Jade Melbourne was named the Paris 2024 Rising Star by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) after she helped the Australian women’s basketball team to an Olympic bronze medal.

Victor Wembanyama of France was FIBA’s Paris 2024 Rising Star in the men’s event.

On her Olympic debut, the 21-year-old Jade Melbourne stepped up for the Opals and made the point guard spot her own.

Starting in all six of Australia’s matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Jade averaged 27.7 minutes per game. She averaged 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the basketball tournament.

Jade’s campaign started on a rough note as the Opals suffered a shock loss to Nigeria in their Paris 2024 opener. The Australian basketball player, who plays for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA, showed plenty of character to help Australia get their campaign back on track.

The Opals beat Canada and France in closely-fought encounters to finish second in Group B and qualify for the knockout stages.

Jade Melbourne was very impressive in the quarter-final clash with Serbia. She scored 18 points and registered five assists and four rebounds to emerge as the game-winner for the Opals, who won 85-67.

Although Australia lost to the USA 85-64 in the semi-finals, Jade proved decisive and recorded seven assists as the Opals beat Belgium 85-81 to win the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was the Opals’ first Olympic medal since London 2012.