UC Caps Weekly: Recent Episodes
MVP Media
A weekly podcast talking about the UC Capitals women's basketball team.The UC Capitals play in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in Australia.
This week we catch up on a bunch of games we missed over the past week or so and we sit down with Tayha Watkins and learn about life growing up as a Vic Country baller.
This week we talk about our big loss to Sydney and our amazing win over Perth.
We discuss the mid-season loss of Sara Blicavs and look forward to a tough January ahead for our Caps!
Merry Christmas, Caps fans.
Round 10 saw a mixed bag for the Capitals with one win and one loss, but more crucially, a pair of injury concerns have our team back in the thick of it for the remainder of the season.
The Captain has turned on the seat belt sign as we may encounter some turbulance ahead.
We finish off the Caps Big Week and celebrate our 3 game win streak with an amazing athlete who is on the rise!
Nyadiew Puoch has been on an absolute whirlwind ride these past few years and she sits down and tells us the whole story!
We also preview the next 3 game stretch for our beloved Caps.
Three games in six days for our Capitals over Rounds 8 & 9 is a fantastic opportunity for the team to kick start their run towards the top four and we're here to talk about each and every game.
In Part One we cover the Round 8 games and look to the big game against Southside in Round 9.
This week we catch up with one of the leaders of the UC Capitals, Nicole Munger.
She's a crowd favourite, her team mates love her and and her journey to the Caps is an amazing story.
We also break down the last 2 games and preview the big opportunity for the Caps that is coming over the next week.
LFGOOOOOOO!
On the heels of a stunning UC Capitals victory, Michelle and Simon break down the game and explain why we had to wait an hour for the game to start.
We also catch up with and get to know Teige Morrell and hear her basketball story and the wonderful work she is doing off the court, mentoring young basketballers.
From playing for the Weston Creek Woden Dodgers in Division 4 to the U19 World Championships, Zara Russell has been on an impressive trajectory over the last few years. We catch up with her to talk about becoming a Capital and the very bright future that lays before her.
We also catch you up on the two road games in Round 4 and talk about why we feel that first Home win of the season is almost upon us.
The Capitals are making progress despite their loss to Adelaide on the weekend.
With the team on a road trip double this week, we don't have a player interview this week but Michelle and Simon break down the Adelaide game and look forward to a big week for the team.
This week we dissect our big loss to the Townsville Fire and share why it's not the end of the world.
We catch up with UC Capitals Executive General Manager, Christy Collier-Hill and learn about her past and her big plans for the Caps future.
Onward and upward to Adelaide!
After a near fatal brush with some spicy Thai, Jade Melbourne returns to 'The Weekly' to bring us all up to date. She talks WNBA, recruiting from half a world away and about the amazing chemistry the new Caps team has.
And we're all excited for Saturday night!
Hey Caps fans! Remember us?
After a tragic season-ending headphone injury at the beginning of last season's competition, the UC Caps Weekly team are back and ready for season number 5.
After hours of painful rehab and encouragement from WNBL stars like Gemma Potter and Dallas Loughridge, we've made it out the other side and cant wait to get stuck into the new 2025/26 WNBL season.
As with previous seasons, we kick off with the Coach's Preview and we sit down with Paul Goriss as he introduces us to the new Capitals line up.
Let's Goooooooooooooo!!!!
In this episode, we review the first 4 rounds of the new season and we catch up with an old friend of the pod.
We're back, just in time for the beginning of the 2024/25 Cygnett WNBL Season.
We recap the end of last season, discuss another tumultuous off-season, review Jade Melbourne's debut Olympic Games performance and second WNBA Season, discuss the new UC Caps documentary, GO BIG!, and preview the new team heading into this new season. There is so much to talk about!
Well, it was no surprise to anyone, but Jade Melbourne has been named in the Opals team that is headed to Brazil for the Olympic Qualifying tournament. We take a look over the final team as well as breaking down both the Capitals games from Round 11 of the WNBL
With 3 wins from the last 4 games, our UC Capitals are looking very bullish in 2024.
