Jayda Clark is back and better than ever

• Jayda Clark missed the entire 2024-25 season with an ACL injury
• Clark was a standout junior, having represented Australia in both FIBA U17 and U19 World Cups
• 2025-26 WNBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker

In a league full of young stars, Jayda Clark is set to reintroduce herself as exactly that as she returns to the WNBL after missing last season with an ACL injury.

Clark, still just 20-years-old, will play a vital role in the Canberra Capitals push for postseason basketball and having worked on making small gains to her game while sidelined, her form at the Townsville Tip Off proved she is ready to take the next step in her career.

“I did all my rehab at WAIS [Western Australian Institute of Sport], and I had a great coach in Shane McDonald who helped me immensely throughout that time,” Clark told basketball.com.au.

“I got to work on little things like my ball-handling, my shooting, really locking into my shooting form and just all the little details of my game.

“It was nice to have a long breakdown of skill work that you wouldn't really get during a normal year because as women basketball players, you don't get an offseason to work on all these things, you just have to keep grinding away.”

There’s no doubt she has become a better player, and those who were in Townsville a couple of weeks ago saw a confident and dangerous Clark in action. Whether she was grabbing rebounds herself and getting out in transition, cutting hard to the bucket and finishing strongly, or setting the table for her teammates as she was often tasked with bringing the ball up the court, Clark’s versatility was on full display.

Those traits were what saw Clark become a stand-out junior, representing Australia at under-17 and under-19 World Cups, and now having gone through the lows of a major injury and rebuilding herself back up, she has a newfound belief that the work she has been putting in will pay off.

“An ACL injury is never fun – it's a long, long journey, but it definitely gives me faith in everything I’ve been doing to be honest,” she said.

“You learn so much about yourself, you learn so much about your body, so it's a bit of a blessing in disguise because you have to face so much adversity and deal with it.

“It definitely was really hard, there were a lot of traumatic moments during that rehab process, but looking back now I've come out of it a better person, better physically, better mentally and a better basketball player.”

The process of coming back was tough, but when Clark eventually got back on court - for the Perry Lakes Hawks in the NBL1 West this past season - her impact was profound, scoring in double-figures in every game played and averaging 18.6 points, six rebounds and five assists per game.

She felt better than ever after finding her groove.

“I think it took a little while just because mentally I was still struggling, that trauma was still there, but I was seeing a sports psych which was helping,” she said.

“Once I got a couple of games under my belt I was like, ‘you know what, I'm feeling so much better, I'm feeling the best I've ever felt on court’.

“I felt lighter and stronger, so it was just nice to feel that way again, I almost felt like my 15-year-old self. It was nice, I hadn't felt like that in a long time, so seeing results and seeing all your hard work pay off is always super rewarding.”

With the Capitals having one of the best offseasons in the league, recruiting Opal squad members Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs, as well as import Kadi Sissoko, to play alongside the likes of Jade Melbourne, Nyadiew Puoch, Nicole Munger and Clark, there is serious star power and depth in Canberra.

Understandably so, Clark is bullish about the Capitals’ chances and being able to learn from experienced new teammates in Blicavs and Aokuso every day is indispensable.

“The team is full of positive vibes, everyone's a great human being and a great player,” she said.

“I feel like we're looking really good, preseason has been great and super competitive, but I’m just super excited to get the season started.

“[Blicavs and Aokuso] have been through the Opals program, had so many different experiences, they’ve overcome injuries as well – you look at Sara who has been out for a year, just being able to look up to them and ask them questions is amazing.”

For coach Paul Goriss, he’s looking forward to seeing Clark flourish in season 2025-26.

“I think we only got a taste of what Jayda can do in her first season with the Caps (in 2023/24),” Goriss told basketball.com.au.

“She’s done a truckload of work since the ACL injury, so I think everyone will see a new and improved version of Jayda Clark.

“It's exciting to have her back because I think she's a real talent of the WNBL.”

A real talent, Jayda Clark certainly is.

Having put in the work over the past 18 months to get back on a WNBL court, now is her time to shine.

The Capitals start their season against the Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena on October 18. Click here for tickets.

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.