A powerful new documentary series is set to reveal the deeply personal journeys of WNBL stars, including Canberra Capitals players Nyadiew Puoch and Jade Melbourne, with one emotional moment showing Puoch breaking down while discussing her mother's influence on her career.
Beyond the Game: Personal Stories Revealed
The four-part documentary series, Beyond the WNBL, launches on YouTube on Thursday, November 20, 2025, offering basketball fans an intimate look at the lives of top players both on and off the court. The series features Puoch, Melbourne, Shaneice Swain, and Cayla George, exploring the pressures, passions, and personal challenges that drive these elite athletes.
In one of the documentary's most moving scenes, 21-year-old Puoch becomes emotional while reflecting on her mother Nyakong's journey and the cultural barriers they've overcome together. "My mum was born in Kenya and then she moved to South Sudan," Puoch shares in the documentary. "From South Sudan she moved to Australia with my dad and my two brothers and then they started a life here."
Breaking Cultural Barriers
Puoch, one of seven children, explained how her mother defied cultural expectations to support her basketball dreams. "In our culture it's not normal what we're doing," she revealed. "They're not fine with girls going off and being basketball players. You need to make coffee for the men, you need to cook and do all that."
The talented Opal credits her mother's own life experiences for creating opportunities that previous generations couldn't imagine. "For me growing up, my mum was incredible, she let us do whatever," Puoch said. "My mum let me follow my dreams. Because she moved away from home when she was young and had her own journey and believed in herself, she let me do it, and let me be free."
New Era for Women's Basketball
The documentary comes during a period of significant transformation for the WNBL, filmed last season before new ownership took control of the league. The consortium comprising the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the NBL has brought renewed optimism to clubs, players, coaches and fans alike.
WNBL co-owner Victoria Denholm, who was instrumental in creating the documentary series alongside Emmy-nominated director Shauna Keogh and Canberra filmmaker Lachlan Ross, emphasised the importance of sharing these stories. "Our players and their stories have been the best-kept secrets in Australian sport for too long," Denholm stated. "These episodes are an opportunity to broadcast these stories to the world and get to know them on and off the court."
Executive producer Keogh, known for her work on The Matildas: World At Our Feet, noted the commitment from new ownership to advance the league. "I've spent my career telling stories that put women in sport at the centre," Keogh said. "From the very first meeting with Victoria Denholm, the new ownership group and WNBL chief executive Jennie Sager, it was clear we shared a vision for what this league and its athletes deserve."
The ownership shift has already produced tangible benefits for the competition, including:
- Increased player salaries
- A new broadcast deal
- Enhanced promotion and global exposure
- Growing crowd attendances
- Improved collaboration with the NBL
Beyond the emotional family stories, the documentary also showcases lighter moments, including Jade Melbourne's unique pre-bedtime routine of working on her shooting technique and her hobby of collecting and building Lego.
Keogh highlighted the broader significance of showcasing female athletes in documentary format. "Seeing female athletes on screen shows girls and women that sport is a real career path, builds powerful role models and drives the visibility and investment needed to grow the game," she explained.
The documentary series represents part of a growing movement to elevate women's sport in Australia, following the success of similar projects in other codes and coming at a time when the WNBL is positioned for unprecedented growth and recognition.
