Jade Melbourne is carrying that Opals legacy forward

After a breakout tournament on the world’s biggest stage, the Rising Star is beginning to reflect on what the Opals achieved in Paris, as a new era unfolds.

Jade Melbourne played in Phoenix with the Washington Mystics on July 17; a few days later, she was in Spain with barely a week to prepare for the biggest tournament of her life. The 2024 Paris Olympics were just around the corner and Melbourne, along with six other WNBA-based Australian Opals, joined the rest of their team in Segovia for a mini-camp and two warmup games.

Fast forward a month and Melbourne, who turned 22 only last week, is back with the Mystics, having returned stateside not only with a bronze medal around her neck, but also the accolade of being the starting point guard on the first Opals team to finish on the Olympic podium since London in 2012.

Jade Melbourne, Olympic medallist. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

“To be honest, it still hasn’t sunk in,” Melbourne, who was in Seattle last Sunday, told The Pick and Roll. “I feel like I haven’t had a moment yet to stop and reflect on the Olympic experience and what it was, but I guess it’s got a nice ring to it. The two weeks of the Olympics was probably the most amazing two weeks of my career so far.

“The emotions that we felt throughout that bronze medal game were crazy and for that siren to go off and be an Olympic medallist was a feeling I’ll never forget. It was just so special.”

Photo Credit: FIBA

Starting for the Opals and the mindset shift

Melbourne joined that Opals team in Segovia as the second youngest player on the roster. A couple of Opals were managing minor injuries, and that thrust Melbourne into a starting role for the warmup games against Spain and Canada.

She had 12 points, four assists and three rebounds against Spain and then 23 points, four assists and five rebounds against Canada, playing a heavier load with Steph Talbot, Izzy Borlase, Lauren Jackson and Bec Allen all being managed.

Melbourne still didn’t expect to start once they got to France, but as they began to prepare for their opening game against Nigeria, she stayed in that role.

“I never officially got told,” explained Melbourne.

“I kind of just walked into a meeting and it was like ‘Jade, you’ll be guarding this person against Nigeria tomorrow.’ And I was like ‘Oh sweet, I’m starting.’ And I think that was just crazy.

“I didn’t expect at all to be going into preparation games starting, or as the starting point guard at the Olympics, but I tried to take everything in my stride and Sandy just wanted me to be me. There were a few hiccups and I’ve got such a long way to go in that role, but that’s something that I can claim for the future.

“I feel I got better and grew throughout the games. I started from having a heap of turnovers to minimal turnovers, so just growing in that role and trying to be myself, as well as lead the team. And [I] just tried to do that to the best of my ability.”

Melbourne’s opening few minutes against Nigeria were great, but then some cracks started to appear – as they did for much of the Opals team – and the mistakes started to mount up.

When you’re playing in your first major tournament and fulfilling a childhood dream at the same time, it’s understandable for some nerves to creep in.

“I usually think I’m pretty cool, like I’m sweet and then we ran down the stairs for the first warmup thirty minutes before tipoff, and I’d never had butterflies in my stomach like I had at that moment. I was like ‘Holy moly, I’m at an Olympics’,” said Melbourne.

“The stands were filling up and just that whole moment like ‘This is it, this is what I’ve worked so hard for.’ And, there were just so many things going on in my head. I’m representing my country, I’m at an Olympics, I’m starting, I’ve gotta do my role. It was just all a crazy moment.”

On the eve of the WNBA season, Melbourne was traded from the Seattle Storm to the Mystics. It came as a shock, but she’s managed to find a much more consistent role in Washington D.C. than what she had in Seattle.

She’d been averaging 5.6 points, 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in just under 14 minutes a game before the Olympics – up from her rookie season numbers in Seattle. But those are still fairly modest numbers and minutes. And while she’s played in every game since she entered the Mystics rotation in late May, she’s not played more than 21 minutes in any game this season.

So, to go from that backup role straight into a starting role with the Opals, where she’s expected to run the show, help set the tone and play bigger minutes than she’s used to playing, that was a tough mental adjustment to make.

“I think so. I don’t think I did at the time, but looking back at it now, you don’t have time to ease into the game or essentially watch and figure out what schemes teams are in or what they’re doing to the point guard – things like that,” she acknowledged.

“That was something I’ve been getting used to with the Mystics. I’ve been watching Julie [Vanloo] and Britt Sykes figure it out. And then I came in and just, the pressure of the first five minutes of the games, I had to adjust to that quickly.

“And setting the tone. You have to bring the ball up the floor, handle the pressure from the jump, so that was definitely a big adjustment.

“But, Sandy watched film with me after the Canada game, I spoke to the coaches and ultimately, Madge [Tess Madgen] and Sami [Whitcomb] just instilled a lot of confidence into me. They continued to tell me I’m doing great. They continued to tell me where the pressure releases were, and I think as a team, we all put in a great system to fight that pressure.”

