Canberra Capitals Initiate Contract Negotiations Following Season of Frustration
The Canberra Capitals have commenced preliminary discussions with several star players in a bid to rebuild the team for the 2026-27 WNBL season, following a campaign marred by injuries that ultimately dashed their finals aspirations. Coach Paul Goriss is already looking ahead, targeting key personnel to retain in Capitals colours beyond the current season, which concludes with a home game against Geelong at the AIS Arena this Saturday.
Injury Toll Derails Championship Ambitions
The Capitals' roster, headlined by marquee players Jade Melbourne and Zitina Aokuso, was severely impacted by a gruelling injury toll throughout the season. Melbourne missed a month of action after undergoing hand surgery, while Aokuso was sidelined during the opening stages of the competition. The team's challenges were compounded by the unexpected overseas departure of Sara Blicavs, leaving Canberra without their three biggest stars for significant portions of the campaign.
Most recently, Kadi Sissoko was ruled out of the crucial loss to Southside that mathematically eliminated the Capitals from playoff contention. There remains some optimism that Sissoko could return for the final game, with Teige Morrell likely to be managed on restricted minutes.
Coach Goriss Reflects on Missed Opportunities
Two-time championship-winning coach Paul Goriss acknowledged the frustration of a season filled with what could have been moments, particularly highlighting games where the Capitals fell short despite having winning opportunities.
"I've spoken to them at times about missed opportunities in games we should have won or competed a little better. Those are the games that come back to bite you at the end of the season when you're trying to build wins and momentum," Goriss explained.
"That lack of continuity really hurt us. We seemed to be changing our line-up every second week due to injuries. To me, this has been a season defined by missed opportunities."
Despite the disappointment, Goriss confirmed that the club has already begun initial negotiations with targeted players they hope to retain for next season.
"We've started having those early discussions with some of the players we're targeting to stay. Those conversations are ongoing with both the players and their agents," Goriss revealed.
"Obviously we still have one game remaining. The players and coaching staff want to get through that final match, but we've at least initiated talks with those we want to bring back for the next campaign."
Melbourne Determined to Finish Strong
Franchise face Jade Melbourne expressed her determination to end the season on a positive note, having previously signalled her commitment to being part of a championship-winning roster in Canberra.
"When we actually had our full roster available, we started the season 5-0. It's pretty disappointing to look back and think about what could have been, but that's sport, that's reality, that's life. This wasn't the season we all hoped for," Melbourne stated.
"We genuinely believed we had the team this year that could compete for the championship. I think we owe it to ourselves to get the full roster together in front of a packed-out crowd and finish this season with a good feeling about it."
Strong Fan Support Despite Results
In a positive sign for the franchise, more than 3,000 tickets have already been sold for Canberra's final home game of the season. This demonstrates continued strong fan support despite the team's mixed results on the court throughout the campaign.
The Capitals will now look to build momentum from their final game as they begin planning for a more successful 2026-27 WNBL season, with player retention and recruitment at the forefront of their strategy.
