From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Canberra TransACT Capitals
Team Logo
Founded:	1984
Home Court:	Southern Cross Stadium, Canberra AIS Arena, Canberra
Colours:	Home: Navy/Teale Away: Teale/Navy
WNBL Championships:	2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
Head coach:	Carrie Graf
General manager:	Mark Cartwright
Mascot:	Ace the dog

The Canberra TransACT Capitals are an Australian Women's Basketball League (WNBL) team based in Canberra, Australia. TransACT Communications is the current naming rights sponsor for the Canberra Capitals.

Contents 1 History 2 Players of note 2.1 Retired numbers 2.2 Not to be forgotten 2.3 Current Roster 3 2006/07 Season 4 Coaches and others 5 External links

Founded in 1984, the Capitals have recently been a dominant team in Australia, due in part to the ascension of one of the all-time best basketball players in Lauren Jackson. They have won the Grand Final in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007 and were in the final in 2001.

In the 1999/2000 season, the Canberra Capitals qualified for the WNBL grand final and defeated Adelaide Lightning on their home ground. The team also reached the WNBL grand final in the 2000/2001 season. The game was held in front of a sell out crowd at the AIS Arena. The Capitals held a commanding lead at half time but in the end were beaten by the Sydney Panthers.

The Capitals beat the Sydney Panthers in the 2001/2002 grand final, and the Sydney Flames in the 2002/2003 grand final. After two disappointing years, they reached the 2005/2006 WNBL Grand Final, where they defeated Dandenong Rangers 68-55.

With the departure of Lauren Jackson and retirement of captain Eleanor Sharp, Jessica Bibby formerly from the Dandenong Rangers has been recruited as the first sign-up for the 2006/2007 season. Unfortunately, another new signing in American import Jackie Stiles has proven to be less successful, with Stiles and the Capitals management agreeing to an early release from her contract early after a succession of injuries.

• Tully Bevilaqua
• Kellie Abrams
• Natalie Hurst
• Donna Loffhagen

• Lauren Jackson
• Kristen Veal
• Shelley Sandie
• Eleanor Sharp

Pos	#	Nat	Name	Height	Date of Birth	From
C/F	4		Kiera Shiels	190	2 May 1988	Hobart, Tasmania
F	6		Caitlin Cunningham	191	17 January 1986	Melbourne, Victoria
G	7		Natalie Hurst	163	8 April 1983	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
F	9		Peta Sinclair	187	29 August 1983	Sydney, New South Wales
C/F	10		Abby Bishop	189	29 November 1988	Booleroo, South Australia
G	11		Jessica Bibby	169cm	23 August 1979	Melbourne, Victoria
F	12		Michaela Dalgliesh	179	22 August 1983	Frankston, Victoria
G	13		Kellie Abrams	175	10 December 1978	Ballarat, Victoria
G	21		Jackie Stiles	173	21 December 1978	Kansas, USA
F	22		Donna Loffhagen	185	29 April 1978	Christchurch, New Zealand
C	25		Tracey Beatty	202	9 March 1979	Victor Harbour, South Australia
F	32		Kylie Langi	178	16 December 1980	Brisbane, Queensland
G	44		Tully Bevilaqua	164	19 July 1972	Merredin, Western Australia

The Canberra Capitals finished the regular season in second place, behind the Sydney University Flames, having lost only one home game. They were defeated by the Flames in the semifinal, but defeated the Adelaide Lightning in the preliminary final to earn the right to face the Flames at the Penrith Sports Stadium on February 17, 2007.

The Capitals defeated the more favoured Flames 73-59, with Natalie Hurst contributing 15 points to lead the scoring. This represented the Capitals' fourth WNBL title in the past six years.

• Carrie Graf (2003-Present)
• Tom Maher (2002-2003)

• Official Canberra TransACT Capitals Website
• Capitals WNBL site