We review the last 2 games and talk about the amazing development of our team over the past 3 months.
2024 is going to be a huuuuge year for women's hoops and the UC Capitals are getting their share!
Two wins were a fantastic early present for all the good Caps fans. Michelle and Simon discuss the win at Radford College and take a look at where the team is at at the halfway mark of the season. We also look at the Opals squad and pick our 12 for the trip to Brazil in February.
Wishing you all a happy holiday and a restful break and we look forward to catching you all in the New Year.
Boy, do we have a lot of catching up to do! Simon and Michelle catch up on the last 5 UC Capitals games but don't worry. We freshen your listening palate halfway through with a great interview with the legend of Maitland Basketball, Shakera Reilly.
Oh, and the Caps won their first game of the season on Friday night!
LFGOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The new @thewnbl is underway and the @uccapitals already have 4 games in the books. While yet to record a win, there have been a ton of positives as our young team grows in confidence and strength with every game.
In this episode, we review the first 4 games and we also launch our new Q&A segment.
The rocket has left the launch pad for @thewnbl season 2023/24 and things are looking up in the nation's capital.
This week we handed over the lead microphone to none other than Jade Melbourne.
We get all the news from her first WNBA season with the Seattle Storm and she talks us through all her new UC Capitals teammates for the 2023-24 WNBL Season.
This one's a cracker so put on your walking shoes or sit down with your favourite beverage for an hour of the Goat Jr.
Let's Gooooo!
This week we catch up with Alex Fowler. She comes to the Caps straight out of a stellar US College career and is ready to do big things this season for the UC Capitals.
We do a wrap up of pre-season and look forward to Week One of the 2023/24 WNBL Season.
Join us this week as we meet and greet new Caps young gun, Jayda Clark, to the UC Caps Weekly fam. We review Development and Futures Day with Coach Veal and Michelle loses her mind and calls Simon an idiot! Harsh!
Pre-Season is officially here for the 2023-24 WNBL Season and almost all of the team are back in Canberra and ready to go. We wrap up the last month of international games, NBL1 and the WNBA before checking all the team lists and getting ready for a bunch of new interviews in the coming weeks.
Let's Goooooooo!
This week, we catch up with Nicole Munger as she takes us on the amazing journey that has been her basketball life. Music legends, natural disasters, Wolverines and all the sliding door moments that led her to become a Capital.
We also see where our Caps are at, both overseas and at home. Some big games coming up for various members of our team so make sure you pay attention!
This week we catch up with the globetrotting Jade Melbourne and talk Seattle and the WNBA and discuss her new teammates that will join her at the NCCC this summer. We review Australia's Asia Cup performance and catch up on all the latest from our Capitals playing in the NBL1 competitions.
In this episode, we sit down with UC Caps Head Coach, Kristen Veal and discuss the washup from Season 1, her interesting offseason, all the latest player signings and we talk about a very good boy!
After a delayed start, Free Agency is in full swing and if you blink you may miss some BIG moves. Coach Veal has been busy early and has already added some exciting pieces to the roster, but league-wide the moves have been pretty dramatic, to say the least! Catch up on all the latest moves, right here, with UC Caps Weekly.
Hey Gang, remember us?
We catch up on the last 2 games of the regular season and cover the WNBL Finals.
We let you know where all the Casps are spending the next 6 months, talk about Opals Camp and ponder the meteoric rise of the Swain Train. It's a huge week for Shaneice Swain and we can't wait to see where she ends up in the WNBA draft.
Oops, we did it again...
Real life just keeps on getting in the way of our podcast, but we are back with an ambitious attempt to cover three rounds in one go.
Some amazing stuff has happened both on and off the court so sit back and join us while we try to catch up.
With the unfortunate events the UC Capitals have endured this season, there is still plenty for fans to be happy about. With players out injured, it's been a great opportunity for our bench players to get valuable game time and experience. No one has grabbed the opportunity more than Chloe Tugliach and this week we catch up with her and talk about her journey to the WNBL.
Also, Simon and Michelle talk about the league in general, the exciting race for the top four and high drama in other parts of the league.
