Jackson sparkles for Opals in finale

A trademark Lauren Jackson stint helped her beloved Australian Opals qualify for the Paris Olympics before the basketball legend announced her time in the green and gold had ended for good.

Jackson shocked on-lookers in Brazil after the Opals took down Germany to seal their place at this year’s Olympics by saying she wouldn’t be going to what would have been a fifth games.

The 42-year-old initially retired in 2016 but came back in 2022 to play for Australia when they hosted the FIBA World Cup.

Arguably Australia’s greatest basketballer, Jackson will retire from national duty after winning Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004 and 2008), a bronze (2012), and a landmark gold at the 2006 World Championships.

A Tess Madgen shooting masterclass and the rise of rookie Isobel Borlase helped the Opals past Germany to send the legendary Jackson out on a high.

The Australians showcased their class to comfortably dispose of the understrength Germans.

Three Opals scored in double figures in a dominant 85-52 win.

Jackson was the oldest player on the court but you wouldn’t have known as the Hall of Famer went to work to send the Opals to their 10th Olympic campaign.

The Southside Flyers WNBL star finished with nine points, three rebounds and three assists to prove she still has plenty left in those ageing legs.

Sydney Flames standout Madgen was magnificent in dropping a game-high 15 points that included a perfect three of three from beyond the arc.

The Opals skipper set the stone with her pinpoint shooting and dogged defence, while she also had six rebounds and three assists.

Australia showed a glimpse of the future through a cast of young players.

The sight of veterans such as Madgen, Jackson and Cayla George on the same court as emerging stars Borlase, Jade Melbourne and Steph Reid was a defining generational moment for the Opals.

Debutant Borlase is only 19 but looked comfortable on the international stage to finish with 10 points.

The Adelaide Lightning guard, who led the under-19 Gems to a silver medal at last year’s World Cup, is destined to have a long career for Australia.

The same can be said for Melbourne. The 21-year-old Canberra Capitals and Seattle Storm guard contributed six points for the Opals.

Australia faces Serbia in its final qualifying game on Monday from 10am (AEDT) but has already booked in its place at the Paris Olympics.

It continues a rich history of excellence for an Opals program that has set a powerful precedent for Olympic success.