Homegrown talent: Caps add Canberra pair for WNBL27

The UC Capitals have unveiled Canberra locals Jasmyn Boutzos and Zara Funnell as Development Players for the WNBL27 season, pending League approval.

The pair have been pivotal pieces of the Canberra Nationals' latest NBL1 East campaign under Caps assistant coach Nat Hurst, and will now take the next step in their development by joining the WNBL club's program.

UC Capitals 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."

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

For guard 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," he said.

"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."

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," Funnell said.

"As a local player, I've grown up watching the Caps, and this has always been a dream of mine.

"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," he said.

"Her skill, confidence and ability to compete against experienced athletes are what I noticed from watching her play.

"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."

The Caps open their campaign on October 17 against Bendigo at AIS Arena.