The Australian Opals have had a horror start to their 2024 Olympic campaign, going down by 13 points to Nigeria, who registered their first Olympic win since 2004.
Turnovers and missed free throws were the story of the night for Australia, with the presumed medal contenders losing the ball 26 times and shooting just 8-of-18 from the charity stripe.
Ezinne Kalu starred for Nigeria, scoring 19 points and grabbing five rebounds in the win, while Promise Amukamara added 14 and Amy Okonkwo contributed 13.
Alanna Smith was the standout for the Opals, with 15 points and seven boards, while Sami Whitcomb added 13 points.
With the Opals dropping what many assumed was a guaranteed win against Nigeria, they will now need to go back to the drawing board before taking on Canada this Thursday, with the team suddenly finding themselves fighting for their Olympic lives.
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If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News tracked all the live score updates and highlights from throughout the game.
Australia vs Nigeria basketball score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Australia | 17 | 11 | 19 | 15 | 62 |
| Nigeria | 18 | 23 | 10 | 24 | 75 |
Australia vs. Nigeria updates, highlights from 2024 Olympic women's basketball
FINAL: Nigeria 75, Australia 62
8:51 p.m. - Nigeria takes down Australia in a shock loss for the presumed medal-contending Opals. Plenty of soul searching for the Aussies to do before they take on Canada this Thursday. Nigeria win 75-62.
8:47 p.m. - Talbot misses a layup on one end, leading to Okonkwo leaking out for a fast break layup. Nigeria takes a 12-point lead, and likely the game.
8:45 p.m. - Wallace draws contact and goes to the line for two. She misses the first, makes the second. Nigeria lead 67-59, with a minute to play.
8:40 p.m. - Nigeria makes two free throws, Magbegor travels on the other end and gives up the ball. Nigeria lead 65-56.
8:36 p.m. - After pulling within three points multiple times, the Opals find themselves back down seven after a wide-open three from Okonkwo. Time running out now for Australia, with just under four minutes left on the clock.
8:33 p.m. - Smith with a chance to equalise at the line and misses both, Nigeria get the rebound. Story of this game so far, with Opals struggling to execute their fundamentals.
8:30 p.m. - Wallace with a steal at halfcourt of her own, which turns into a clear path foul from Nigeria. She splits the free-throws, and the Opals retain possession leading to a Smith three. Nigeria lead 58-56.
8:26 p.m. - A crucial few minutes from Steph Talbot; first hitting a three to make it a one possession game, before drawing a foul on a defensive rebound.
8:22 p.m. - A three from Musa starts the final quarter, as Nigeria show they're not going away quietly.
8:19 p.m. - Stop me if you've heard this before, but Lauren Jackson hit a huge shot, with a three to bring the Opals within two. Musa answers with a two as the third period closes, but Australia look much more comfortable, outscoring Nigeria 19-10 in the quarter. Nigeria leads 51-47.
8:15 p.m. - Magbegor goes coast-to-coast for the lay, Nicole Enabosi answers, before Melbourne takes significant contact and drains both free-throws. The game is tightening up, as Nigeria look to hold off the Opals.
8:12 p.m. - Two massive buckets from Minnesota Lynx star Alanna Smith, as well as a key block, and the Opals are back within five points.
8:09 p.m. - Some sloppy play from both sides leading to points from each, with Whitcomb's three pulling the lead back to 10. Nigeria lead 45-35.
8:02 p.m. - They started the second half with a turnover, but the Opals also draw first blood, with Jade Melbourne rolling in a difficult finish for two.
7:47 p.m. - Back-to-back steals at half court from Nigeria leads to four easy points, and a 13-point win at the half. Opals with a lot of work to do to turn this around. Nigeria leads 41-28.
7:43 p.m. - The Opals can't catch a break, with a wide-open ATO layup is ruled out due to traveling, leading into a Nigeria timeout of their own.
7:40 p.m. - Nigeria's offence looks night-and-day better than Australia; the former scoring near-uncontested layups off smart cutting, while the Opals are continually forced into low-percentage shots all around the court. Nigeria leads 37-28.
7:38 p.m. - A much-needed three from Jackson brings Australian within two, before a tough Amukamara layup pushes the lead back out to five.
7:36 p.m. - Make that 11 turnovers for Australia as Sami Whitcomb sends the ball off Jackson's hands and out of bounds, with the Opals continuing to look disjointed.
