Young vet Melbourne ready to take Caps back to promised land

• The Canberra Capitals tip-off the WNBL season against the Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena on October 18
• Jade Melbourne has played five seasons with the Capitals and just finished her third season in the WNBA
• The 23-year-old has won an Olympic bronze medal and a FIBA Asia Cup gold with the Opals

The Canberra Capitals are building and it’s fair to say the team’s trajectory mirrors that of their star player Jade Melbourne.

Melbourne is back in Australia after completing her third WNBA season and is excited about the Capitals team which has been put together. Additions like Opal squad members Sara Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso, along with import Kadi Sissoko join Melbourne and Nyadiew Puoch, and young guns Monique Bobongie and Jayda Clark.

Canberra is shaping up as a true top four contender, with Melbourne’s loyalty and belief in the Capitals program paying dividends.

“I spoke with Gos [coach Paul Goriss] a lot in the offseason and you hear the calibre of names he's listing who are interested and you're like, ‘oh, let's go!’,” Melbourne told basketball.com.au.

“I appreciate the club, I've been there for five years now, so I've been super loyal to them, and it's because I love it there, honestly.

“The fact that people have seen that I love it there, they know Gos is a good coach and want to come be a part of it is great. We've had fun the last three years, even though we haven't been successful, so I feel like we've built a foundation of what we want Caps players to be, and we've brought in people that compliment that system, so I couldn't be more excited.”

Melbourne returns to Canberra an even better player than she was last year, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league considering the absolute nightmares she has given opposition players and coaches in the past. Her speed, shiftiness and the pure joy she exhibits on the court makes her arguably the most exciting player to watch in the league.

That improvement comes from playing with and against the best players in the world each and every day in the WNBA. After her latest WNBA season, Melbourne said she felt like she belonged for the first time, and her increased role with the Washington Mystics proved that.

“Honestly, this was the first year where I was like ‘I belong in the WNBA’,” she said.

“I felt consistent, and it was the first time I got consistent minutes and had a role that I played every game. Whether I was in the starting line-up or coming off the bench, I always knew what I had to do; I had to control the tempo for the team and be that energy burst they needed.

“I had a bigger defensive role, which was really cool too, but it was the first time where I felt kind of comfortable being in the WNBA.”

Her minutes rose from 14 per game in 2024 to 23.4 in 2025, and with a young core growing together in Washington, there’s exciting times ahead for the Mystics.

Whether it’s game day, a rest day or a practice day, Melbourne doesn’t pass up an opportunity to learn. It’s that mindset that has seen Melbourne build from being one of the rising stars in Australian basketball to last year becoming the starting point guard for the Opals on their magical run to Olympic bronze in Paris.

“In the WNBA, every day I feel like I'm getting better,” she said.

“Even if it's an off day, you can message a coach and you learn something from them, you can get workouts in, you can get in the weight room, there was always something to do and the facilities over there are incredible.

“We had access to a lot of stuff, but even if you're not playing, you're watching guards like Allisha Gray, Kelsey Mitchell and Kelsey Plum - you're an idiot if don’t take that opportunity to learn.”

Bringing those learnings back to the WNBL each season has seen Melbourne continue to level up and asked if the constant year-round schedule of going from one league to the other takes its toll, her passion for the sport and constant drive to improve overrides those sometimes draining days.

“I won't lie, there's moments during the year where it can be a bit of a drag, but honestly, I just love basketball,” she said.

“Gos said take as much time as you need at home [after the WNBA season] and I took eight days where I checked out and that's all I needed. I wanted to get up to Canberra because I love the people aspect and getting to meet new teammates.

“I'm a basketball junkie, so I just love being around it and continuing to improve my game, I feel guilty if I sit on the couch for too long. I love basketball and I just want to keep grabbing the next opportunity.”

That next opportunity might just be postseason basketball with the Capitals. Having last played in the finals in the 2021-22 season – a postseason run that was cut short as Canberra was unable to field a team due to a COVID-19 outbreak during their semi-final series against Perth – this Capitals team could have what it takes to return to the top end of the ladder.

“We're not shying away from saying we want to be a top four team,” coach Paul Goriss said.

“I think we've got the talent to definitely do that.”

While Melbourne is still one of the younger players on the team – just 23-years-old – her experience and resume speaks for itself, and Goriss knows she is only going to get better.

“She's a young veteran in the league, who plays an exciting style of basketball and her game is going to continue to flourish," he said.

Having teammates that truly fit her run and gun style is what I believe will see Melbourne take her game to the next level in season 2025-26. Perhaps the player that best suits playing alongside Melbourne is Puoch, a two-way monster who can shut down opponents on one end with her length, and on the other end her athleticism sees her get to the bucket with ease.

The Melbourne-Puoch duo is must-watch basketball, and the chemistry between the two is growing with each game played together.

“It’s just so exciting for me to watch her growth every game, I find myself saying, ‘oh, you can do that now’,” she said.

“Seeing her in preseason and the size of her shoulders, it’s clear she’s been in the weight room.

“We've got this connection now where I can give her an eyebrow lift and she knows where to cut, where to dive, or start sprinting and get on her horse. I think her game then compliments Sara's and compliments Kadi’s, so we've just got so many people who can do a lot of things.”

Melbourne also sent a warning to the rest of the league; “I think we're going to see a Nyadiew Puoch that the league is going to be worried about.”

With Canberra levelling up, they’ve set up a tantalising season-opener with another team that has rebuilt their roster around a talented point guard, the Southside Melbourne Flyers.

The Flyers have added two Opal squad members in Cayla George and Issie Bourne, to play alongside Maddy Rocci, and with these two teams set to face-off at John Cain Arena on October 18, you couldn’t find a better way to tip-off this new era of the WNBL.

“It will be sick,” Melbourne said of playing at John Cain Arena.

“I've got heaps of family and friends already coming along, which is cool. I've never played in that arena, I feel like I've watched so much basketball in there with Melbourne United and South East Melbourne in the NBL, so now to get an opportunity to play there is awesome.

“The calibre of talent is amazing, and you’ve got [sisters] Nyadiew and Manny Puoch going against each other, so I think it's an exciting game. Shout out to the WNBL for making it happen, I couldn't be more excited and I’m looking forward to starting the season off on the right foot.”

While the WNBL season is at the forefront of Melbourne’s mind, less than 12 months out from a World Cup, Melbourne also has her sights set on another Opals jersey, and another podium finish next year.

“There’s so much Australian talent coming through and I’m sure some players will stand out in WNBL season that'll get added to the Opals list, so I think it’s going to be a selection nightmare,” she said.

“Another podium finish is definitely what we're aiming for.

“I just want to get back in the green and gold, get amongst the sisterhood and get cracking again because it's the best feeling ever.”

Whether in the WNBA, WNBL or with the Opals, Melbourne is going to put on a show and have fun doing it. For those following along for the ride, savour every eye-popping pass, tough finish at the bucket and long-range bomb because she really is one of one.

About the Author

Hayley Wildes is passionate about all things Australian women’s basketball and loves to highlight the stories of players from all levels and competitions across the globe. From our own backyard in the WNBL, to the WNBA and the Opals, and everything in between, Hayley has you covered.