the national team’s head coach.
She will be assisted by associate head coach Paul Goriss and assistant coaches Renae Garlepp and Kennedy Kereama. Brondello credited the staff for evaluating Australian players competing in leagues across the world since the Paris Olympics.
The roster blends established international performers with players who have strengthened their cases through recent club and national-team competition.
Reid earned her opportunity following productive seasons in Australia, China and Hungary, along with an influential performance during Australia’s Asia Cup campaign. Wilson’s selection represents another major step in her rise after helping Australia’s 3×3 team compete at the Paris Olympics.
Bibby offers another scoring option, while Fowler arrives after earning FIBA Asia Cup Most Valuable Player honors. Bourne and Aokuso add size, defensive versatility and physicality to an Australian frontcourt already featuring Smith and Magbegor.
For the Wings, Smith’s selection highlights the international quality represented on the Dallas roster. Her defensive instincts, passing ability and frontcourt versatility have made her an important part of the team’s rotation during the WNBA season.
Australia will open World Cup play against Puerto Rico on Friday, Sept. 4, at 5:30 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time.
With an experienced core and several emerging contributors, the Opals will travel to Berlin seeking a third consecutive World Cup medal. Smith will be central to that pursuit as Australia attempts to build on the momentum created by its bronze-medal performance in Paris.
