Have the Opals unearthed another big moment international player?
- Davin Sgargetta
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Last weekend’s 2025 Asia Cup victory probably won’t rank at the top of the achievements of the rich and storied history of the Australian Opals. But it might prove a pivotal moment, as it looks for the next potent mix of youth and experience to lead the program into some major upcoming tournaments.
Perennial podium finishers since the 90s, with numerous Olympic silver and bronze medals and World Cup gold in its trophy cabinet, the Opals have always enjoyed a good mix of talent in its rosters — size and speed, scorers and defensive stoppers, leaders and role players.
And this year’s Asia Cup might’ve unearthed an international calibre player, Alex Wilson, who has a lot of the above, with experience to boot. And following a blistering final quarter in the gold medal game, she has also shown evidence of a rare ability to put the team on her back when its needed most.
Young gun Alex Fowler was named most valuable player of the tournament and was a clear centrepiece for the Opals across the tournament. But the power of sport often lies in the unexpected. And when Japan went on an 11-0 run to draw level with six minutes to play in the final, the Aussies needed leadership.
The script likely saw Fowler taking control of the game. But instead it was journeywoman Alex Wilson who took her moment.
Wilson had not seen floor time prior to the semi-final, having carried an injury into the tournament. Entering the gold medal game with only 10 minutes on court, and a solitary point to her name — all coming from the team’s semi-final win over South Korea — Japan would be forgiven for sleeping on her.
Wilson scored 13 of the team’s final 18 points, including two big threes and three clutch free throws to seal the win. And she even sat for a minute in that final offensive flurry. It’s a six-minute burst that is likely to have an impact in future team selections. So who is Alex Wilson?
Wilson has had a strong and varied career. She had her first stint in the WNBL back in 2010/11 with the Adelaide Lightning, before moving back to State level basketball for a couple of seasons awaiting her next opportunity.
It would come in the 2013/14 season, where she suited up for the Townsville Fire and claimed the WNBL Rookie of the Year. To date, she has enjoyed stints in Adelaide, Townsville, Sydney, Bendigo and Perth, posting good numbers across her career. She was part of WNBL Championship campaigns in 2015 and 2017 with Townsville Fire and Sydney Uni Flames respectively, and was named to the WNBL All Star Five in the 2024/25 season playing with Perth Lynx, where she averaged 15.7 points per game (fifth in the League), 4.8 assists (fourth in the League), 4.7 boards and just under 2 steals a game.
But it was her decision to take her international career into the 3X3 variant of the game in 2022 that gave her a taste of international success, representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games where the team claimed Bronze. In 2023, she led the Aussies to another Bronze at the FIBA 3X3 World Cup, and last year, she claimed Bronze again at the 3X3 Asia Cup.
This success and experience saw her earn a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA to cap off an attention-grabbing run.
Her fourth quarter heroics at the Asia Cup have given the 31-year-old a taste of international gold, and will no doubt see her solidified as a regular Opals squad member, pushing for selection as the group looks towards the 2026 World Cup in Germany.
Her ability to score inside and out, and her defensive pressure and good size at the guard position makes her an easy choice on paper. But her now demonstrated ability to step up in the big moments will make her very hard to pass up.
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