The Rising Star

Melbourne had a great impact across a number of games for the Opals. She had 11 points in the opening loss to Nigeria, seven points and two assists against USA in the semifinal and a very helpful seven assists in the bronze medal game versus Belgium.

But it was her quarterfinal showing against Serbia that turned heads across the globe and was really the culmination of Melbourne feeling truly comfortable in her role and playing at that level. She played a tournament-high 33 minutes, scoring 18 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG, 4-4 FT), with four rebounds, five assists along with two steals. She was +11 in her time on the floor and had an efficiency rating of 23 in that game – the fourth highest individual game efficiency rating of any Opal through the tournament.

Overall, Melbourne averaged seven points, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game, and while she had her struggles shooting from the perimeter, she showed enough to be awarded the Women’s Rising Star by FIBA at the Olympics – some  extra hardware to accompany her bronze medal. It’s something she’s very proud of.

Photo Credit: FIBA

“I think for me, I try to stay consistent. Something that I can always bring, regardless of how many points I’m scoring is my energy and my effort,” explained Melbourne.

“So, that’s something I want to do. I want to get my teammates involved, I want to tire out their best point guards, so they’re making less-good decisions for their team. And that’s something I can control whether I’m starting, whether I’m coming off the bench with the Mystics. So, that’s something I like to pride myself on.

“I guess the rising star award for me, that Serbia game the ball ended up in my hands a few more times [and] I knocked down some shots. But, I think throughout the last three games, I tried to stay very consistent in what I brought. I tried to get my teammates involved, set up the offence, getting into sets we wanted and getting particular players looks, and when someone like Ezi’s going off in the bronze medal match, that’s someone you just find and that’s probably what led to seven dimes.

“It starts with my energy and effort and whatever happens, happens. That pressure defence, that’s something I can bring every night and pushing the pace. Whether that shows on the stat sheet or not, I know that at the end of the day, if I’ve given my best, it’s because I’ve brought good energy and good effort to the court.”

And of course, after securing that medal, Melbourne and her teammates let loose in Paris as they celebrated what they’d achieved. Details are a little sketchy, but Melbourne sheepishly said she “had a great time”, and “what happens in Paris, stays in Paris.”

Washington and building for the future

Not long after having that medal put around her neck, she was back to Washington to rejoin her Mystics teammates. Two of those teammates in Aaliyah Edwards from Canada and Julie Vanloo from Belgium faced Melbourne in France, with the Aussie getting the win over both of them.

Needless to say, there’s been a little banter and trash talk post the tournament, with Melbourne actually winning a little side bet with Vanloo in the process.

“Julie’s actually meant to wear my singlet into a game one time. We had a little bet going if we ever came across each other, so it’s just harsh that it ended up being the bronze medal match, but she should be rocking a Jade Melbourne singlet in the tunnel soon, so stay tuned for that.”

The move to Washington from Seattle has been a positive one for Melbourne. In her second WNBA season, she’s somehow still the youngest player in the WNBA – something she can’t believe is still the case and is a little tired of hearing about. But Melbourne has been given a great opportunity with the Mystics to play a bigger role than she would have on a veteran, contending team in Seattle.

“I’m feeling super comfortable,” she said.

“I think the move at the time was a bit of a shock. I thought I was going to be playing the year in Seattle, but it’s ended up being one of the best things that could have happened to my basketball career.

“The people in Washington are great. [Mystics head coach] Eric’s a really good coach and he just immediately told me to be myself, and I feel like in Seattle I kind of shied away from that. I was playing a completely different style of game to what people in Australia know me [for] in the WNBL.

“So, when I could start to be myself a bit more, I had that role of being the backup point guard and that was something that was given to me on day dot – that was really cool. Having that confidence from the coaching staff and my teammates really helped me to just be me.

“A lot more downhill drives, a lot more shooting threes, coming off picks with confidence to get downhill. So, that move’s been great. I’m super grateful that the trade happened like that.”

The Washington Mystics are a rebuilding franchise. They’ve added a lot of young talent the last few years, had a number of high draft picks (including Edwards with the sixth pick this year and Shakira Austin at third last year), and are focused on what they can develop into, rather than what they are today.

The players are tight-knit and have a lot of fun together, through all the ups and downs. They’re currently in tenth place with an 8 and 22 record, following a tight road win over Melbourne’s old Storm teammates in Seattle on Monday. After an 0 and 12 start, that’s a much better showing of late and their mindset is positive, knowing there will be better days ahead.

“We have so much fun. We love playing with one another and that’s something that I’ve really loved and enjoyed about being here,” said Melbourne.

“The ball movement we play with is really fun. Our system, it’s kind of different from the typical American isolation basketball system. We love to move the ball through hands, give up good shots for great shots, set good screens, all kind of the fundamental basketball that we love in Australia. So, that’s been super fun for me.

“But yeah, we all get along, we’re always laughing in the locker room and even when we started off the season 0 and 12, we found the small wins and the belief in the group never wavered which was cool. And we know we’re building for the future now.

