In a dominating display, Michelle Brogan scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the 1996 bronze medal game at the 1996 Olympic Games.
It’s not easy to express the relief and exhilaration of standing on the Olympic Games dais having an Olympic medal placed around one’s neck.
The job is done, and the body and mind finally let down.
And for it to happen at the culmination of the long journey of generations of Opals players invoked unspeakable pride and contentment.
The first time an Opal stood on such a dais was in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympic Games after Australia edged out Ukraine 66-56 to take the bronze.
Michelle Brogan was there then. She starred during the Olympic finals – scoring 17 points against Russia in the semi-final and 19 points against Ukraine for the bronze.
Then four years later at the Sydney Olympics, Australia went one better, as the Opals thrilled the home fans going through the tournament undefeated until the gold medal game when the US won 76-54.
Then four years later at the Sydney Olympics, Australia went one better, as the Opals thrilled the home fans going through the tournament undefeated until the gold medal game when the US won 76-54.
Two bronze medals at the World Cups of 1998 and 2002 complement a hugely successful international career.
Over three WNBA seasons for Mercury Phoenix, Brogan averaged an excellent 9.2ppg and 4.4 rebounds.
The 186cm forward revealed huge potential at age just 18, when she was named the WNBL’s Rookie of the Year in 1991.
She was also part of the team that won Australia’s first ever FIBA international medal when her team won the world junior championship gold medal in 1993.
Michelle is the older sister to former NBL player and AFL ruckman for Port Adelaide, Dean Brogan.
Michelle Brogan was inducted into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame in the Class of 2022.
