Canberra Capitals Guard Isa Brancatisano Eyes Finals and a Prime Ministerial Coffee Date
Canberra Capitals guard Isa Brancatisano is still waiting for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to answer her playful call for a coffee catch-up. "So if anyone knows any connections," Brancatisano laughed in a recent interview. "He's too busy." The fan-favourite player has become a beloved figure both on and off the court in the nation's capital.
A Do-or-Die Showdown with Finals Implications
If Brancatisano can help keep the Capitals' WNBL season alive in a crucial showdown against the Southside Flyers at the AIS Arena on Tuesday night, Albanese might just be compelled to join her for a soy latte. The fifth-placed Capitals' season hangs in the balance heading into this pivotal clash with the fourth-placed Flyers, who hold a one-win advantage on the ladder.
Canberra's equation is straightforward: a victory keeps their finals hopes alive, while a loss would end their campaign. "We know it's do-or-die, so we're ready to go. We're locked in, we've got a good scout on them so hopefully it works," Brancatisano stated. "It would be good for the fans, because no matter whether we're winning or losing, they're always there. Playing finals is the best part of the season, so hopefully we can get a few more games together as a group."
Capitals' Challenging Season and Roster Changes
A finals appearance would provide a significant boost for a Capitals outfit that has faced considerable challenges this year, struggling to maintain a consistent lineup. Key players like Zitina Aokuso and Jade Melbourne have missed portions of the season, while Sara Blicavs' move overseas left the team without an Opals veteran. This departure also left Brancatisano searching for a new teammate to join her popular Instagram coffee reviews—and, of course, to help call for Albanese to pull up a chair. For those following along, Emme Shearer has since answered that call.
Instead of discussing global issues with the Prime Minister, Brancatisano has been solving problems on the hardwood, stepping into a major role while Melbourne was sidelined with injury. This development would not have surprised diehard Capitals fans, who witnessed Brancatisano light up Canberra with an impressive total of eight three-pointers while playing for Sydney last season.
Embracing a New Role and Canberra Life
"You come in thinking you're going to play a role, and then things happen. You just have to be adaptable, and that's what I had to do while Jade was out," Brancatisano reflected. "It was fun to try something new, but she's back now, so that's fun. It's helpful to have Jade back, a scorer back in the squad, because we have been lacking in that department lately. It's just nice to be back playing with her."
Brancatisano has thoroughly enjoyed her time in Canberra, defying some common perceptions about the city. "I really have enjoyed my time here in Canberra. People don't say too many good things about the place itself, but I would have to disagree with them now," she said. "The Caps program is very well-run, very well-resourced. They take very good care of their athletes, they're very supportive. The program is really impressive. The Canberra community is super welcoming, and you just feel at home straight away."
Final Stretch of the Regular Season
The Capitals will close out their regular season with matches against Southside and the sixth-placed Geelong, while the Flyers visit Canberra before travelling to Adelaide to face the seventh-placed Lightning on Sunday. These final games will determine whether Brancatisano and her teammates can extend their season—and perhaps finally secure that long-awaited coffee with the Prime Minister.
