The Australian women’s basketball team lost to Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallists Japan in the first game of the Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024 at the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center in Sapporo, Japan on Thursday.

The Opals fell short 96-85 against the hosts. They will take on Japan once again in the second match of the series on Friday as both the sides gear up for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Amy Atwell finished as the top-scorer for the Opals with 21 points, which included three rebounds. Meanwhile, two-time Olympian Marianna Tolo chalked up 11 points and six assists.

Australia, world No. 3 in the latest FIBA women’s world rankings, came to the Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2024 in Japan on the back of a 2-1 success over world No. 2 the People’s Republic of China 2-1 away from home.

Lauren Nicholson, Shyla Heal, Alice Kunek, Marianna Tolo and Cayla George started the match for the Opals, who struggled to keep up with the pace of ninth-ranked Japan right from the first minute.

Despite Alice Kunek securing five points, Australia trailed Japan by 22-19 after the first quarter.

Lauren Nicholson bagged seven points in the second quarter but by half-time, the Japan women’s basketball team were able to increase their lead to nine points and led 52-41.

The Opals succeeded in closing the deficit down to just five points in the third quarter with the score at 69-64. However, the hosts held firm to their lead and went on to secure a 96-85 victory.

The Opals had suffered a 91-66 loss to Japan last year when they hosted the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup. The two sides had also met at the Rio 2016 Olympics when Australia came from 16 points down in the fourth quarter with just eight minutes left to win the preliminary round match 92-86.

The second Australia vs Japan women’s basketball match on Friday will also be held in Sapporo.