Opals coach Sandy Brondello believes the WNBA's bubble could be the making of Ezi Magbegor and with it another piece in the Olympic gold puzzle.
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The 21-year-old Magbegor has been formidable off the bench for the league-leading Seattle Storm in her debut season in the WNBA's own Florida bubble.
On Saturday, Magbegor and Opals teammate Sami Whitcomb will suit up for the Storm against Brondello's Phoenix Mercury, who feature another Australian Alanna Smith.
Opals veteran Leilani Mitchell (Washington Mystics) is the fourth Australian playing in the abbreviated season, with All-Star Liz Cambage opting out on medical grounds and instead in Australia preparing for a return to the domestic league.
Brondello plans to return to Australia to watch almost the entire Opals squad compete in next season's WNBL before Tokyo's rescheduled Olympics.
It will be a unique opportunity to prepare for next year's Games and Sydney's 2022 World Cup but Brondello says Magbegor is getting a head start.
"She's playing on the best team here arguably, with some pretty special players and I've been so impressed with how she's been a sponge and fit in," Brondello said.
"She is growing in confidence being around great players."
The Opals are blessed with depth to complement the star power of centre Cambage, but Brondello sees Magbegor's high ceiling as a difference-maker in Tokyo.
"She wants to be great and ... that athleticism and improvement in her defence, that's what you need to beat the best," the coach said.
"She's shy so she's got to come out of her shell but you love how humble she is, will do whatever is asked.
"Those players are awesome."
The quartet sharing a court on Saturday, in a game that will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland, continues a long tradition of Australians in the WNBA.
"When I played for Detroit, we had Rachael Sporn, Carla Boyd go against a Phoenix with Michelle Timms and Trisha Fallon," Brondello a former Opals guard, said.
"Aussies have always been very respected in this league; they bring it every single night."
But with an Olympic tilt followed by a home World Cup, Brondello senses a chance to lift the next crop's profiles to the level the world No.2 side deserves.
"The Opals need to be household names, more than what they are now and the way to do it is national TV exposure, so hopefully we get that and build on it," she said.
"We've got the Olympics then we're hosting a World Cup; it's a great opportunity for us."
Australian Associated Press
