UC Capitals Claim Thrilling Season-Opening Win Over Bendigo

The UC Capitals have kicked off their 2026/27 WNBL campaign in thrilling fashion, holding off the Bendigo Spirit for a 94–92 victory in front of 3,158 fans at AIS Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Capitals came out firing in their first game of the season, establishing an early lead and controlling the contest through the first half before a third-quarter surge from the veteran Bendigo side set the scene for a nail-biting finish. With the game going down to the final seconds, the Caps held their nerve to secure a memorable opening-round win.

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In a fitting return to her former club, Jade Melbourne opened the scoring for the afternoon, with Bendigo briefly holding the lead before the Capitals took control and never looked back in the opening quarter. Manuela Puoch knocked down the Caps' first points with a three-pointer before older sister Nyadiew Puoch sparked an eight-point scoring run to give the home side some early separation.

The Capitals shared the scoring load throughout the opening term, with five different players connecting from beyond the arc. New faces in Caps colours made their mark, including Isabel Palmer, who registered her first points in the league. On the other end of the floor, it was the captain Marianna Tolo who kept the visitors points ticking over.

The momentum continued for the home team going into the second quarter, with the Caps opening the period on a six-point run. Megan McConnell sent the AIS Arena crowd with her sharp shooting, while Amy Atwell and Manuela Puoch helped extend the advantage. Abbey Wehrung found her range for the Spirit to keep her side in the hunt.

Tolo led all scorers at the main break with 14 points, while Atwell, Nyadiew Puoch and Manuela Puoch each had 11 points to help the Capitals take a commanding 52–37 lead into half-time.

Bendigo returned from the break with renewed intensity to begin chipping away at the deficit. For the home team, Atwell showed her dominance with a nine-point quarter. Tolo continued to be a major influence for the Spirit, with support from Kelsey Griffin and Abigail Wehrung who closed it to a five-point margin going into the last period.

The fourth quarter delivered a dramatic finish, with Bendigo continuing to apply pressure as the Capitals fought to maintain their advantage. Griffin knocked down a three-pointer off a Melbourne assist to bring the margin back to a single point, before a Wehrung three-pointer gave the Spirit the lead for the first time since the opening minutes.

With the game hanging in the balance, McConnell stepped up as the Capitals fought to get the lead back in front of their home crowd. The final minutes were a tense battle, with neither side able to find breathing room as the contest came down to the wire.

The Capitals ultimately prevailed 94–92, getting the AIS Arena crowd of 3,158 on their feet, and opening their WNBL27 campaign with a hard-fought victory.

The Caps head on the road for three games now before returning home on 15 November. Get tickets here.