Cole is a key member of the Australian women's team in 3x3, the half-court game that has been a major part of basketball culture for decades.

But proper international competition only started nine years ago and when Cole went to her first major tournament, she remembers learning the rules as the Australian team was playing.

Admission to the Olympics two years ago radically changed all that.

"This year, all of a sudden, 'Oh, it's an Olympic sport' - people are now paying more attention to it," Cole said

"I get it, it's new.

"Once you get a taste of it, you fall in love with it.

"It's an intense game, but it's only 10 minutes."

Cole has been in the national Opals squad and made last season's WNBL All-Star Five.

But 3x3 suits her game style better and the shooting guard was the tournament MVP last month as Australia won the Asia Cup.

Australia also won the men's competition, meaning the two teams will head to Amsterdam for next week's World Cup with growing confidence.

The top three out of the 20 teams in the two World Cup tournaments will progress to the Olympic qualifiers.

The Australian women are on a 12-game winning streak and Cole's dream of competing at the Olympics, which she has had since a 15-year-old, is starting to look very feasible.

"I'm really excited to see what we can do," Cole, 27, said.

"I really do think we have a chance."

The shooting guard has a theory why Australia is starting to make its mark in the 3x3 format.

"The No.1 thing is we're a country of 'we don't give up'," Cole said.

"3x3 is one of those things where you don't have time to give up.

"You don't have time to be tired - you can be tired tomorrow."

Dave Biwer, a former NBL player and now Basketball Australia's 3x3 talent pathway manager, said the World Cup is pivotal for their Olympic qualification campaigns.

"The players say 'How do we get in?' I say 'win'," Biwer said.

"This is an absolute milestone for us."

A key member of the men's team is Greg Hire, a four-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats, who retired from the NBL earlier this year.

Australian Associated Press