"My body was starting to get pretty sore after training and I'm getting slow out there," she said.

"I know I can still get my shot off but I'm slow getting up and down," Snell added.

Snell is the only original member of the Opals team which won gold in Melbourne in 2006, it was the only previous time basketball had been held at the Games.

The 37-year-old has an international career spanning over 10 years and was part of two silver medal and one bronze medal winning teams at the Summer Olympics.

In the gold medal match against England, the Opals were rarely challenged with the only problem occurring when Elizabeth Cambage being ejected from the game for an unprofessional and technical foul.

The Opals, who had not scored under 100 points on their road to the match, were determined to win and they did with Snell coming away from the match with nine points in the Opals 44 point win. 

It was a bittersweet win for Snell, who was left out of the Rio 2016 Olympic squad.

"You play the sport to win gold medals and I'm just so grateful for Sandy Brondello and for Basketball Australia for giving me this opportunity to get back out there," she said.

"I can't wait to share this moment with the girls."

While Snell departs, leaving the Opals as a gold medalist, she can see the next generation of players coming through the squad.

"There's some absolute superstars coming through," she said

"That test is still there for us to get gold at the Olympics as we've fallen short with silver quite a few times."

Snell became the first person to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals in basketball.