Born and raised in the nation's capital, Zara Russell is a pure ACT basketball prodigy. The 18 year-old is an up-and-coming prospect and is ready to take her first steps in the WNBL with the team she has dreamed of playing for growing up.

Zara is a product of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence program and has represented the country multiple times at the youth level - most recently helping the Australian Gems secure the silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup.

In the 2025 NBL1 East season, Zara helped lead the CoE into the Grand Final, averaging 17 points and 5 rebounds per game on the season. Her rapid development led her to an amateur development player contract with the Capitals, where she will look to sharpen her skills and bring her effort, hustle, energy and defense to the squad, in preparation for her freshman year of college next year (she recently committed to the University of Califonia-Berkeley).

Off the court, Zara describes herself as an adrenaline junky and her bucket list contains activities like sky diving and hot air ballooning.

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