Basketball On The Internet.

ON the same day women's tennis' G.O.A.T. Serena Williams announced her retirement at 41, Australian basketball's G.O.A.T. Lauren Jackson at 41 was selected in the Opals team for the 2022 FIBA World Cup next month in Sydney. "Life begins at 40"? That may be an understatement. 

Jackson's selection for her fifth World Cup is such a remarkable and unprecedented achievement, that few believe anyone other than LJ could have pulled it off.

But from the moment she pulled on the NBL1 uniform for Albury this year and captivated everyone with the sheer delight she obviously was drawing from being injury-free and once more able to enjoy basketball, fingers were crossing she might make it all the way back.

With today's announcement of the 12-player team for Sydney - and its tough battles ahead in Group B against Canada (ranked 4 by FIBA), France (6), Japan (8), Serbia (10) and Mali (37) - the journey back to international basketball is complete for the woman who captained Australia to gold at the 2006 World Cup.

The Opals team is:

The club most pleased with this team is the WNBA's Seattle Storm. It is where Lauren cemented her legacy, currently has Olympians Ezi Magbegor and Steph Talbot on its roster and where Sami Whitcomb also cut her teeth before joining Bec Allen at New York Liberty.

The battle for the 3-4-5 positions meant someone from the last 15-player squad was going to be unlucky and Tokyo Olympian and 2018 World Cup Silver Medallist Alanna Smith was the one.

Treated like a travelling salesman caught in the farmhouse with the farmer's daughter throughout the Tokyo campaign, her omission still was a surprise.

Tess Madgen, Kristy Wallace and Whitcomb have the PG covered so Maddi Rocci's omission always was on the cards.

Jade Melbourne went the way of Josh Giddey when the Boomers selected their team for Tokyo. But like Josh, she will be very much in the picture going forward.

After winning the MVP award in the WNBL last season, Anneli Maley further punched her ticket with her performance in the recent three-match series with Japan.

Sara Blicavs also looked the goods in those games and Darcee Garbin took full advantage of her on-court opportunities.

Marianna Tolo back to pair with Cayla George means this team not only has the size and athleticism but also the requisite experience to restore the Opals' reputation after the disaster that was Tokyo.

The last time the FIBA Women's World Cup was staged in Australia was in 1994 with "Oz94" and the Opals made it to the medal round.

The Restoration is underway and who better to be at its forefront than our woman of the Renaissance, Lauren Jackson.

Let the focus once again be on basketball.