The Caps pick up their first W of the season in an amazing game against the highly favoured Bendigo Spirit. After her call-up to the starting line-up, we catch up with Bec Pizzey. The interview takes a left-hand turn as we are invaded by some rando who decided to join us for the rest of the interview. Stich-ups and good vibes abound as we celebrate a classic victory for our all ready storied franchise!
Merry Christmas, Caps fam. It's been a crazy couple of weeks with a lot of games for our team. We catch up on the past 4 games and look ahead to another double header this week for the Caps.
We also catch up with Gemma Potter and get an update on her rehab and talk about what a special group the Caps team is.
Things are looking up for our team, fresh off a greatly improved performance in Adelaide last round, the UC Caps are at home tomorrow and have their best chance this season to seal their first win. We talk about a dramatic WNBL Round Four both on and off the court and introduce another new addition to the UC Caps family.
This week we are on the Gold Coast trying desperately to hide from the chaos of Schoolies Week. Meanwhile, back in Canberra, the Capital's chaotic season continues with the news that Dekeiya Cohen has parted ways with the UC Capitals and is heading home to the US.
With all this chaos flying around, we thought it best to sit down and get some wisdom from the one and only Britt Smart. She talks about becoming the elder stateswoman of the team and we chat with her about her business outside of her job with the UC Capitals with BSmart Basketball.
It's the real deal with Kristen Veal as we unpack the new coach's philosophies and outlook for the future of the UC Capitals. We discuss the horror start to her first season and the opportunities it offers for her team. She breaks down the new additions to the team and we talk about her strategies for moving forward this season.
Well, that was a weekend we all could have done without! The opening round saw 2 losses, a season-ending injury for Gemma Potter and a bad ankle roll for Jade Melbourne that will see her out for 3 weeks!
Not the start that we wanted but plenty of highlights and strong performances to get us excited for the rest of the season.
It's finally here. The opening week of the 2022/23 WNBL season is upon us.
We look through all 8 WNBL teams to see who's new and who's moved and we catch up with Caps young gun and local superstar, Abby Solway.
Get your Caps merch out and get ready to rock the NCCC as basketball is back!!
We're back with Season 3 of UC Caps Weekly and we start with one of our new additions to the Capitals line-up. Emilee Whittle-Harmon burst onto the WNBL stage last season with a stellar back half of the competition for the Southside Flyers.
Now, she's a Capital and promises to pick up where she left off as the new season approaches.
Let's welcome her to the family, Canberra.
It's a new era as the UC Caps announce Kristen Veal as their new Head Coach.
We are back from the break to talk about new coaches, free agency, WNBA , NBL1 and the Opals. It's going to be a busy off-season and you can stay up to date with all the latest news here at UC Caps Weekly!
The 2021-22 season is in the books and now the search for a new Head Coach begins. We discuss the many coaching opportunities currently open and talk about where our Capitals will be in the offseason. And what a week it's been for Jade Melbourne. Drafted into the WNBA and selected in the Opals squad of 22. It's still all happening, right here on UC Caps Weekly!
After a tragic end to the UC Capitals season, we sit down with the one and only, Kelsey Griffin to pull apart the mayhem, the heartache, and the confusion of a season that promised so much, but ended so abruptly.
Grab a hot drink, a comfy chair and maybe a tissue or two as we go inside the inner sanctum with KG23.
After the emotional roller coaster ride of Round 15, the Finals are upon us.
This week we wrap up the regular season and pull apart a difficult weekend for our beloved Capitals. We take a look at the finals and we make some predictions for the WNBL Awards season, noting that there is no contest for Defensive Player of the Year.
Welcome to the 2022 WNBL Finals! Go Caps!
Well, there is nothing like finals to get Michelle and Simon talking till the cows come home about basketball and we've got an extra-long episode for you this week.
We cover a dramatic Round 14 and look at what could be an equally dramatic Round 15; the last round of the regular season.
In this week's interview, we catch up with the hottest player in the WNBL right now, Britt Sykes!
