Nyadiew Puoch arrived back to the Capital this week and has jumped into preseason training with the squad after taking time to readjust to Canberra life.
“It's been amazing. Canberra's been my home the last three years playing in the season, so it's been really great to be back.”
Having spent the most recent season of the WNBA with Portland Fire, Puoch believes that she returns a stronger and more confident player.
“I think it's built a lot of confidence in me. I think that experience really helped me get back to knowing you are a great player. You earn your spot in the WNBA for a reason and you're playing here for a reason. And I learnt to just keep backing myself in, and building confidence was a big thing overall.”
Portland Fire entered the WNBA for their maiden season this year, with Puoch a rookie player for the team. Going into the season, the environment was unfamiliar for everyone, but no one could have expected the support they received. It was an experience like no other;
“Overall take was that it's a lot, but how exciting it all was. To be able to play a game and then back it up the next two days and then keep playing."
"Seeing how much Portland especially love the fans, they love the Fire and how many times they showed up each and each and every game, and it was just so exciting. It was so cool just to be a part of.”
Puoch now joins her sister, Manuela, for the first season together in the WNBL. The older Puoch still feels shocked to see her sister;
“I know when I landed in Canberra, I was kind of weirded out that I saw my sister because it's so strange to see her here. But it's been great.”
Although it’s been a weird start, Nards is happy to have her sister finally come to her second home - Canberra;
"We're both happy to be here, and it's so cool to see her. It's good to go from having a season in America and then coming back home. Canberra's my home, but then my sister's here as well, so it makes it even more of a home - it's been really good.”
Looking ahead to the season, a team of brand-new faces isn't something to be scared about, but rather something other teams should fear.
“I think we're going to be such an energy team. We're going to be around each other, and we get along so well off the court, so I think it helps on the court as well.
"The games are just going to be amazing. We're going to be all over the floor. We're going to have so much energy. We've got great shooters, we've got a brand-new team, and I know lots of people aren't expecting a lot from us, but I think we are expecting a lot from us because we're really good. I think it's lots of energy. It's going to be fun, it's going to be great.”
With a home game to start the season, you can catch your Caps hit the court next Saturday 17th October. Grab your tickets now.
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