Adelaide Lightning coach Chris Lucas is upset comments he made after the WNBL grand final were misconstrued to suggest the Canberra Capitals bought their title.
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Lucas said in his post-match press conference last weekend Adelaide would have to compete "with some big dollars" to keep the roster together after surging into the championship match.
That comment hit a nerve with Capitals officials and players immediately after winning their first title in nine years at a sold-out AIS Arena on Saturday.
The Capitals perceived it as a jibe at their star-studded roster. The club itself believes it has no more than the fourth or fifth most expensive roster in the league.
WNBL most valuable player Kelsey Griffin took aim at unnamed Capitals critics on Wednesday, believing they were diminishing the club's efforts.
Lucas' comment was included by The Canberra Times in the same story, however Lucas quickly - and correctly - responded to say his comments had nothing to do with the Capitals.
A former Capitals assistant coach himself, Lucas said he was not criticising any team in the domestic league. Instead he was referring to the battle all WNBL clubs faced to keep their best players from being lured abroad by cashed-up clubs in Europe.
What Lucas said after the match was: "The girls are either semi-professional or professional athletes but if we could keep this group together — the core group — absolutely but we need to add some pieces there’s no doubt about that. But we’re competing against big dollars as well and that depends on what that is as well, but that’s women’s sport now and sport in general."
On Wednesday Lucas reiterated his respect for the Capitals. He was part of former coach Carrie Graf's staff when the Capitals won back to back titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
"Anyone knows I'm gracious in defeat. There was nothing directed towards the Capitals, it was a great grand final series and great for women's basketball in Australia," Lucas said.
"I've got the utmost respect for the Canberra program and [Capitals director Carrie Graf], and always have. I had three wonderful years there under Graffy.
"My comments [after the grand final] were always about women's sport and the challenge of retaining players. It's actually a good thing that women are now professional athletes."
The Lightning overcame the uncertainty surrounding their WNBL future to make the grand final this season and Lucas was named the league's coach of the year earlier this week for his efforts.