“These last eleven games are still important to us and making the most of them. It’s not an opportunity we want to give up easily. And seeing if we can annoy some teams and be the bad guys essentially. But just continuing to enjoy playing basketball and ultimately, build for the future. Because if the group sticks around, we could be really good in the upcoming season.”

UC Capitals and a new teammate

Speaking of upcoming seasons, Melbourne will be back with the UC Capitals again for the 2024/25 WNBL season. She’ll have a new head coach in Paul Goriss (who was an Opals assistant in Paris) and some new teammates as well.

One of those new teammates was a first round pick of the Atlanta Dream in this year’s WNBA draft, in Nyadiew Puoch. Puoch, who shares an agent with Melbourne (SIG Sports) will make the move from the Southside Flyers in the hopes of playing a bigger role than she did with Southside, and getting ready to make the move over to the WNBA next year. When Melbourne got wind of the possibility of Puoch’s move, she was only too happy to help in the recruiting efforts, to make this team as athletic and exciting as possible.

“Yeah, so as soon as Goz [Goriss] mentioned that he was going to go after Nards [Puoch], I was pretty much on the phone to her immediately saying ‘let’s team up,’” Melbourne admitted.

“So, I’m excited. I played with Nards at the U19 World Cup three years ago and the two of us did some pretty good damage and helped lead that team to a silver medal. So, to team up with her again, I love playing with a long athletic wing, she brings a defensive presence and she’s just looking for an opportunity to grab with both hands.

“I think the time is now for Nards. I think she’s going to have a great opportunity at the Caps and there’s someone that I’m willing to help out with what I’ve learned over the last two years, being at the Olympics, being two years now in the WNBA. I think I can help her a lot and that’s something that I really want to do.

“I think the system that Goz and I have spoken about is gonna really suit her, and it’s going to be an exciting brand of basketball. I think the Caps are going to be that team that everyone wants to watch again. Regardless of results, we’re going to be fun, so get your popcorn out.”

Opals veterans

While Melbourne is excited for who she’s going to be playing with in future, she’s also conscious that she may never have the chance to play alongside some of her Opals teammates again.

Paris may have been the last major tournament for some veteran Opals, with Lauren Jackson almost certainly calling time, and possibly the same for the likes of Tess Madgen, Cayla George and Marianna Tolo. Whether it was the last time they’ll represent Australia or not, Melbourne is grateful to have been able to help some of those players to finally get on the Olympic podium, as this was the first Olympic medal for past Olympians Madgen, George and Tolo.

“It’s amazing. You mentioned four names there and we never know what the plans hold for all of them,” said Melbourne.

“We’ve said LJ’s done a couple of times now and she all of a sudden pops back up. But, I think for the likes of Tolo, Madge, Cayla, for them to win a medal is super special. And LJ was the only one who had medalled in that group, and so many of them had been to two or three Olympics.

“So, to help them get that done – the emotions were amazing to see from the three of them. It meant so much to all of us, but you could see that the emotion and all the hard work and the realisation that they’d just medalled, was a really cool feeling.

“So, yeah four great players. They’ve helped us so much and done so much for the program over such a large number of years, so for them to get a medal and [for three of them to] tick that goal off their list is super special, and I was just so happy for all of them.”

Photo Credit: FIBA

A new golden era and carrying the legacy forward

Melbourne is also very excited for what the future holds with the Opals program. There is some great young talent already playing prominent roles, like herself, Magbegor and Alanna Smith, plus Izzy Borlase who got her first taste at a major tournament. There’s experienced talent that will likely continue to feature in future campaigns in Steph Talbot, Bec Allen and Kristy Wallace, some younger emerging talent in the likes of Puoch, Georgia Amoore, Jaz Shelley and Shyla Heal, plus some juniors ready to come up like Saffron Shiels and Lara Somfai.

With the Women’s World Cup in Germany just two years away, Melbourne is adamant that the Opals will only continue to rise, and this is a new golden era that will have a long run.

“Yeah, I’m calling it right now. 100% it is, for sure,” she beamed excitedly.

“Ezi and Lan are absolutely killing it this year, Talbs is still killing it and she’s going to turn into a leader of this program, which is really exciting as well. And, I think there’s so many young people coming through, Georgia Amoore, there’s Nards, there’s Borlase obviously. There’s Saffron Shiels, there’s Lara Somfai. So there’s so many great, talented kids coming through which is super exciting.

“We’re definitely entering another golden era. We had three in the draft last year, we’re going to hopefully have multiple in the next four or five years. So, yeah, 100% it’s a golden era. Ezi and Lan are gonna lead the way, Talbs is still there. Me and Borlase spoke about how we can be a part of a few major tournaments going forward.

“A lot of people are willing to lead it in the right direction too and a lot of people are working hard to get there. So, there’s going to be selection headaches for coaches, no doubt, but that’s the way you want it. The golden era’s going to continue. The [2022] World Cup, now Paris, the leaders have laid the foundation for us and we’re just going to continue to carry that legacy in the right direction.

“That’s how Madge would have liked me to say it.”