LIVE: Opals’ key Olympic tune-up begins in showdown with fellow powerhouse China

Australia’s Opals continue their preparation for the Olympic Games in a bid to break their medal drought against fellow powerhouse China tonight in Melbourne.

They are without their top WNBA talents including the likes of Ezi Magbegor but still have a strong line-up with veteran Lauren Jackson starting.

The hosts took a 23-15 advantage into quarter-time with Alice Kunek leading all comers with nine points (4-from-4 shooting).

Watch the Australian Boomers and Opals’ Olympic warm-up games against China, Tuesday to Friday from 7:30pm AEST, on Foxtel and Kayo via ESPN. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Darcee Garbin lit up the second quarter, sitting on 12 points from five-of-six shooting, joined by Isobel Borlase (10 points, 4-of-4 shooting) as the Aussies led 45-36 at the main break.

China heads into Paris 2024 ranked second in the world, with the Aussies third, in an Olympic group which includes Canada, Nigeria and France.

Two teams plus a potential third will advance from that group into the quarter-finals, a stage where the Opals have been eliminated at the last two Olympics.

The Opals won bronze in London and silver in Sydney, Athens and Beijing. They also finished third in the 2022 FIBA World Cup, played at home.

Earlier this year the Opals went 2-1 on a tour of China against Wednesday night’s opponents.

Follow live stats from the Australia v China game here.

OPALS STARTING LINE-UP

Tess Madgen, Maddy Rocci, Alice Kunek, Cayla George, Lauren Jackson

CURRENT OPALS SQUAD (WNBA players unavailable)

Amy Atwell, Zitina Aokuso, Isobel Borlase, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Lauren Jackson, Alice Kunek, Tess Madgen, Lauren Nicholson, Steph Reid, Maddy Rocci, Marianna Tolo