One of the most influential figures in Canberra Capitals history has parted ways with the club after Carrie Graf left her role as the University of Canberra's director of sport.
Graf spent 15 seasons at the helm of the Capitals, guiding the WNBL's most successful club to six of its nine championships.
The coaching great led the Australian Opals to an Olympic Games bronze medal in 2012, but said missing out on the development of her twins, Charli and Bentley, convinced her it was the right time to walk away when she gave up coaching a decade ago.
The Australian basketball icon then oversaw the Capitals program in a new role, serving as the university's director of sport for the past eight years.
University of Canberra officials have confirmed the role would not be filled following Graf's exit.
Graf has been contacted for comment.
Canberra coach Paul Goriss is now leading a new-look team into the WNBL season with Capitals general manager Christy Collier-Hill calling the shots from front office.
The Capitals will now turn their attention to a WNBL season opener against Jade Melbourne and the Bendigo Spirit at the AIS Arena on October 17.
The Capitals kicked off their pre-season campaign in Townsville with a 90-86 loss to Geelong and an 85-70 victory over Southside, with Canberra boosted by the late arrival of sharpshooter Amy Atwell.
"It was literally Amy's first practice today. She came in on the flight on Thursday, and flew to Townsville on Friday without any practices with the team," Goriss said earlier this week.
"Just building her up load-wise, she wanted to play in the second game, so we limited her to a quarter. You could see the glimpses of what she can bring, and we all know how good of a shooter she is.
"The next four weeks is bringing her up to speed with how we want to play, how we integrate playing with her. I'm really excited.
"I think she's in some of the best shape of her career. I think that we can add another level to her game at both sides of the floor.
"[In] three-on-three, you're on an island, it's one-on-one, and so challenging her at the defensive end of the floor is going to be our mission this year. But she's going to have the green light for us to score at will."
Darrin Borthwick had just told his preliminary final-bound Canberra Raiders squad how much he loved the group and how much he enjoyed spending time with them during an NRLW finals tilt. But this might have been a step too far.
Because on the way back from Sydney last week, Canberra's Raiders-branded Murrays bus broke down. The group was momentarily stranded on the side of the road and had to be split in half for a return home, which was delayed by almost three hours.
"The bus started to miss a few beats, and we were sort of all looking up at each other. At the time I said to the girls, I said to them on Thursday before captain's run, 'I love this group. I love spending time with you,'" Borthwick said.
"I actually said that on the bus, 'I know I said I wanted to spend more time with you, but this has taken it a bit too far.' I guess it all added to the experience of coming back from Sydney with a win. We had to quickly get off the bus, and there was a couple of Murrays coaches on the way back from Sydney, so half the group had to split up."
Borthwick will be hoping for a more joyful trip home this week ahead of Canberra's preliminary final showdown against the Sydney Roosters in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Raiders will chase a seismic upset with a groundswell of support behind them after kids traded school uniforms for Canberra jerseys this week - because one of their teachers is chasing a premiership with the Green Machine.
Raiders lock Chloe Saunders works as a teacher at Queanbeyan Public School - a stone's throw from the butcher famous for green sausages - so students were called on to wear green to school on Thursday.
Former Queanbeyan Tigers star Lexi Hamilton has signed a new deal to stay with the Sydney Swans, following her sister in committing to the AFLW side.
Swans vice-captain Cynthia Hamilton has already penned a new deal which keeps her in Sydney until the end of 2029, with Lexi Hamilton now re-signing until the end of 2027.
You'd have to think it's only a matter of time before younger sister Billie Hamilton is joining them on the AFLW scene, while brother Riley Hamilton earned a Rising Star nomination after making his AFL debut for the GWS Giants this year. Oh, and sister Jayde Hamilton just clinched her second Bainrot Medal as AFL Canberra's best and fairest.
"I love the direction that the club is going in, I've always known that I wanted to stay here for a really long period of time," Lexi Hamilton said.
"Having such a successful start to the season and being able to extend that onto next year is something so exciting.
"This football club has become my family, so although Cynthia, my true blood sister is here, I've got all my Bloods sisters with me, and I think it's been awesome to showcase what we've been able to do this season."
Josh Ayers winces his way through a conversation with two broken ribs, and figures a grand final win is a "good way to finish, mate."
You saw the Queanbeyan Kangaroos veteran battle through pain to help his side clinch the Canberra Raiders Cup with a grand final win over the Queanbeyan Blues last weekend. Now we can revel the price Ayers paid for a premiership.
"[Rib] cartilage is all screwed, so I'm waiting to get back in and see them and see what they want to do next. They said I tore all the muscles in my stomach, too," Ayers said.
"Not fun. They don't feel too bad when they're back in place, but when they pop out... not a real good feeling.
"I knew. I was thinking straight away, 'Oh, this is going to be a long afternoon.'"
Ayers finishes with two premierships for the Kangaroos - having ended what many figured just had to be a grand final curse two years ago - and now he'll sit back and watch an old coach chase his own.
Because when Ayers captained the Gungahlin Bulls in the 2008 grand final, the coach calling the shots was current Newcastle Knights coach Justin Holbrook.
Talk about a whirlwind 24 hours for Tehya Aspland.
The emerging soccer star has been named in the Junior Matildas squad for the under 17s FIFA World Cup in Morocco - and just hours later was unveiled as Canberra United's newest signing.
The Canberra United deal marks Aspland's first A-League contract, but her attention quickly shifts back to a shot at a World Cup, with an opener against Chile looming on October 19.
"We know that a World Cup presents a different level of challenge and that each of our opponents will provide a unique test," Junior Matildas coach Michael Cooper said.
"For the players, this is an opportunity to compete against some of the best young players in the world, learn from the experience and represent Australia with pride. We want them to embrace the challenge and make the most of what is a very special opportunity."
One of the world's fastest bowlers is bound for Manuka Oval - and he has set his sights on a date with English "big dog" Ben Stokes in Canberra.
New Zealand international Lockie Ferguson - lauded as one of the best Twenty20 quicks in the world - has signed a Big Bash deal with the Sydney Thunder.
Now he is on course to face Stokes and the Adelaide Strikers when the Thunder open their Big Bash campaign at Manuka Oval on December 16 - and he is relishing the chance to take on an international superstar.
"Definitely, especially if the ball swings. It's something I do like about the Big Bash, if the ball does swing up top. He is a big-dog player," Ferguson said.
"The first game's going to be a challenging one. That was my first game when I played for the Thunder as well, and I think Canberra is a great oval, Manuka Oval's a fantastic oval."
Ferguson joins a Thunder squad headlined by David Warner, with the club to play two Big Bash games in Canberra. The Sydney Sixers will also host a game at Manuka Oval.
"I've only played against Davey, and I really knitted in well with him. I think it's pretty exceptional the energy he brings every training session and game," Ferguson said. "There's a reason why he was at the top of the game for such a long time and top of the world, and still is in a way."
.png?w=600)
