Australia will play for a gold medal on Sunday after holding off Korea in the FIBA Asia Cup semifinals.
In an entertaining contest at China's Shenzhen Sports Centre, the Opals maintained composure and produced relentless defence, combating every Korean run to prevail 86-73.
Australia has never won the Asia Cup title and is guaranteed, at least, its equal best result (silver, 2017) tomorrow.
It will play the winner of Saturday night's other semifinal between host nation China and Japan.
Through Isobel Borlase scoring the first six points of the game, the Opals got off to a hot start while slowing down Korea's ball movement and stifling their offence.
But Korea's trademark three-point game came alive in the second quarter, and would via mini runs throughout the game, and went on a 9-point run and hit the front with 2.20 remaining in the half.
Six quick points from Chloe Bibby kept Australia on track before Zitina Aokuso made her free throw on the eve of half time to give her country a four-point advantage.
Sara Blicavs has been consistent from mid-range this week but lit up from beyond the arc with four triples amongst her 14 points. Steph Reid again controlled the tempo, facilitated and scored when necessary, falling just short of a double-double of her own (9 points, 8 assists).
Debutant Alex Fowler has the Australian women's basketball scene abuzz and has been a picture of consistency with 11 points in all four games. Tonight, she hauled in 12 boards, 5 steals and 4 assists and showed she can be counted on under pressure.
But the night belonged to captain Cayla George, the most experienced and successful player on the team, who with her best output for the tournament ensured the program she cherishes has a crack at historic gold on the final day of play.
CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Like she's done so many times before on the global stage, Cayla George stepped up when her country needed her.
In an absorbing battle with Korean star Jisu Park, the triple Olympian used her strength, size and experience along with a relentless work rate to impact the game at both ends and was rewarded with a 20-point-13-rebound double-double.
With the Opals narrowly ahead at half time and the momentum tipping towards the opposition, the skipper was the barometer in the third with six points, providing both a spark and leadership.
Aokuso started in the five for the fourth term, but George subbed in with 8.13 on the clock and picked up where she left off ensuring her team got home and into tomorrow's gold-medal game.
Part of the national program for the last 17 years, George fought back tears when pre-tournament it was announced she would captain the team. She's won and done it all - World Cup and Olympic medals, a WNBA championship, WNBL title and league MVP honours and leading Australia to the top of the Asia Cup podium for the first time would be another achievement on a bulging resume.
WILDCARD WILSON
Could Australia's wildcard to a gold medal be an athlete who has played less than 10 minutes for the entire tournament?
She's a Paris Olympian, played in World Cups and is a dual Asia Cup MVP and Asia Cup champ in 3x3 but tonight Ally Wilson finally became an Opal after watching the pool games from the bench this week with a knee complaint.
She checked into the game halfway through the opening quarter and made a free throw, had a rebound and assist in just 9.35 court time.
Wilson is quick, crafty and a proven scorer with a ton of international experience and as tired teams push through a hectic week of tournament play on the final day of competition, she will be fit, fresh and ready to pounce on the big stage - an arena she knows well.
IMPROVEMENT? TICK
With the biggest game to play, the Opals are already guaranteed their best finish at a FIBA Asia Cup since 2017.
It's been eight years since Australia claimed a silver medal, falling to Japan in an epic Final by a point, 74-73. A trio of bronze medals have followed in 2019, 2021 and on home soil in 2023 so no matter the colour achieved on Sunday, it's already an improvement on recent campaigns.
The mid-year tournament has presented a challenge in recent years with a host of Olympians and Australia's best performers playing in the WNBA but there was always something different about the composition of this 2025 line-up. The likes of Reid, Aokuso and Bibby have all grown and improved after time in Europe, there was essential experience and proven winners in George and Blicavs and the energy and exuberance of debutants, spearheaded by Fowler, who had all earned their places.
Importantly, with a top four finish, the Opals have locked in a place at the FIBA Qualifying Tournaments as they look to secure their ticket to next year's World Cup in Germany.