It's almost finals, Caps fans and it's going to be a huge postseason, so climb on board as we hunt down Championship No. 10!
With The WNBL only 3 weeks away, things are starting to heat up around the league as our UC Capitals head out on the road chasing down that Top 2 finish. We bring you all the results from rounds 12 and 13, we look at the FIBA World Cup Pool draw and Michelle puts on her Big Coach Brain and breaks down where the Caps sit statistically going into finals!
This week we cover a dominant UC Caps victory over the Townsville Fire, We take a look at the final released draw for the rest of the WNBL season and we catch up with the Master of the Moonball and all-around great human, Britt Smart!
After being caught up in the morass of non-WNBL life, we are back this week with a wrap up of the Opals performance at the recent World Championships Qualifying tournament in Serbia. We catch up with the last 3 rounds of UC Capitals dominance and we jump on the phone with an old friend. #tolosaysno
After a tough loss last round, our team is on the road for 3 games in 5 days. We break down last weeks games and talk about some of the controversy in our home game against Perth.
We break down the new Opals squad for the FIBA Qualifying tournament featuring our young phenom, Jade Melbourne and we look forward to a huge Round 8 of the WNBL.
Well after a full seven-game blowout for Round 6 all fingers and toes are crossed for Round 7.
We catch up with KG to talk about Kelly Wilson's 400th game (take 3) She tells us about her career with Kelly and we also touch on Coach Goriss' childminding skills, possible options for the rest of the season playing out and that massive Round One injury that turned Jade Melbourne white as a ghost!
We finish up with a preview of the Caps vs Perth game this Friday night.....if it happens.
Please let it happen!
This week we talk about the Covid mayhem around the league and the two games coming up for the UC Caps this weekend. We chat with current Head Coach Kennedy Kereama and discuss what's coming up for the league as it tries to cope with half the teams out with Covid protocol. Aye Curumba!
What a comeback from the UC Capitals as they comfortably took care of the Bendigo Spirit just days before the Christmas break. We review the Round 4 games and look forward to this weekends Round 5 games. We also take a look at the latest news from around the league.
This week we cover all the games from Round 3 of the WNBL 2021/22 season as well as our first home game in almost 2 years! Then we talk about Round 4. If you love listening to two people talk about the WNBL, you have come to the right place!
Today we talk about the Corona scare that visited the UC Capitals. We wrap up the weekend's games and take a look forward to Round 3 and Round 4. After a busy week of Christmas social commitments what better way to relax than with Michelle and Simon and UC Caps Weekly. Cheers!
Week One is in the books and the UC Caps are 1 and 0. We recap the 2 games played on the weekend, before we catch up with the very athletic Alicia Froling. She talks with us about her career to date and her time in the US College system and delves into the world of group house utensil faux-pas. We talk about the announcement of the Opals squad for next years world cup and take a look at the games coming up in Round Two.
It's been a looong time coming, but the WNBL is back this weekend!
We talk about the strangest draw in WNBL history and how the UC Caps are looking rolling into Week One. We take a look at the very new look Sydney Uni Flames and catch up with the one and only Kelsey Griffin #KG23.
Get your Kayo ready and settle in for the return of the WNBL for the 21/22 season.
This week, we catch up with new UC Caps import, Brittney Sykes.
She is going to set the WNBL on fire with her athleticism and lockdown defence. On her first trip to Australia, we talk to her from her quarantine room in Sydney and try to reassure her that Huntsman spiders are harmless. Terrifying, but harmless.
We discuss the new season dates, the latest additions to the UC Capitals roster, the WNBA finals, the Opals Asia Cup success and our first instalment of Tolo-Watch.
Sit down, strap in and get ready, because the new season is upon us and it's going to be BIG!
Well, it's been a big couple of months for UC Capitals Head Coach, Paul Goriss. His first Olympic campaign as Assistant Coach for the Opals, weeks and weeks of quarantine and now he's back off to do it all again as Head Coach for the Opals as they take part in the Asia Cup, in Jordan.
