BASKETBALL
WNBL
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE first month of the latest WNBL season has passed.
UC Capitals currently sit second bottom on the ladder, despite team captain and Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne leading from the front.
The Capitals have won just twice from their first six games, beginning with a nine-point victory over Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena, where Melbourne poured in 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
They then fell in their next four games, with Melbourne struggling from the field in most of those outings.
The Capitals rebounded with a 40-point home victory over Sydney Flames at the weekend at AIS Arena.
Melbourne finished with 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
Despite the tough start, the Traralgon star currently sits second in the league for assists with an average of 6.6 per game.
Returning home from her third WNBA season, Melbourne has been entrusted with higher leadership responsibilities as she goes through her sixth season in Australia’s top women’s basketball competition.
Melbourne was heavily involved in recruitment, with the likes of Opals pair Zitina Aokuso and Sara Blicavs (sister of Geelong AFL premiership player Mark) arriving as means to push the franchise into a winning position.
“I’ve loved every teammate that I’ve had the opportunity to play with at the Caps, but I’m also someone that’s been sick of losing the last few years,” Melbourne told CODE Sports in the lead up to the WNBL season.
“I really want to be in a team that’s contending for finals.”
Even with her efforts both on and off the court, it has yet to translate to early success this year.
Despite only one additional win thus far, Geelong Venom sit within the top five to begin its second season in the WNBL.
Having changed names from United to Venom during the offseason, Moe’s Jaz Shelley is once again on deck.
Since the backend of her debut season in the WNBL last year, Shelley has been given extended opportunities despite Geelong only claiming two wins thus far through the first six games.
The Venom blew out Adelaide Lightning in Round 2 and also passed Perth Lynx by 19 points on Tuesday, November 11.
Some close calls resulted in Geelong missing out on two additional wins early in the season, including a one-point loss to Perth in its first bout.
They would then pick up an important 12-point win over Southside Flyers last week to push them up the ladder early on in the season.
Shelley finished with 15 points, four assists and three steals on the night.
The Moe export is currently averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game, while also sitting second in the league for steals, with Melbourne just behind her.
