Basketball On The Internet.

HAILED as the "greatest FIBA Women's World Cup ever" as a record 145,519 fans filed through the turnstiles over 10 days, despite an AFL and an NRL grand final virtually either side of it - well of course it was! Just as the Olympics 22 years ago were the greatest, why would another event in the same place be any different?

Australians have been filling stadia for international events since the 1956 Olympics and well before that for traditional Test cricket stoushes with England.

And no, it doesn't just have to be in our sports mad capital Melbourne.

We know how to get it right and this event surpassed Oz94 in Sydney and the 1997 Aussie Gold success of the FIBA Under-23 World Championship in Melbourne as far as staging a great event goes.

It was mostly impeccable.

But hey, we're Aussies and we set a high standard, which is why in looking at the WWC in review, there were still moments of greatness contrasted by moments of grateness.

What's Great: The incredible skill level of the competing athletes, as you should expect of the finest players in the world, granted. But they were truly amazing.

What Grates: The totally unnecessary and continuous flopping, both offensively and defensively of so many players, Europeans, Asians, Americans and even one Aussie occasionally. It's a blight on the game and at this level, just so disappointing to see.

What's Great: Seeing so many top level female referees controlling elite matches, including occasional three-women panels. That's progress. 

What Grates: So much inconsistency of officiating, allowing blood and thunder under the baskets with impunity, ticky touchwood non-calls, and the constant rewarding of floppers, especially on any 3-point attempt. Shoot, fall over, get the call. (PS. This "Grate" is NOT any result of the previous "Great". The guy refs were the worst.) Could the Final have had one female?

What's Great: The midweek Opals reunion, revisiting the Oz94 and 2000 Sydney Olympic teams, the 2006 World Championship Gold Medallists to be inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame and seeing and mingling with some 160 past and present players and national coaches. Unprecedented and magnificent.

What Grates: An upcoming Opals documentary which almost exclusively skips the Australian women's teams of the 70s, which means overlooking superstar greats of that era such as Maree Bennie, Karin Maar, Jenny Cheesman, Jill Hammond, Julie Gross, Di Wilson, Ann Misiewicz etcetera etcetera. The 70s teams and 60s sides of Merv Harris forged the Opals' identity as winners punching above their weight. 

What's Great: The USA continues to be so dominant as to be breath-taking in the superiority of its skill and athletic talent. From its previous Olympic champion, take out Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Skylar Diggins-Smith, the shockingly-treated Brittney Griner (still stranded in a Russian prison), Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles and coach Dawn Staley and they do not miss a beat en route to Gold, A'ja Wilson tournament MVP and joined by Breanna Stewart in the All Star Five.  

What Grates: Why is it every time one of them is even slightly contacted, they fall to the floor as if shot by a sniper. And the carry-on. OMG. In the Final, Alyssa Thomas hits the floor, clutching her shoulder, assisted from the court, only to return having fully recovered from something that never happened. Why all the dramatic BS? 

What's Great: The way the home crowd supported the Opals and genuinely lifted them at times with their loud and heartfelt backing. 

What Grates: That in a HOME World Cup, the MC consistently mispronounced Sara Blicavs' name during introductions and in-game. It's pronounced Blitz-arves but we got "Blick-avs" and other variations, and even the odd "Steph". Say what? At a home event such as this, that's just extremely lazy, unprofessional, embarrassing and disrespectful.

What's Great: That China in the Final against USA has 3.2 seconds on the clock but draws up a play that leads to a misdirection sequence and an open 3-point swish. It brought the house down.

What Grates: That Australia in the semi against China has 3.4 seconds on the clock but draws up a play that is shambolick at best and leads to a contested and missed drive.

What's Great: That Aussie fans turned up in force to support their homeland teams such as China, Serbia, France and others. Great to see.

What Grates: That once their national teams were eliminated, they no longer saw fit to come and support Australia, their adopted homeland.

What's Great: Seeing all the skills of the sport in full flow, great pick-and-roll plays, slick misdirections and superb individual ball skills.

What Grates: Any player who hit a screen set by a "big" merely then had to throw themselves on the floor and always - ALWAYS - got the benefit of a foul call against the screener. A freakin' screen is supposed to wipe out a defender. Her teammate guarding the screener should be warning her, NOT a referee rewarding the poor thing.

What's Great: The Opals' defence at times was off the charts, All Star Five selection Steph Talbot leading the way with super hustle in the lanes, steals, pressure, the team's ability to double and triple-team bigs, then rotate and recover - exemplary and great for teaching purposes too.

What Grates: How often, in total stark contrast to the above, Opals players were beaten one-on-one on straightforward drives and with no weakside help. Inexplicable.   

What's Great: Being present to see Lauren Jackson close her international career with a 30-point "turn back the clock" epic performance in steering the Opals to the Bronze Medal over Canada. It was as emotional as it was wonderful and inspiring.

What Grates: That LJ was restricted to 2:41 of action (and 37:19 of inaction) in the two-point loss to China in the semi final. She had two fouls, yes, and two points but more importantly, got in the face of China's All Star Five selection Xu Han who definitely had the shakes. LJ is anchored to the bench as her leadership, winning persona and big occasion smarts are wasted, Xu Han finishes as Player of the Game and the Opals miss the Final.  

What's Great: The Opals regaining their status and reinventing what once was a much-vaunted culture.

What Grates: Ah ... what could have been.