Basketball On The Internet.

LAUREN Jackson already is the G.O.A.T. of Australian basketball. Today, in her Opals international swansong, the 41-year-old mother-of-two uncorked a champagne "Player of the Game" performance, scoring 30 points as Australia claimed the FIBA World Cup Bronze Medal with an emphatic 95-65 rout of Canada. 

What an extraordinary way to bow out. A fairytale ending. A mind-blowing performance. A reminder of what true greatness looks like. Inspirational. Emotional. Magnificent.

The Opals, playing alongside a living legend, also were shown first-hand what toughness looks like, Jackson's 30 points at 69 per cent, with seven rebounds, two steals and a block in 21 minutes of court time.

If this program wanted to return to the glory days of its greatest culture, who better to show the way back than this amazing woman who defined it? Finally with the reins released, she turned back the clock in a mesmerising array of her traditional post moves, baseline spins for fadeaways and general brilliance.

Six years ago, the late great Kobe Bryant closed his NBA playing career with a 60-point performance for the Los Angeles Lakers in the last regular season game against Utah Jazz.

Jackson also retired six years ago, denied the chance to say farewell on the floor she dominated for two decades. Today, to score 30 in a Bronze Medal playoff in a comeback few could have believed was even going to occur, was an unprecedented exclamation mark on the most stellar basketball career in Australian history.

Canada came into the match full of fervour, knowing from the moment it drew USA in the semi finals it would be playing today for Bronze.

The Opals had reparations to undergo after losing a heartbreaking semi to China, captain Tess Madgen rallying her teary teammates to focus on what was yet to come.

Talbot, who later would justifiably be named in the World Cup All Star Five, again showed her versatility, tickling a triple-double with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, plus two steals in another exceptional all-around game.

Marianna Tolo started strongly, scoring Australia's first six points, Sara Blicavs also again building in confidence and working well with Jackson in the low post.

Kia Nurse was feeling it though, keeping Canada engaged and going into halftime with 19 points, Australia 51-43 clear courtesy of a sizzling assist from Darcee Garbin, tapping a pass on to Talbot in the corner for a buzzer-beating triple.

Sami Whitcomb's 3-pointer took the lead to 56-45 and when Jackson returned, she was in a scoring zone. The near capacity crowd at Qudos Bank Arena was roaring as she peeled off 13 of the Opals' next 15 points and this was as good as over.

With 22 points, Jackson was subbed back in and she had that out to 28 at 2:22 left and at the free throw line. She stroked both for 30 points - the highest score by any player in the quarter-final, semi final and medal playoff phases, and second only to Korea's Leeseul Kang's 37 in a 99-66 intrapool rout of Bosnia Herzegovina - and was subbed out to the rousing standing ovation of an emotion-charged crowd.

The siren sounding on a 30-point victory, it is easy to say Jackson was the difference, Tolo and Cayla George raising her onto their shoulders as the crowd repeatedly chanted "L.J."

Unforgettable. Inspirational. Jackson's legacy will take some catching.

BRONZE MEDAL

AUSTRALIAN OPALS 95 (Jackson 30, Talbot 16, Blicavs 12; Talbot 8 rebs; Talbot 8 assts) d CANADA 65 (Nurse 19, Fields 12, Achonwa 10; Amihere 5 rebs; Fields, Carleton 4 assts).

THE USA wore away China's resistance in front of 16,000 fans for a comfortable and successful championship defence, Chelsea Gray leading the assault.

GOLD MEDAL

USA 83 d China 61

ALL STAR FIVE

Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Bridget Carleton (Canada), Breanna Stewart (USA), A'ja Wilson (USA), Han Xu (China)

MVP

A'ja Wilson (USA)