The Canberra Capitals have their sights set on another finals campaign when their WNBL season begins, but a suitable venue in the ACT to host it remains up in the air.
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Nine home games will be played at the National Convention Centre after the season begins in December, with a venue for an additional home fixture in January yet to be confirmed.
Followed by a finals series set to tip off on March 30, and the Capitals want to be there.
However, the AIS Arena, which can seat 5000 compared to the NCC's 1700, is still off the cards.
The Capitals played the last major sporting event at the arena in March 2020, before it was closed.
It is understood the Capitals and other sporting teams are still frustrated by the closure, and the federal government's decision not to fund needed upgrades to reopen it, as they look for a replacement.
Despite the uncertainty around a finals series venue, the Capitals will kick off their 2021/22 campaign with a twin-rivalry unfolding on the court in the first three rounds of the season.
The Froling sisters - Alicia and Keely - will go head-to-head in round one, two and three, with the Capitals kicking off their campaign against the Sydney Uni Flames on December 5.
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Keely will have the advantage in round one, with the Flames hosting the opener at Sydney Super Dome before Capitals' forward Keely takes home court advantage for the next two games.
Capital coach Paul Goriss said, like every year, they aimed to be in the grand final and to go on to win it.
"The biggest part for myself and the team is getting back to playing in front of our home fans at home, and I think that's something that's super exciting," he said.
"Obviously, we've got an away game in our first week but being at home and having our parochial fans back us again, after 12 months of being away in the hub last season, is definitely exciting for us to get back onto our home court.
"It's only early days but you know there's great chemistry and camaraderie amongst the group already, with some new faces which is exciting."
Gorris said the WNBL international signings were the most exciting bunches he had seen in the league since over the last five years.
One being WNBA player Britt Sykes, who will join the side for pre-season next week alongside Melbourne based player Kelly Wilson.
The Canberra team will have to capitalise on their home court advantage in mid-season, as the side's last five games are on the road.
Basketball Australia and the Capitals declined to comment on whether the WNBL would follow the AFL and enforce vaccine mandates, but if players or staff are not vaccinated they will likely not be allowed to feature in games in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia or South Australia.
A mental health awareness round is earmarked for round seven, along with an Indigenous round in week 13.
WNBL 2021/22 season - Canberra Capitals
- December 5, 12.30pm - Sydney Uni Flames v Capitals, Sydney Super Dome
- December 12, 5pm - Capitals v Flames, National Convention Centre
- December 19, 4pm - Capitals v Flames, National Convention Centre
- December 22, 7.30pm - Capitals v Bendigo Spirit, National Convention Centre
- December 31, 7pm - Townsville Fire v Capitals, Townsville Entertainment Centre
- January 8, 5pm - Melbourne Boomers v Capitals, Gippsland Indoor Sports Stadium
- January 13, 6pm - Capitals v Adelaide Lightning, National Convention Centre
- January 19, 7.30pm - Perth Lynx v Capitals, TBC
- January 21, 7.30pm - Capitals v Southside Flyers, TBC
- January 23, 1pm - Capitals v Bendigo, National Convention Centre
- January 28, 7pm - Capitals v Melbourne, National Convention Centre
- January 30, 2.30pm - Adelaide v Capitals, Lightsview Community Centre
- February 5, 5pm - Capitals v Southside, National Convention Centre
- February 19, 5pm - Capitals v Townsville, National Convention Centre
- February 25, 7pm - Melbourne v Capitals, Melbourne Sports Centre Parkville
- February 27, 6pm - Capitals v Perth, National Convention Centre
- March 3, 7pm - Townsville v Capitals, Townsville Entertainment Centre
- March 11, 7pm - Perth v Capitals, Bendat Basketball Stadium
- March 13, 3pm - Adelaide v Capitals, Lightsview Community Centre
- March 20, 3.30pm - Bendigo v Capitals, Bendigo Stadium
- March 25, 7pm - Southside v Capitals, Dandenong Basketball Centre