WNBL26: Sara Blicavs returns to league in ‘even better’ shape than before intensive back surgery
She’s the UC Capitals star recruit, but Sara Blicavs is returning to the WNBL in ‘even better’ shape than before her back surgery that kept her sidelined for 12 months. And she has success back on her mind.
University of Canberra Capitals’ champion recruit Sara Blicavs says she’s in “even better” shape than she was before intensive back surgery that left her barely able to walk a year and a half ago.
Despite being slightly anxious about her official return to the WNBL this Saturday, Blicavs is “confident” that she will be able to manage the full load of the season, after ticking every box throughout pre-season training following a successful Asia Cup campaign with the national team.
“It (back) feels even stronger, I’ve had no issues with anything, touch wood,” Blicavs said.
“Haven’t been modified, I haven’t missed anything yet.
“I can train for three hours now and I’m completely fine, so it’s come a long way.
“I wasn’t expecting myself to be able to do that, I’m really rapt and it’s exciting to know that I can be a professional basketball player again.”
And the fresh start in Canberra for dual WNBL champion has only worked in Blicavs’ favour, declaring her new team “the most professional WNBL team I’ve ever been a part of.”
“I’m very well looked after,” the new recruit said.
“Our high performance team is incredible.
“They check in every day, they’re so on the ball to the point that if I were to ever have a niggle, I would confidently and comfortably be able to speak up.”
Brought to the UC Capitals for her winning experience, after the team only managed six wins across the last two seasons, Blicavs has been completely impressed with the camaraderie built within the squad already.
With ultimate success unofficially on the team’s radar.
“We know that we can make finals and that if we play our best we’ll win the championship and everyone seems to be on the same page,” Blicavs said.
“But we haven’t necessarily spoken much about that, we haven’t really sat down and been like here’s our goal, our goal is to win, how do we get there?
“At the moment we’re just taking it day by day, building on our chemistry which is great to begin with.
“This is probably one of the most unified teams I’ve ever been a part of.
“Everyone generally enjoys each other’s company, we’ve had so much fun in pre-season, which I cannot believe I can say because everyone hates pre-season. It’s just such an enjoyable team.”
The UC Capitals will face Southside Melbourne Flyers at John Cain Arena this Saturday afternoon for the WNBL26 season opener.
And expect this Geelong local’s cheer squad to be out in full force.
“I’ve asked for about 50 (tickets) because I have 50 people that want to come (to JCA),” Blicavs laughed.
“So I think my little personal cheer squad will be great but at the same time I think as much as we’re Canberra-ians, half of our team’s from Victoria so I think we’re going to have a lot of fans there.”
Captain turned GM? How Jade led Caps’ recruitment drive from DC
She’s the face of the league and the University of Canberra Capitals captain but now star Jade Melbourne can add General Manager to her resume ahead of WNBL26.
Despite playing her third WNBA season with the Washington Mystics this year, Melbourne, 23, says she has gotten so “sick of losing” that she spent her down time in the US capital working the phones, helping to recruit star players like dual champions Sara Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso to Canberra.
All in a bid to surge back up the ladder after managing just six wins across the past two seasons in which they’ve finished on the bottom of the ladder.
“I’ve loved every teammate that I’ve had the opportunity to play with at the Caps, but I’m also someone that’s been sick of losing the last few years,” Melbourne told Code Sports.
“I really want to be in a team that’s contending for finals and Goz (coach Paul Gorris) did a fantastic job of developing the young core that we retained, but when someone like Sara Blicavs becomes available, I’m talking to her and making sure she’s landing here.”
“Then someone like Z (Aokuso), we could speak to her early because she wasn’t a part of the WNBL last year and when she mentioned she’d love to play in Australia, we made that a number one priority.
“I think it’s important for me to reach out to them and make them feel welcome immediately.”
Tag teaming with coach Gorris, Melbourne has thrown everything at locking in the top end talent as the mentor handed her the keys to the Caps kingdom.
“I’m convincing her (Blicavs) that Canberra coffee is better than Melbourne’s,” she said.
“I was on the phone to her (Aokuso), texting her every day ‘what are you thinking? Canberra’s fantastic.’
“Just telling her all the good things Canberra has to offer off the court as well as on the court as a holistic thing.
“Much appreciation to Goz (Gorris), ultimately he’s put that trust in me to kind of run the team.”
The Capitals will head to John Cain Arena this Saturday for the WNBL26 season opener against Southside Melbourne Flyers, for the much anticipated first look at the league under new owners Tesla chair Robyn Denholm and NBL boss Larry Kestelman.
For Melbourne, who has played in arenas all over the world, opening the season at JCA is extra special.
“It’s the premier venue in Melbourne,” the young star said.
“I watched so many (Melbourne) United games growing up so to actually play in it, I’m just super keen because it feels like we’re moving up a level.
“The State Basketball Centre is really a training facility, so to now be getting into like arenas is the step that we need to take.
“My parents have bought like 30 tickets, friends are texting me saying, ‘oh, it’s so good you’re playing at John Cain, we’ll be there’.”
As the momentous season opener puts the WNBL on par with its male counterparts in a big arena, Melbourne is calling out her NBL peers to get out and show their support.
Especially the two Melbourne NBL teams in United and South East Melbourne Phoenix who are each hosting home games at JCA this weekend.
“I would love to see as many of the NBL guys as they can,” the captain said.
“Over in the WNBA when we saw the NBA guys there, that really put a pep in your step because it shows that they care and they want to kind of see the product continue to grow as well.
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“I think supporting one another is only going to do basketball in Australia good and move it in the right direction.
“So, yeah, we’d love to see as many faces there as we can and hopefully the guys can get around it.”
Southside Melbourne Flyers host the UC Capitals at John Cain Arena this Saturday at 2pm AEDT.
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