The Australian Opals secured a hard-fought 85-81 victory over Belgium in the bronze medal game, marking their first Olympic medal since claiming bronze in London 2012.
Ezi Magbegor delivered a stellar performance for the Aussies, contributing 30 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Sami Whitcomb added 14 points, and Tess Magden chipped in 13, as Australia continued their impressive record of six medals in the last eight Olympic Games.
On the other side, Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo led Belgium with 23 points each, falling just short of their quest for a first Olympic medal.
If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News provided live score updates, highlights, and more from the Olympic bronze medal game.
MORE: Updated schedule, results for women’s knockout round at Paris Olympics
Australia vs. Belgium basketball score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Australia | 20 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 85 |
| Belgium | 19 | 17 | 25 | 20 | 81 |
Australia vs. Belgium live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympic women’s basketball game
(All times Australian Eastern Standard Time)
FINAL: Australia 85, Belgium 81
9:10 p.m. — There it is! The Opals are bronze medalists, holding on for an 85-81 win.
9:08 p.m. — Another great defensive set for the Aussies as they force a shot clock violation. The bronze medal is in their sights.
9:05 p.m. — Steph Talbot comes up with the HUGE defensive play, blocking Delaere’s 3-point attempt. Hang that in the Louvre. Opals lead 81-76 with 24.6 seconds to go.
9:04 p.m. — With a minute on the clock, Australia has two fouls to go while Belgium is in the penalty.
9:00 p.m. — TESS MAGDEN! She drills the triple to open up a six-point lead for Australia with 2:21 to play.
8:58 p.m. — Kyara Linskens takes it right at Alanna Smith for the and-1. She misses the free throw. Opals lead 76-73.
8:57 p.m. — Alanna Smith completes the three-point play to give the Opals a 76-69 lead with four minutes to play.
8:54 p.m. — Magbegor’s work on the glass has changed the game for the Aussies. She has a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds.
8:52 p.m. — This game is going right down to the wire as both teams trade blows. The lead has changed hands 15 times already.
8:51 p.m. — The Opals turn up the heat on defense and force the eight-second violation.
8:50 p.m. – Meesseman checks back into the game and gets right to work with the jumper. She has 19 points.
End of the third quarter: Belgium 61, Australia 60
8:44 p.m. — With Meesseman off the floor, Vanloo has stepped up on offense and is now up to 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
8:42 p.m. — Belgium gets another three-point play to go, this time it’s Vanloo as they take the lead at 56-55.
8:41 p.m. — Kyara Linksens completes the three-point play, and Belgium has cut the lead to two points.
8:37 p.m. — Belgium doing a better job getting stops and slowing down the Australian offense as they go to a zone defense.
8:30 p.m. — Magbegor knocks down a pair of free throws as Australia makes it a 13-6 start in the quarter, giving them their largest lead of the night at 50-42. Timeout Belgium.
8:27 p.m. — It’s Meeseeman (17 points) vs. Magbegor (18 points) right now.
8:24 p.m. — Magbegor stays aggressive coming out of the half. She attacks the rim and gets the foul.
Some foul trouble for Belgium as Elise Ramette picks up her third foul.
Half-time: Australia 37, Belgium 36
8:06 p.m. — Sami Whitcomb beats the buzzer for three to give the Opals the lead heading into the half.
8:05 p.m. — Belgium is cooking right now. Dalaere connects on another jumper to put Belgium back in front, 34-32.
8:01 p.m. — SHOWTIME IN PARIS!!
Vanloo gets out on the fastbreak and dishes it to Meesseman with the behind-the-back dime. Huge bucket for Belgium as they go on a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead to 32-30.
8:00 p.m. — Dalaere hits back with a triple of her own.
7:59 p.m. — Magbegor again! She’s got the hot hand for Australia — 14 points on 7-of-9.
7:58 p.m. — Vanloo responds with a mid-range jumper. Belgium needs her to get going on the perimeter.
