LOCAL CANBERRA DUO JOIN UC CAPITALS AS DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS

The UC Capitals are thrilled to welcome Canberra locals Jasmyn Boutzos and Zara Funnell as Development Players for the 2026/27 WNBL season.

The pair have both been pivotal pieces of the Canberra Nationals’ latest NBL1 campaign under Caps Assistant Coach Nat Hurst, and will now take the next step in their development by joining the Capitals’ WNBL program.

Their selection continues the Capitals’ commitment to providing opportunities for local athletes to progress through the Canberra basketball pathway and into the professional environment.

UC Capitals Head Coach Paul Goriss was impressed by both players during the club’s Development Player Trials.

“It is exciting to welcome two local Canberra juniors to our team as Development Players, and having both been coached and mentored by Nat is a big advantage,” Goriss said.

“They both know what is expected of them, they understand the way we want to play and they have shown that they are ready to challenge themselves in a WNBL environment.”

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Boutzos brings a wealth of NBL1 experience to the Capitals, recently celebrating her 100th NBL1 appearance in June, with every one of those games coming in a Canberra Nationals uniform.

A consistent contributor for the Nationals, the guard has built a reputation for her perimeter shooting, competitiveness and ability to play with pace at both ends of the floor.

For Boutzos, joining the Capitals represents an opportunity to pull on the colours of the club she grew up watching and take the next step in her basketball journey in front of her hometown crowd.

“I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be part of the team I grew up admiring so closely,” Boutzos said.

“I am most excited to be at the AIS, playing in front of my hometown and the amazing Canberra fans. It is something I have always dreamed of and I am really looking forward to learning from the coaches and players around me.”

Goriss has followed Boutzos’ development closely over recent seasons and believes her work ethic and enthusiasm will make her a valuable addition to the squad.

“Jaz is a good shooter from the three-point line, plays hard at both ends of the court, can push the ball in transition and has a quick first step.

“She is a hard worker and I have seen her put a lot of time into working on her game. She loves the game and will bring enthusiasm and a strong work ethic to our team,” Goriss said.

At just 17 years of age, Funnell has already enjoyed a rapid rise through the Canberra basketball pathway.

The guard has completed her second NBL1 season, following an opportunity with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in 2025 as an injury replacement player.

Now, she will have the opportunity to train alongside the Capitals’ WNBL squad and experience the demands of a professional basketball environment.

“I feel very privileged to have this opportunity. As a local player, I’ve grown up watching the Caps and this has always been a dream of mine,” Funnell said.

“I’m most looking forward to learning from the amazing coaches and players around me and experiencing the professional environment that comes with being part of the Caps.”

Goriss said Funnell’s development and ability to compete against experienced players had stood out throughout the NBL1 season.

“Zara had a great season with the Canberra Nationals in NBL1. Her skill, confidence and ability to compete against experienced athletes are what I noticed from watching her play,” Goriss said.

“She has shown a real willingness to learn and develop, she is fast and she can play at the tempo we want to play at with the Caps and this opportunity will give her exposure to a high-performance environment while continuing to build her game.”

Basketball runs in the Funnell family, with Zara’s sister Jasmin Funnell recently selected for the Australian Pearls team heading to the VIRTUS/VIBF World 3x3 Cup.

Boutzos and Funnell become the third Canberra Nationals player in the Capitals’ WNBL27 squad, joining previously announced signing Caitlyn Jones.

The connection further strengthens the pathway between Canberra’s NBL1 program and the Capitals, with local athletes given the opportunity to train and develop within the club’s high-performance environment.

The UC Capitals will begin their WNBL27 campaign at AIS Arena on Saturday, 17 October. Secure your memberships now.

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