The Australian women's national basketball team is nicknamed the Opals, after the brightly coloured gemstone common to the country. From 1994 onwards, the Opals have been consistently competitive and successful having won nine medals at official FIBA international tournaments, highlighted by a gold medal winning performance at the 2006 World Championship in Brazil. At the now-defunct regional Oceania Championship for Women, the Opals won 15 titles. Effective in 2017, FIBA combined its Oceanian and Asian zones for official senior competitions; following this change, the Opals compete in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
FIBA Oceania Championship was the Oceania basketball championships that took place every two years between national teams of the continent. Through the 2015 edition, the Oceania Championship was also a qualifying tournament for the Basketball World Cups and Olympic Games.
FIBA Oceania is a zone within FIBA. It is one of FIBA's five continental confederations. FIBA Oceania is responsible for the organization and governance of the major international tournaments in Oceania. It has 22 FIBA Federations and is headquartered in Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The current FIBA Oceania President is Burton Shipley from New Zealand.
The FIBA Oceania Women's Championship was the women's basketball continental championship of Oceania, played biennially under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the Oceanian zone thereof. The tournament also serves to qualify teams for participation in the quadrennial FIBA World Championship for Women and the Olympic basketball tournament.
The basketball qualification for the Summer Olympics men's basketball tournament occurred from 2006–2008; all five FIBA zones sent in teams.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 2005 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Auckland and Dunedin. Australia won all three games. Both teams qualified for the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 2001 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 2002 FIBA World Championship. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton. New Zealand won the series 2-1 to claim its second Oceania Championship and first championship that Australia also participated in.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 1989 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1990 FIBA World Championship. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Sydney. Australia won the series 2–0.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 1985 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1986 FIBA World Championship. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Sydney and Newcastle. Australia won the series 3-0 to win its seventh consecutive Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 1979 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1980 Summer Olympics. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Sydney and Melbourne. Australia won the series 3–0 to win its fourth consecutive Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 1978 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1978 FIBA World Championship. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Auckland, Lower Hutt and Christchurch. Australia won the series 2-1 to win its third consecutive Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 1975 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Melbourne, Hobart and Launceston. Australia won the series 3-0 to win its second consecutive Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Men 2009 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey. For the first time, the tournament featured a best-of-two, home-and-away series between Australia and New Zealand. Game one was held in Sydney, New South Wales followed by the second game in Wellington. The two countries split the series, and the tiebreaker, which was won by New Zealand, was the aggregate score. This was New Zealand's second title in an Oceania tournament contested by Australia and third title overall. Australia and New Zealand both qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
The 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship for Men was the 21st edition of the tournament. The tournament featured a two-game series between Australia and New Zealand between 14 and 18 August. It also served as the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. The first game was held in Auckland, New Zealand followed by the second game in Canberra, Australia. Australia won their 18th title in the tournament, but the two teams still advanced to the World Cup.
The 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship for Men was the 22nd edition of the tournament. The tournament featured a two-game series between Australia and New Zealand. It also served as the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first game was held in Melbourne, Australia on August 15, followed by the second game in Wellington, New Zealand on August 18.
The 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship for Women will be the 16th edition of the basketball tournament. In 2015 it took the form of a two-game series between the Australian Opals and New Zealand Tall Ferns. It served as the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The first game was in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 August, the second in Tauranga, New Zealand, on 17 August. The Australian Opals won both games, and qualified for the Olympics, while the losing Tall Ferns qualified for the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, the final qualifying tournament for the 2016 Olympics.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Women 1974 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1975 FIBA World Championship for Women in Colombia. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia won the series 3–0 to win the first Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Women 1978 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1979 FIBA World Championship for Women. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington. Australia won the series 3-0 to win its second consecutive Oceania Championship.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Women 1989 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1990 FIBA World Championship for Women. The tournament, a best-of-three series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Auckland, New Zealand. Australia won the series 3–0.
The FIBA Oceania Championship for Women 1985 was the qualifying tournament of FIBA Oceania for the 1986 FIBA World Championship for Women. The tournament, a two-game series between Australia and New Zealand, was held in Melbourne. Australia won the series 2–0 to win its fourth consecutive Oceania Championship.
Australia (1st title)