7:56 p.m. — Magbegor is making Belgium pay in the paint with her elite footwork. She’s up to a game-high 10 points and five rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting. Opals lead 26-24
7:55 p.m. — The pace of the game has picked up out of the timeout. Opals coach Sandy Brondello called for more ball movement out of the timeout a
First quarter: Australia 20, Belgium 19
7:48 p.m. — Issy Borlase at the buzzer! Her sidestep triple puts the Opals in front at the break!
7:44 p.m. — Cayla George checks into the game and gets on the scoreboard right away for the Aussies! Her impact off the bench has been huge throughout the tournament.
7:38 p.m. — The Opals frontcourt of Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor have come to life midway through the first, to give the Opals a 12-11 lead.
7:37 p.m. — The Aussies can’t get anything to go early with plenty of misses at the rim. They’re shooting just 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-2 from deep. Belgium lead 9-3.
7:34 p.m. — The Opals are going inside early on the offensive end, with limited reward, while Belgium is making them pay from the outside as Dalaere makes it back-to-back triples. Belgium lead 6-2.
7:33 p.m. — We’re underway in Paris as Meesseman kicks it out to Dalaere for the triple to open the scoring.
Pre-game
7:24 p.m. — Belgium will start with Julie Vanloo, Elise Ramette, Antonia Dalaere, Emma Meesseman, and Kyara Linksens.
7:23 p.m. — The Opals will start with Sami Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne, Tess Magden, Alanna Smith, and Ezi Magbegor.
Let’s kick it. Opals starting 5 vs BEL
⏰ 7:30pm AEST
📺 9NOW
📊 https://t.co/LJJYxQi9D5 #WeAreBasketball | #GoOpals | #AllezAUS pic.twitter.com/TJkv0wUj2z
6:49 p.m. — Reminder: This is what Lauren Jackson did in the Opals’ last bronze medal game at the 2022 FIBA World Cup – 30 points in 21 minutes!
Will the Aussie GOAT conjure up something special in Paris?
🇦🇺 Re-live all the highlights from Lauren Jackson’s epic bronze medal game! 🥉
📊 30 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 11-16 FG@FIBAWWC #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/fqPEdGw1aP
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) October 2, 2022
6:18 p.m. — Lauren Jackson has been rocking the green and gold for a long time! Today’s bronze medal game will likely be her last for the Opals.
Lauren Jackson has been great for so long that she won two Olympic silver medals before one of her teammates was born😳
#🐐 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/PMIdp2h5qA— Colin Davenport (@ColinD89) August 9, 2024
How to watch Australia vs. Belgium at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Date: Sunday, August 11
- Time: 5:30 a.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. AEST
- TV channel (United States): USA Network
- TV channel (Australia): Channel Nine
- Livestream (United States): Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo
- Livestream (Australia): 9Now, Stan Sport
Fans in the United States can watch Australia take on Belgium on the USA Network on Sunday, August 11 at 5:30 a.m. ET. For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.
Fans in Australia can watch the Opals take on Belgium on Sunday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. AEST. In Australia, the game can be streamed on 9Now and Stan Sport.
Women’s Olympic basketball schedule 2024
Wednesday, Aug. 7
| Round | Matchup |
| Quarterfinal | Australia 85, Serbia 67 |
| Quarterfinal | Belgium 79, Spain 66 |
| Quarterfinal | France 84, Germany 71 |
| Quarterfinal | USA 88, Nigeria 74 |
Friday, Aug. 9
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Semifinal | USA 85, Australia 64 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Semifinal | France 81, Belgium 75 | 3 p.m. |
Sunday, Aug. 11
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Bronze medal game | Australia vs. Belgium | 5:30 a.m. |
| Gold medal game | USA vs. France | 9:30 a.m. |
Australian Opals women’s basketball roster 2024
| Player | Position | Team |
| Amy Atwell | G | Perth Lynx |
| Issy Borlase | G | Adelaide Lightning |
| Cayla George | F/C | Sydney Flames |
| Lauren Jackson | F/C | Southside Flyers |
| Tess Madgen | G | Sydney Flames |
| Ezi Magbegor | C | Seattle Storm |
| Jade Melbourne |