Canberra Capitals coach Carrie Graf says it's time for the WNBL to introduce a three-game grand final series in order to boost promotion and finances of the league and to improve Australian athletes in big-game situations.
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The patched-up Capitals are aiming to position themselves for a late finals charge. Canberra is in the top four and anticipating the return of injured stars Lauren Jackson, Hanna Zavecz and Jess Bibby in coming weeks.
The Capitals play the West Coast Waves for a second consecutive week this Saturday, a quirk of the 22-game regular season that has them playing four games against the Waves and three matches against every other club.
The idea of a grand final series has been floated since the 1990s, before the Capitals even won the first of their seven WNBL championships.
But Graf said there would be merit in restructuring the draw so that every club played each other three times, before putting more emphasis in the finals with a three-game grand final playoff series.
Graf said it would provide more promotion for the WNBL, enable both grand final clubs to cash in on big home crowds and give national program players more exposure to playing in big-game atmospheres.
"It'd be great for the league ... it adds a bit of juice to the finals series," Graf said.
"I think there's a lot of value in it from both a promotion of the league point of view, the athlete point of view and, for the clubs that are winning ... a chance to put some money in the bank too. I think there's a whole lot of pluses for us.
"I think it'd be wonderful in terms of a vision for the league, growing and continuing to be a force for women's sport."
The Capitals are set to welcome back former captain Jess Bibby this weekend after she missed Sunday's win over the Waves with neck and shoulder pain. Bibby has had chronic back issues, but scans this week have cleared her of any major injury. Starter Zavecz could be back as early as the following weekend's road trip to Dandenong.
Jackson's surgery on knee cartilage last week has set her return date back three weeks, but the Capitals still expect their superstar centre will hit the court before Christmas. The 33-year-old returned to shooting on Tuesday and will begin light running work this week.
Despite the injury toll, the Capitals have started the season 3-3 to sit fourth.
"We've got a superstar out, another starter out and our sixth man out," Graf said. "If we can keep our heads above water, once we get our full complement of players back we're going to be pretty exciting ... I think we're sitting in a pretty good position."
Capitals guard Kristen Veal said the Capitals could not afford to wait for the return of Jackson, praising the example set by captain Abby Bishop. Bishop was WNBL Player of the Week last weekend, averaging 23 points and 16 rebounds across the two games.
"We don't want to say we're holding the fort until Loz gets back, we're a legitimate group without Loz, then we'll be a better group with Lozza," Veal said.
"[Abby's] putting us on her shoulders sometimes ... Abby's captain this year, so I think that pushes her out in front a little bit and gives her that responsibility and respect. I think the rest of the group are looking at her and following her example."
