Opals’ head coach Sandy Brondello commissioned Talbot to defend the best player in every country at the 2022 World Cup, such was her world class defence, but while also averaging 8.5ppg and 7 rebounds.
Watching Steph Talbot on a basketball court is like watching Usain Bolt on the track – at her best, she has a mastery over the entire game.
No wonder then, that she was named in the World All Star Five at the FIBA World Cup in 2022 in Sydney where the Opals won bronze. It was a recognition of her formidable skills at both ends of the court.
Coach Sandy Brondello commissioned Talbot to defend the best player in every country at the World Cup, such was her world class defence, but while also averaging 8.5ppg and 7 rebounds.
She had previously been named to the World All Star Five at the World U19 Cup in Lithuania where the Sapphires also earned bronze.
She is the captain of the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL. In accepting her award at age 17 for the WNBL Rookie of the Year, Talbot was asked what she had learned from playing with Olympians Suzi Batkovic, Laura Hodges, and Jenny Screen, and she replied “Shitloads.”
Eight years later, that degree of learning manifested Steph Talbot being crowned the 2020WNBL’s Most Valuable Player award.
She was born in Katherine in NT, then with her family moved to Kadina in SA. She grew up playing basketball on the country town’s asphalt courts, then her parents began driving her to Adelaide for games.
After seasons in Poland and France, she followed her dream to the WNBA, an experience she describes as “eye opening”, based on the professional way the players are treated, including traveling by private jet.
Following personally successful seasons with the Seattle Storm, she was recruited by the LA Sparks for the 2024 WNBA season, then to NY Liberty the following season, and then to the Los Vegas Aces.
In July 2024 she would become a triple Olympian, still in search of an Olympic medal, with the Opals finishing out of the medals in 2016 and 2020. She is considered the ultimate professional athlete, ensuring no shortcuts in her preparation to compete.
