Cayla George leads Opals into Asia Cup final

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Unbeaten Australia is in the final of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup for the first time in eight years, beating Korea 86-73 at Shenzhen Sports Center on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Shenzhen Sports Center, Shenzhen.

Captain Cayla George's 20-point, 13-rebound double-double powered the Opals to their first final since 2017.

"But we still got one more job to do," Georgia declared.

"We want to go home with the gold medal.

"We came out in the second half and were really intentional about wanting to approach the third quarter to make sure we got the win, and move one step closer to our goal."

Head coach Paul Goriss added: "Really excited to be in this position. This is what we came here to do, to make the Final.

"That was our goal right from the very start. I'm super happy and proud of the players for where we got to."

Australia faces arch-rival Japan in the Gold Medal game tonight (Sunday, July 20, 2025) at 9.30 AEST. The winner automatically qualifies for the FIBA World Cup next year. Australia is on a mission to win its first Asia Cup gold medal.

Key Details

• Result: Australia 86 def. Korea 73
• When: Saturday, 19th July 2025
• Where: Shenzhen Sports Center, Shenzhen

By the Numbers

• Cayla George (Australia) starred with 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes.
• Heo Yeeun (Korea) scored 20 points, had three rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes.

What Happened

Australia exploded out of the gates with a dominant 15-0 run, building a commanding 19-5 advantage early in the contest. The Opals' aggressive defence and efficient offence had Korea on the back foot, setting the tone for what looked to be a potential blowout.

However, Korea refused to go away quietly, fighting back with impressive determination in the second quarter. The Korean side not only erased the deficit but took a surprising 35-33 lead, shocking the Australians and turning the contest into a genuine battle. Chloe Bibby responded with a personal six-point run late in the period to help Australia regain a slim 42-38 halftime advantage.

The pivotal third quarter saw Australia reassert their dominance after Korea briefly tied the game at 42-all. Izzy Borlase ignited a decisive 13-2 Australian run that pushed the lead to 55-44 with five minutes remaining in the third period. The Opals' depth was on full display as five players finished in double figures, with Sara Blicavs adding 14 points including four three-pointers.

Australia's superior rebounding proved critical to their victory, with the Opals securing a 48-35 advantage on the boards. Alex Fowler's all-round contribution was particularly impressive, recording 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and five steals. Her defensive intensity helped Australia maintain control throughout the second half.

The Opals continued to build their lead in the final quarter, extending it to a game-high 15 points (75-60) with 5:21 remaining after consecutive baskets from Fowler and George. Korea's offensive options were limited as Australia's defence managed to hold Park Jisu to just six points, well below her tournament average.