13
Oct
Explainer
Canberra Capitals: Five things you need to know
Sheer dominance the Canberra Capitals, UC Capitals look to extend their winning legacy
- The UC Capitals have a league record nine WNBL titles
- Greatest Australian Basketballer of all time Lauren Jackson played mainly for this franchise
- The Capitals had a roster revamp this offseason
The UC Capitals enter the 2025-26 season as the benchmark of excellence in the WNBL.
After a dominant run over the past two decades and back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020,The UC Capitals enter the 2025-26 season riding the momentum of a highly active offseason, determined to reinforce their position as the WNBL’s benchmark franchise.
2024-25 Season Summary
- Record (8-13)
- Finish 5th (Missed postseason)
- All NBL Selections: Jade Melbourne (Second team)
French import Kadi Sissoko is one of the most intriguing players in the league this season and adds length and athleticism inside, while other additions Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs stabilise the frontcourt. The Capitals now have the firepower needed to be a real threat in the league, but still have issues to address. Last season, they allowed the most points in the entire league, so will need a defensive improvement both internally and from these new additions.
2025-26 UC Capitals WNBL Roster
Head Coach: Paul Goriss
- Monique Bobongie
- Jayda Clark
- Jade Melbourne
- Nyadiew Puoch
- Zitina Aokuso
- Sara Blicavs
- Kadi Sissoko
- Teige Morrell
- Isabella Brancatisano
- Nicole Munger
- Zara Russell
- Abby Solway
- Sharn Hayward
- Tayha Watkins
- INS: Zitina Aokuso; Sara Blicavs; Kadi Sissoko; Teige Morrell; Isabella Brancatisano; Zara Russell; and Abby Solway
- OUTS: Ella Tofaeono
UC Capitals History
The University of Canberra Capitals were founded in 1984 as the Canberra Capitals and joined the WNBL in 1986. Their early years were marked by struggles to establish themselves, with inconsistent results and several coaching changes throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. They only reached the finals in one of their first fourteen seasons.
Their status would flip on its head entirely at the turn of the century however with a 20 year stretch of league dominance. This culture shift was spearheaded by Lauren Jackson joining the team in 1999. The greatest Australian basketball player of all time won MVP in her first season with the Capitals and catapulted the team all the way to win their first championship.
The Capitals duplicated this feat in 2002 and 2003, with Kristen Veal forming a dynamic duo with Jackson. After a few close calls, the Lauren Jackson Canberra era would come to a close on a high note, delivering the nations capital their 4th title in 2006. During this dynasty, Jackson had one of the most impressive runs in WNBL history with a total of 6 All-WNBL teams in a row and 3 WNBL MVPs before moving overseas where she would dominate.
Without Jackson, the Caps were able to run a more team based system and repeated with no players making the all WNBL team, a true testament to the system being built in Canberra.
The winning once again did not end here, with the depth and strength of the Capitals roster leading to them outclassing the rest of the league in 2009 and 2010, with Abby Bishop as their leader.
Finally, in 2012 the Capitals took a break from demolishing the league and missed the finals seven seasons in a row, with Lauren Jackson re-joining the team for a few years but being unable to boost the team to many wins.
In 2019, the Capitals went on a singing spree, shaking up their entire roster and bringing in several stars. At first, many were sceptical about how the roster would fit together and injury concerns were at the forefront of many analysts' predictions. Once the season started however, Canberra never looked back, with recent signee Kelsey Griffin winning league MVP and helping raise the franchises 8th banner.
The Capitals repeated the next season, with Canadian import Kia Nurse winning the league MVP. Canberra came back from a 12 point deficit in the last game of the Grand Final to win the team’s 9th title in 20 years.
Five Fast Facts
- Lauren Jackson is a 3x WNBA MVP and 2x WNBA championships and is widely regarded as a top 5 Women's basketball player of all time
- Jade Melbourne led the league in assists last season
- Kia Nurse was the first international player to ever win league MVP
- The Capitals have an astonishing 75% win percentage in the finals
- Lauren Jackson’s 4.3 blocks per game in the 2001 in the most in WNBL history
Club Timeline
- 1984: Club founded as the Canberra Capitals
- 1986-1999: Early years marked by struggles
- 1999: Lauren Jackson joins the Capitals, wins league MVP, leads team to their first WNBL championship
- 2002: Capitals win second championship
- 2003: Capitals repeat as champions,
- 2006: Capitals win 4th title, concluding the first Lauren Jackson Canberra era
- 2009: Capitals win 5th championship
- 2010: Capitals repeat as champions for 6th title
- 2012-2018: Period of rebuilding
- 2019: Capitals overhaul roster Griffin wins league MVP and leads team to 8th WNBL championship
- 2019-20: Capitals win 9th title, Kia Nurse earns league MVP
The UC Capitals head into WNBL26 with the most prolific history in the WNBL. Following two decades of sustained success and continued titles, Canberra comes off a busy offseason with both young talent and proven players to surround their budding star Jade Melbourne and reassert themselves as a winning team that the organisation and strong fanbase has been used to.
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- Canberra Capitals: Five things you need to know
