Australia’s women’s basketball team won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Known as the Opals, the team became one of the most consistent powers in international women’s basketball during this period.
In Atlanta, Australia finished third after losing to the United States in the semifinal and defeating Ukraine 66–56 in the bronze-medal game. Four years later, as host nation in Sydney, Australia reached its first Olympic women’s basketball final. The Opals defeated several strong opponents before meeting the United States, which won the gold-medal game 76–54.
The Sydney silver was a landmark result: it was Australia’s best Olympic finish in the sport at that time and the beginning of a remarkable run of three consecutive Olympic silver medals, including Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. The answer refers to the national team, not an Australian club or a men’s basketball team. The Opals also won Olympic bronze again in 2012 and 2024.