Opal Jade Melbourne says the WNBL is building a reputation for turning WNBA bench-warmers into stars.<\/p>\n
The WNBL tips off on Saturday with a clash between the UC Capitals and Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena, with the game being touted as the biggest season opener in the competition’s history.<\/p>\n
This WNBL campaign will feature at least 10 players who participated in the 2025 WNBA season.<\/p>\n
Several players have recently taken part in the WNBL and gone on to have successful stints in the US, including 2025 WNBA champion Jackie Young and All-Star Kayla Thornton.<\/p>\n
“The coolest thing about the WNBL is it gives WNBA players real exposure to work on their game,” Capitals captain Melbourne told AAP.<\/p>\n
“Girls who come off the bench and play limited roles in the WNBA are coming over here to seek that opportunity and really get on their game.<\/p>\n
“We’ve seen girls come over here and then have career-best years in the WNBA.<\/p>\n
“They get exposure to the Australian style of basketball, and we get to show what we’re like down here.<\/p>\n
“That’s the reputation that the league’s building.”<\/p>\n
The Capitals have recruited experienced heads for this season, bringing in Opals Sara Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso, and former Phoenix Mercury forward Kadi Sissoko.<\/p>\n
Capitals coach Paul Goriss came up to Melbourne during the WNBL pre-season tournament to share a simple message, saying “we are going to be so good this year”.<\/p>\n
Melbourne noted Goriss’ words boosted her belief the team, who have won a record nine WNBL titles, can return to finals for the first time since 2022.<\/p>\n
“He (Goriss) cares, and he wants to see the best for you. He sees a lot of potential in you that you might not see in yourself,” the 23-year-old said.<\/p>\n
“We went through a big year last year. We put Canberra back in a position that we wanted it to be, and that’s being in finals contention, getting the crowd and the support back on track.”<\/p>\n
Bendigo Spirit are looking to become back-to-back WNBL champions, 11 years after the club achieved the feat.<\/p>\n
However co-captain Marianna Tolo admits it will be hard without 2024 league MVP Sami Whitcomb, the WNBA’s most improved player Veronica Burton, and Kelly Wilson (pregnant).<\/p>\n
“It’s hard. Every player is different, and you can’t expect that someone’s going to do the same thing as someone else,” Tolo told AAP.<\/p>\n
“While we have lost, we’ve gained a lot in Izzy Borlase, Kelsey Rees, and Olivia Pollerd, some girls who have come back from college, which is a really tough experience.”<\/p>\n
Sydney Flames’ Keely Froling is also buzzing to get back on the court after missing out on much of last season with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
“It feels like a really long time since I played,” she told AAP.<\/p>\n
“Last season, I had a meniscus injury, which wasn’t huge, but it needed surgery. It was one of those ones we couldn’t really avoid.”<\/p>\n
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