Masked, bruised and unbroken: Inside Ezi Magbegor’s World Cup battle

Opals and WNBA star Ezi Magbegor has opened up about her battle to be fit for the women’s FIBA World Cup, and says the Opals can match their mega-star USA rivals should the new-look Australian team advance deep into the tournament.

The Opals, bronze medallists at the Paris Olympics, begin their World Cup campaign in Berlin on Friday night (AEST), when they face Puerto Rico in the first of three group C games. Turkey (ranked 16th) and Belgium (fifth) then await.

Magbegor, the hero of that 2024 bronze-medal game with 30 points and 17 rebounds, has had a frustrating year, for she partially tore her Achilles in a World Cup qualifying game against Hungary in March, forcing her to miss the opening 20 games of the Seattle Storm’s WNBA campaign. It was the longest injury spell the dynamic forward, and longest-tenured current Storm player, has ever had.

“It was different. I think I also was maybe worried about how I would kind of respond to a long-term injury just because I didn’t know what it would be like,” Magbegor told this masthead from Seattle.

“But, I think just having been around it [the sport] and knowing I was going back to Seattle and having some comfort and familiarity, I think was something that just helped me as well. And having confidence in the medical [team] from the VIS [Victorian Institute of Sport] as well, they were communicating with me throughout the whole process.

“And so just taking everything day by day and kind of looking back on weeks and months and realising that there were definitely more good than bad days, and like you’re gonna have bad days during rehab but, yeah, I think just having a common goal with the medical staff and with everyone around me really helped as well.”

It was during this period that the former Melbourne Boomer and Canberra Capitals WNBL player became a more vocal team leader. Quietly spoken, Megbagor has always led by deed, but at 27, she now has the wisdom to advise by word. That includes with Opals teammate Jade Melbourne, the brilliant emerging guard back with the Storm for a second spell.

“I don’t think I’m the most like vocal leader, but I think being injured also provided me a way to kind of like pour into my teammates or lead like while not being on the court because I think it’s easier for me to just be on the court and kind of help out my teammates in that way,” Magbegor said.

“And so I think it was a challenge to be on the bench and kind of see the game a little bit differently and see my teammates and what they needed at different moments, and so kind of like leaning into that leadership style a little bit more.”

The joy at being back on court didn’t last long though, for four games in, Magbegor broke her nose and was concussed in a rebounding collision. She has since re-broken the nose, and will don a mask through the World Cup, where the Opals will look to defend their bronze medal of Sydney four years ago.

That Magbegor made it her mission to return for the World Cup cannot be underestimated, for her on-court savvy and athleticism will be needed in a revitalised team under the guidance of veteran mentor Sandy Brondello.

Lauren Jackson, arguably this country’s greatest-ever basketballer, former captain Tess Madgen and fellow veterans Cayla George (pregnant) and Sami Whitcomb (injured) won’t be there, the Opals turning a new page.

It’s no surprise that the USA, the Paris gold medallists and defending four-time World Cup champions, remain the team to beat. A new-look team comprising the likes of mega stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese, in for their first major senior championship, has given the tournament even more marketing power.

But the rise of the WNBA, complete with this season’s landmark seven-year collective bargaining agreement which has led to salaries regularly eclipsing $1.4 million, has ensured rival nations are stronger.

At least 10 of the 16 nations at the World Cup have WNBA players, including an Opals unit which has Magbegor on a three-year, $US3.75 million “super max” deal, Melbourne on a one-year deal worth $US500,000, Alanna Smith (Dallas Wings) on a three-year, $US3.75 million “super max” deal, Isobel Borlase (Atlanta Dream) on a rookie contract of $US67,249, Stephanie Talbot (Las Vegas Aces) on a one-year $US392,500 deal and Chloe Bibby (Minnesota Lynx) on a one-year $US270,000 deal.

As a result, Brondello wants her players to “be brave and have no fear”. This will suit Magbegor, a four-time All-Defensive Team selection who had her best WNBA campaign came in 2023, when she was an All-Star and averaged 13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

“I think we had a little taste of that in Turkey [at FIBA qualifiers] as well, and so that was my first time playing that sort of style, and I really enjoyed it,” Magbegor said.

“And I think it’s something that a lot of people enjoy, and just with the players that we have, I think it’ll really benefit a lot of us just getting out in transition, and you know allowing our defence to kind of start that offence as well.”

Should the Opals advance into the knockout rounds, the US, in group D, may await. The Opals were beaten 85-64 by their arch-rivals in a semi-final at the Paris Games, but Australian basketball great Penny Taylor told this masthead last month the Opals have the talent to beat any nation at the World Cup.

Magbegor says the Opals would match up well on the US in what would be a dream billing for basketball in this country.

“Yeah, for sure. Our guards are definitely, I think, familiar with their game as well. Just being able to play against them in the WNBA as well, and I think they’re a younger team than previous USA teams, and so I think it’ll be a good match,” Magbegor said.

“I think it’ll be great for Australia to kind of have those names headline the World Cup. And, yeah, if we do get there against the US, I think it’ll be a pretty big game globally. Yes, but yeah, just got to get through the first stages.”

ESPN will broadcast the tournament.

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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.