We catch up with Gori and talk about the Olympic campaign, his Asia Cup trip and some new signings just around the corner for the UC Caps!
Great news for UC Caps fans as Jade Melbourne has re-signed with the Caps for 2 years. Without a doubt, one of the most popular new additions to the squad last season, Jade talks with us about life in the hub, her decision to pass on college and join the Caps and her upcoming trip to Hungary for the U19 World Cup.
Goat Jnr is back!
This week we talk about how the new look UC Capitals are coming along with 7 players now signed for the 2021/22 WNBL Season. We talk about some other big-name signings across the league and we discuss female representation in the WNBL coaching ranks and look at how some ex-Capitals are forging ahead with their coaching careers!
This week we catch up with Marianna Tolo as she gets set for a very big 18 months. We talk about the first official player signing of 2021 and we talk about Opals selection ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. We catch up on where your Caps are playing at the moment and we also talk about an exciting documentary that's being made about the Capitals franchise.
Well, we've had a nice long rest after the mayhem that was the 2020 WNBL hub season.
Physical and emotional wounds have healed and the new normal just keeps on rolling.
The WNBL free agency period is in full swing so we caught up with UC Caps Head Coach Paul Goriss to discuss offseason machinations, his recruiting philosophy and we try to get the scoop on what this seasons UC Caps will look like.
Welcome to 2021.
Come listen as Simon and Michelle review the Capitals final game and wrap up their thoughts of the 2020 WNBL Covid Season. We look at what we liked and what we didn't like.
Allergen Statement: May contain middle-aged man sulking and some complaining about referees.
We've finally (lol) made it to the finals and our UC Caps are once again into the post-season.
Wednesday sees us take on perennial finals opponents, the Melbourne Boomers in the first Semi-Final game. The Caps will have to take the long road to the Grand Final, but everyone's a chance in the crazy Covid season.
We talk with UC Caps Co-captain, Kelsey Griffin about here finals philosophy and how much the team are ready to 'Go Big' in another WNBL post-season.
We talk about the WNBL season awards and the many nods given to Maddi Rocci as she puts forward her case for Opals selection.
It's finals time Caps fans! Time to get loud for our team! Go Caps!
This week, we catch up with UC Caps co-captain Marianna Tolo and talk about the tough week the Capitals had in Round 4 of the WNBL season. With 2 games left before finals, we look at the ladder situation and talk about the last day of the regular season and the impact it could have on the final four positions. The UC Caps are going to the finals and the hard work starts right here! It's Crunch time, people! Go Caps!
We are halfway through the 2020 WNBL season and the UC Caps are 7 and 1 and sitting on top of the ladder.
This week, we catch up with Hannah Kaser and talk to her about her basketball journey, playing overseas, calling Canberra home and how much she is loving being part of the UC Caps family.
Michelle and Simon break down the last 4 games and preview the next 3 games and the run home to the finals.
The WNBL season is underway and the UC Capitals are looking good. With 3 wins and 1 loss from their 4 Mackay games, the team now moves north to Cairns.
We talk about the Covid scare that almost closed down the bubble and this week we catch up with new Capital, Tahlia Tupaea.
We talk about what it's like to play your first WNBA game at 15 years of age, her mysterious WNBA draft night and why she always hated playing in Canberra.
WNBL 2020/21 starts tomorrow night and the UC Caps are in Mackay and ready to go for their first game against the Adelaide Lightning. Michelle and Simon preview that game and take a look at some of the other games to watch out for in Round One.
We talk with Jade Melbourne, our newest recruit from the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, about her debut with the UC Capitals, her love of point guards and her part in the Aussie take over of the PAC 12 College Basketball Conference. We also look forward to the first part of Froling vs Froling as the UC Caps take on Bendigo on Monday night!
Well, the final roster is complete with the additions of Hanah Kaser, Ash Taia and Jade Melbourne. We talk with Head Coach, Paul Goriss about his new recruits and about the WNBL20 draw. One week to go till the team hits the court in Mackay!
Let's do this!
