After a dodgy start, the Opals have got their campaign back on track. They are now just one step away from repeating their 2008 heroics and two steps from scripting history. While the offensive unit comprising Sami Whitcomb and Steph Talbot has spearheaded the scoring charts, patrolling the paint rests on the shoulders of the 3x WNBL Champion Center Marianna Tolo.

Gracing the Olympic stage for the third time, the 35-year-old aims to grab an Olympic medal with the Opals for the first time. Especially, when she has had such an illustrious career to show for. During which, she has rightfully earned the recognition of being a veteran of the sport. Having said that, she did have to toil through a lot of adversities along the way.

The humble beginnings of Marianna Tolo

Born in Mackay, Queensland, on July 2nd, 1989, Tolo first arrived at the scene in 2003 representing the Queensland North squad at the Australian U16 Championships. Following this, she continued to do so till 2008 and was a permanent member of the squad till the U20 Championships. Simultaneously, she also made her way to the Australian Institute of Sport. Earning a scholarship, Tolo played 2 seasons for the AIS squads in the WNBL.

Graduating her way into the WNBL, the Canberra Capitals scouted the 6’5 feet forward/center in 2008. Despite coming off the bench as a rookie, her contributions played a vital hand in the franchise lifting the WNBL title that year. The subsequent season saw her game grow to another level. In a game against Townsville Fire, Tolo blocked 13 shots which became a WNBL record. Similar performances throughout made her team’s season MVP as the Capitals pulled off their second straight championship.

Averaging 13.4 points to go along with 8.4 rebounds meant that another MVP honor awaited her. In addition to this, she also made it to the WNBL All-Star Five. Sadly, the Canberra Capitals didn’t fulfill their quest for a three-peat as the Capitals lost to Bulleen Boomers in the Grand Finals.

Then for years, she participated overseas in various leagues that also included a brief stay at the LA Sparks in 2015. Then made her return to the Capitals in 2016 now as a much more experienced campaigner. After grabbing the 2017 WNBL Defensive Player of the Year, she was made the co-captain for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. As a result, the Capitals got their name on the titles for 2 years in a row yet again.

While things were rolling pretty smoothly for her professionally, her struggles continued when it came to her participation in the national team.

Tolo overcoming the national challenges

Making her first appearance for the junior national team, Marianna Tolo has had her fair share of participation. Just a year after the the 2006 FIBA Oceania U19 Championships, she was deemed worthy to be included in the senior squad chosen for the 2007 FIBA Oceania Women’s Championships. Then, in 2010, she was shortlisted for the first time to be at the FIBA Women’s World Championships. And, for the next 2 years was a part of the regular roster in the national squad.

Unfortunately, despite being a member of the 2012 Summer Olympics qualifying team, her name was sidelined for the London Olympics. “In the leadup to 2012, I went to every meetup, every training camp and I think I only missed 1 game in that whole 4 years thanks to a rolled ankle.” Recapping that experience, Tolo said in an interview. “When it came down to it, I didn’t make the team. I was one of the last 3 cuts and it wasn’t from anything outrageous – I just wasn’t good enough and wasn’t in the right position. That was really heartbreaking and I learned a lot of things from that process”. 

Nonetheless, Marianna Tolo signed up for national duty in 2014 at the FIBA World Championships. Scoring 12.2 points per game while shooting 56% of her field goals helped the Opals secure a bronze medal at the event. Sadly, adversity struck again. Just 11 months before the Rio Olympics, the 6 ft 5 in tore her ACL in a game against Indiana. In spite of that, she recovered and fulfilled her dream to feature at the Olympics. The Opals, however, were knocked down in the quarterfinals.

Their dismal show at the Tokyo Olympics didn’t stop Tolo from leading the squad to a bronze medal again at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney. Since then, Marianna Tolo has been among the team’s best-performing players on an international stage.

Build up to the Paris Olympics and the follow-up

Securing the Most Impressive Player award in Australia’s two-game tour of Japan set the tone for Marianna Tolo. After arriving in Paris, she spent an average of 8.1 minutes on the hardwood and scored 33 points in total. In addition to this, she is shooting 63.6% of her field goals while collecting almost 2 rebounds per contest.

Hardly anyone would argue that Tolo’s leadership and intimate knowledge of an international contest will be key to Australia’s success. They will be needing it in an uphill task against 9x Olympic champs Team USA in their semi-final bout.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.