Paul Goriss looks at Kelsey Griffin and sees the heartbeat of the club. In Britt Sykes he finds one of the finest imports to ever put on a Canberra Capitals jersey.
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That's why the outgoing Capitals coach couldn't think of two more deserving players to split the club's most valuable player honours for the 2021-22 WNBL season.
Griffin and Sykes claimed top honours at the Capitals' awards event on Thursday night, with the latter also winning the Kellie Abrams defensive player of the year gong.
Britt Smart was named players' player, while Opals prospect Jade Melbourne claimed the Capital on the Rise award as the club's best young player.
Thursday night marked the final formalities for Goriss as Capitals coach as he prepares to join the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA as an assistant coach. On Friday he hands over the keys to his office.
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Rest assured as he walks out, he will take a moment to think of the impact Sykes and Griffin have had on this club. Few have been as pivotal in Canberra's run of four successive finals appearances - containing two championships - as Griffin.
For a coach who prides himself on recruiting good people first, Goriss says he hit the mark with these two. The truth is, he says, they wouldn't have been title contenders without them.
"Definitely with Kels. Over the last four seasons that we've been together, that's what made the difference in us winning championships and being able to make that top four in the last four seasons," Goriss said.
"Kelsey has been a big part of that, as [Marianna] Tolo was. I don't think age is a factor when you talk about Kelsey because she just does the work, she outworks anybody.
"With Slim [Sykes], I think it was another masterstroke. We were lucky in getting Kia [Nurse], Kaili McLaren and Olivia Epoupa. I think we've been really fortunate to get another superstar in Britt Sykes here.
"There's a lot of great talent in the league this year as far as imports go, and she is right up there. Slim has come in and lit up the league in a way a lot of people haven't seen since probably one of the imports Canberra had here way back in Alana Beard."
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