Caps add final pieces to WNBL26 roster, sign Tayha Watkins and Sharn Hayward as development players

The University of Canberra Capitals have locked in the final pieces of their WNBL26 roster puzzle, securing talented up and coming guards Tayha Watkins and Sharn Hayward as the club’s final two development players.

Watkins makes the move to Canberra from Victoria, where she spent the past season playing for the Diamond Valley Eagles in NBL1 South. She averaged 15.7 points,4.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while helping the Eagles to a 14-8record and a finals berth.

“I’m excited to be a part of such a fantastic organisation that has such a rich history in the league. Paul Goriss is a great coach and I look forward to learning from him, but also all the other girls on this year’s squad – it’s already been such a great environment to be around,” said Watkins.

“I want to use this experience to add more strings to my bow, get better and bring all of it back to NBL1 and hopefully get a (WNBL) roster spot in the near future.”

Hayward comes over to Canberra after spending the latter half of the NBL1 West season with the Willeton Tigers, where she averaged 11.2 points 1.9 rebounds and 2.4assists while also heling the Tigers clinch a finals berth alongside fellow Cap, Zitina Aokuso.

Prior to joining the Tigers, Hayward capped off her NCAA Division 1 career with the Stonehill Skyhawks with a stellar senior season averaging 15.8 points, 2.1rebounds and 2.9 assists while knocking down 111 threes – fourth most in the Northeast Conference’s history.  

“You only ever hear good things on and off the court about the Caps, so to be a part of that this season is something very special and then to be able to compete against some of the best players everyday is an incredible opportunity that not everyone gets,” says Hayward.

“I want to continue to get better and I know I’ll be in an environment where I will be pushed everyday, so I want to use this experience to learn as much as I can and take that knowledge to ultimately be a WNBL rostered player down the line.”

Caps Head Coach Paul Goriss said that it was a no-brainer to add the promising pair, whose performances in their respective NBL1 teams showed that they both have a potential future in the WNBL.

“Both Tayha and Sharn are talented and hard-working young players who showed flashes of their potential at the NBL1level. We see them as future WNBL prospects and we look forward to working with them this season,” said Goriss.