The UC Capitals have secured a major piece of their 2026/27 roster, re-signing one of Australia’s brightest young stars, Nyadiew Puoch, on a two-year deal..
Since joining the Caps in 2024, Puoch’s impact has steadily grown, establishing herself as a key presence on both ends of the floor while embracing life in the capital.
“Over the past few seasons, I’ve definitely grown to love Canberra and the club. From the coaches and players to the high-performance team, and the fans and members, it’s made playing here incredibly easy and I’m excited to continue that,” Puoch said.
Caps Executive General Manager Christy Collier-Hill highlighted Puoch’s length and athleticism on the court, along with her impact in the community, as key reasons behind her re-signing.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Nards continue as a Cap for another two seasons. She’s a rising star of Australian basketball and her ceiling is incredibly high.
“Just as importantly, she’s a terrific person off the court and has such a positive impact in our community.”
In her second season under Head Coach Paul Goriss, Puoch averaged 11 points and four rebounds per game, contributing in all 23 games for the Caps this season.
Her impact was made clear at the Caps end of season awards night, taking home the club MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
With Goriss also locked in for two more years, Puoch is eager to build on the Caps’ momentum and strengthen her place in the WNBL.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to get better and hopefully win a championship. Being at the Caps for my second season now, I feel like Goz has coached me my whole life.
“He believes in me and is always willing to help me get better, and I think every player needs a coach like that. He knows my goals and I know his vision for the team - I’m excited to continue to achieve that,” she said.
The 2026/27 season will be Puoch’s fifth year in the WNBL, having started her career with the Southside Melbourne Flyers, where she won a championship, before moving to Canberra.
Her ability has also attracted international attention, with Puoch selected 12th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.
Puoch opted not to head to the US straight away and has spent two extra seasons continuing her development in Australia.
This was a move that also allowed her to gain national team experience, representing the Australian Opals at the Trans-Tasman Throwdown in 2025.
Puoch is now ready to get her first taste of the WNBA in 2026, waiting on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations to be ironed out before making the move.
She would join a strong group of Caps alumni already playing in the WNBA, including Kia Nurse, Brittney Sykes, Ezi Magbegor, and current teammate Jade Melbourne.
Regardless of the off-season, Puoch is excited to return to Canberra for WNBL27 and build on the momentum she’s helped create over the past two years.
“Being at the Caps has really grown my love for the game, and I’ve learned a lot about prioritising what helps me improve. Whether it’s asking for help, focusing on recovery, or backing myself on the court, I know I’ve got the support to do that here,” she said.
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