7:34 p.m. - Kalu drains a deep three, plus the free-throw courtesy of a foul from Steph Talbot, and Nigeria leads 28-25.
7:29 p.m. - Opals call a timeout after another turnover leads to a Nigeria layup, who take the lead. Nigeria leads 24-22.
7:27 p.m. - Magbegor splits her free throws after taking a massive hit from Murjanatu Musa.
7:24 p.m. -Kristy Wallace scores the first bucket of the second quarter after a frosty opening two minutes for both teams. Opals lead 19-18.
7:20 p.m. - Ezi Magbegor gets open underneath but misses the layup as the buzzer sounds. Opals go into the quarter-time break trailing by one.
7:18 p.m. - Nigeria claims their first lead of the game, off the back of some lock-down defence and a three from Ezinne Kalu. Nigeria lead 18-17.
7:15 p.m. - Isabel Borlase splits her first free throws in her Olympic debut, the 2024 WNBA Draftee already active in her first minutes.
7:11 p.m. - Alanna Smith drains a three to steady the ship after Nigeria tie the game. Opals lead 16-13.
7:10 p.m. - Five-time Olympian, Basketball Hall of Fame member and All-Time Olympic basketball leading scorer Lauren Jackson checks into the game.
7:06 p.m. - Opals humming offensively, as Jade Melbourne answers an Amy Okonkwo three with a deep ball of her own.
7:04 p.m. - A six-nothing start for the Opals as their cutting to the basket leads to three open layups.
Pre-game
6:55 p.m. - Sami Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne, Steph Talbot, Alanna Smith, and Ezi Magbegor will be the first five on the floor for the Opals tonight.
What time is Australia vs Nigeria tonight?
- Date: Monday, July 29
- Time: 7:00 p.m. AEST
Australia vs Nigeria will tip off at 7:00 p.m. AEST on Monday, July 29. The game will be played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium, France.
What channel is Australia vs Nigeria on tonight?
- TV channel: Channel Nine
- Live Stream: 9Now/Stan Sport
Australia vs Nigeria will air on the Nine Network. Viewers will be able to stream the games on 9Now and Stan Sport.
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Opals Paris Olympics schedule - Group B
The Opals get their Olympic campaign underway against Nigeria, followed by games against Canada and France.
| Date | Opponent | Time (AEST) | Location | TV Channel |
| July 29 | Nigeria | 7:00 p.m. | Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Nine/Stan Sport |
| August 1 | Canada | 9:30 p.m. | Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Nine/Stan Sport |
| August 5 | France | 5:00 a.m. | Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Nine/Stan Sport |
Australian Opals women's basketball roster 2024
The Opals roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics features an elite collection of WNBA talent, headlined by Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Sami Whitcomb, while Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson returns to the fold for the Opals, competing in her fifth Olympic Games.
| Player | Position | Team |
| Amy Atwell | G | Perth Lynx |
| Issy Borlase | G | Adelaide Lightning |
| Cayla George | F/C | Sydney Flames |
| Lauren Jackson | F/C | Southside Flyers |
| Tess Madgen | G | Sydney Flames |
| Ezi Magbegor | C | Seattle Storm |
| Jade Melbourne | G | Washington Mystics |
| Alanna Smith | F | Minnesota Lynx |
| Steph Talbot | F | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Marianna Tolo | C | Bendigo Spirit |
| Kristy Wallace | G | Indiana Fever |
| Sami Whitcomb | G | Seattle Storm |
Nigeria women's basketball roster 2024
| Player | Position | Team |
| Amy Okonkwo | F | Landerneau Bretagne Basket |
| Pallas Kunalyi-Akpnanah | C | La Molisana Campobasso |
| Elizabeth Balogun | C | Club Polideportivo Bembibre |
| Olaoluwatomi Taiwo | G | Esgueira/Aveiro |
| Luaren Ebo | C | Turgutlu Belediye Kultur Sanat ve Spor Kulubu Dernegi |
| Ifunanya Okoro | G | Tindastóll |
| Promise Amukamara | G | Dynamo Kursk |
| Murjanatu Musa | F | Celta Zorka Recalvi |
| Blessing Ejiofor | C | Cavigal Nice Basket |
| Ezinne Kalu | G | Obg Roma |
| Adebola Adeyeye | F | CO Trith Basket Porte du Hainaut |
| Nicole Enabosi | F | Toulouse Metropole Basket |