Jade Melbourne is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a finger injury suffered in the fourth quarter of Canberra's loss to the Perth Lynx on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old guard will be reassessed in four to six weeks, with the Capitals' regular season finale scheduled for February 7 against the Geelong Venom.
To fill the void, coach Paul Goriss has lured former Capital Tahlia Tupaea back to the club on a short-term deal. Tupaea, who has had two previous stints with Canberra, will be available for Saturday's game against the Sydney Flames at AIS Arena. Her return comes as Opals star Sara Blicavs remains sidelined with a knee injury, meaning Abby Solway will join the active roster.
Melbourne, Blicavs and Zitina Aokuso had been hailed as one of the WNBL's best trios, but injuries have limited their time together on court. The Capitals currently sit fourth on the ladder with a 6-7 record, and Melbourne's absence is a major test for Goriss' side as they push for a playoff return.
Tupaea's own injury history includes a broken foot, surgery that kept her out of an entire season barring one semi-final game, a posterior cruciate ligament injury, and a shoulder issue that derailed her start with the Capitals five years ago. Goriss noted that a fit roster had made a huge difference after a slow start, but stressed the need for consistency and execution.