This week we celebrate Mikaela Ruef's championship with the Logan Thunder in the Queensland State League. Then we catch up with UC Capitals co-captains Mariana Tolo and Kelsey Griffin. We talk about how the group is coming together, their leadership style and how excited Mariana will be to play in her home city of Mackay.
Only 18 days to go before the WNBL season starts. Time to get excited!
The news we've all been waiting for is finally here! The new WNBL season will commence November 12 and will be played in Far North Queensland! 14 regular-season games played over 6 weeks in Mackay, Cairns and Townsville.
We catch up with UC Caps Operations Manager, Dan Jackson to get the details on the new season changes to the competition and creating a new UC Caps fortress in Mackay!
This week we catch up with Gemma Potter. We talk about her World Championship medals, her WNBL Championship and her scholarship to UCLA; all at the age of only 18! A talented player with an amazing future ahead of her.
Michelle gives us her pick for Gemma's replacement in the UC Caps roster and we continue to wait...... for news about the upcoming WNBL season. Join us!
This week we follow our UC Caps players competing in the Queensland State League and we catch up with UC Caps Head Coach, Paul Goriss. We cover his accidental pathway into coaching, discuss his team philosophy, his new UC Capitals recruits and finally being able to catch up on some Netflix.
Basketball Australia COE head coach and UC Capitals assistant coach Kristen Veal talks about the challenges for evolving athletes dealing with adversity. Be it killer viruses, natural disasters injury or personal issues. Kristen started her career with the phenomenal 1999 AIS Championship team and had a somewhat tumultuous playing career before now guiding our future stars as the Head Coach of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence women's program. With a lifetime of experience under her belt at the age of only 39, her insight and knowledge is an invaluable asset for the future of the women's game in Australia.
This week we check out the fortunes of our UC Caps players competing in the Queensland State League, we continue with 'Kia-Watch' and we catch up with UC Caps favourite Keely Froling. We cover her rise from a kid who really wasn't interested in playing to becoming Australian 3x3 representative and WNBL Champion and we discover what it is like to live in the highly competitive and sometimes bloody Froling household!
We are back, after the podcast bye, with news about the end of the Canberra Nationals Waratah League season and who better to talk to about it than UC Capitals guard Abby Cubillo. We also talk to Abby about snow, Netflix and real estate! All this and more in Episode 7.
This week we look back with four-time UC Capitals champion, Tracey Beatty.
We look back over here career, learn about her time as an Octopus and talk about her second career, being mistaken for Lauren Jackson!
We catch up on various UC Caps players playing nationally and ex-Capitals playing in the WNBA.
This episode we catch up with the newest UC Capitals signing Mikaela Ruef.
After spending all of the 2019/20 season waiting for her permanent residency, it's finally come through and UC Caps fans will be able to see Mikaela back on the floor in November.
We catch up on various UC Caps players as they hit the courts again after the COVID break and we get up to date with all the league signings.
This episode we catch up with UC Capitals legend, Nat Hurst. 11 Seasons with the Capitals. 9 WNBL Grand Finals, 7 WNBL Championships and the 2008/09 Grand Final MVP. Played in France, Hungary, Poland and Turkey and now is beginning her coaching career only 4 months after hanging up the boots. Join us as we discuss her amazing career and talk about what's to come for this local legend.
This week, we catch up with brand new UC Capital, Brittany Smart and talk to her about the life of an international baller, getting fit and staying fit and what she will bring to the UC Caps in the upcoming season.
Join us this week as we talk about the new Australian Opals announcement with a big call up to the national team squad for Capital's guard Maddi Rocci. We then catch up with Maddi on the phone to help her celebrate and to see how she's been surviving in COVID land. We finish the episode with a look at this week's WNBL player movements.
In our very first podcast, we talk about the impact of COVID 19 on the WNBL and its plans for the 2020/21 season. We talk about the new signings for the UC Capitals for the upcoming 2020/21 season.
We talk with Marianna Tolo about life as a pro baller in COVID lockdown and her excitement for the coming season.
We look at off-season player movements across the WNBL and talk about Australia's hosting of the FIBA Women's World Cup in 2022.