Agony and ecstasy for Australian duo in WNBA Finals game seven

Australian duo Opal Miela Sowah and Izzy Borlase Borlase's Atlanta Dream faced off against Golden State Valkyries in the thrilling WNBA Championship game seven. Sowah, a 26-year-old Australian player, aimed to join the 11 previous Australian champions in the prestigious competition and also hoped to become the first Australian winner since Cayla George in 2023.

Although Sowah didn't take the court as she is on a player development contract, her support from the sidelines was instrumental. Gabby Williams delivered a stellar performance, scoring 30 points and securing four blocks, including a career-high 28 in the second half, a WNBA finals record.

Veronica Burton also contributed significantly to Golden State's victory, scoring 10 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Despite the loss, Borlase, a 22-year-old Australian, played a crucial role off the bench, contributing eight points and two rebounds in 14 minutes of gameplay. Her standout moment came in the third quarter when she nailed a three-pointer to end the Valkyries' 6-0 run, followed by a three-point play in the fourth period.

A championship win would have been a remarkable culmination of Borlase's year, which included making her WNBA debut, representing Australia in the Women's World Cup, and achieving her first WNBL MVP title in 15 years.