2026/27 UC Capitals Coaching Staff

The UC Capitals have confirmed their coaching staff for the 2026/27 WNBL season, with Paul Goriss leading the group as Head Coach alongside Lead Assistant Coach Nat Hurst, Assistant Coach Aidan Barnett and Development Coach Abbie Ketels.

The coaching group has spent the preseason preparing the squad for the campaign ahead, with the Capitals set to bring an up-tempo style of basketball to the court.

Goriss said the team’s depth and ability to score across the roster would be key to the way the Capitals approach the season.

“We want to play fast, shoot a lot of threes, and I think it’ll be a fun, exciting style for the fans to watch,” Goriss said.

Hurst continues her journey with the Capitals as Lead Assistant Coach, bringing a strong connection to the club.

“The Capitals have always been home for me, so it’s a privilege to continue working with this group,” Hurst said. “I’m looking forward to helping our players develop and giving our fans plenty to cheer about this season.”

Barnett also returns for his sixth year contributing to the Capitals program, with the coaching group focused on building the team’s identity around defensive toughness, pace and selflessness.

“We are still building our identity and getting better every day, but from day one it was the toughness to pick up full court defensively, the pace and selflessness offensively,” Barnett said.

Abbie Ketels steps into the WNBL coaching ranks as Development Coach after previously representing the UC Capitals as a player and coaching within the Basketball ACT pathway, marking the next step in her coaching journey.

With the coaching group in place, the Capitals are ready to put their preseason work into action when they open their WNBL27 campaign at home against the Bendigo Spirit on Saturday.

The season opener tips off at 3pm at AIS Arena, with Canberra fans invited to get behind the team for the first game of the new campaign.

Tickets are on sale now. Be there to welcome the Caps back to AIS Arena and kick off WNBL27 together.

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