Canberra Capitals coach Paul Goriss content to wait for WNBL free agency

The free agency period is on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving Capitals coach Paul Goriss unable to recruit players with his entire championship-winning squad set to hit the market.

University of Canberra's director of sport Carrie Graf expects the virus will have some sort of effect on the upcoming season, which was likely to tip off in October.

Yet only time will tell how big of an impact it has with sponsorship dollars and import slots on the line over the coming months.

Goriss has backed the decision to delay the free agency period, adamant clubs should steer clear of splashing cash until there is more certainty around the upcoming season.

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"Until we know what situation the league is going to be in as far as when it's going to start, when it's going to finish and how long it's going to be, I'm all for it," Goriss said.

"We don't want to be making free agency this thing that gets out of hand. We don't want to be signing players to these contracts when we don't really know how the season is going to progress.

"I'm all for waiting. Speaking to some of the players too, I don't think they're in a rush to sign. They're unsure of how the season is going to play out.

"Another factor too is what is going to happen with sponsors? The budget we might have might not be realistic with our sponsorship portfolio.

"We've got to be diligent to the league and to players. We've got to have the right business case. Everything is uncertain.

"I don't think players are going to want to sign with all these caveats in their contracts. Let's just wait, because we don't have a definitive answer yet on when we're starting and finishing.

"What impact does it have on imports? With international travel restrictions ... We may not be able to get any imports. You just don't know."

The Capitals had held preliminary discussions with a raft of their title-winning stars following their grand final triumph over the Southside Flyers last month.

But any formal offers being drafted have been scrapped, while travel restrictions means Gemma Potter and Lily Scanlon face uncertain futures having committed to playing college basketball in the United States.

Goriss was hopeful French point guard Olivia Epoupa will return to the Capitals after she sets her sights on a maiden WNBA campaign with the Phoenix Mercury.

The grand final series' most valuable player signed a training camp contract with Phoenix under Australian Opals coach Sandy Brondello.

"It's something I have been talking with Sandy during the season about, about Olivia and how she was going. Her form at the back end of the year and over the course of the finals series definitely helps," Goriss said.

"It's funny too, that was Olivia's goal and her dream, to go and play in the WNBA. That was something I kind of sold her on, she would get to play with WNBA-calibre talent that we had with [Marianna] Tolo, Kelsey [Griffin] and Kia [Nurse].

"That would be a great combination for her to come and play with shoe WNBA-calibre players and give her a foot inside the door.

"The style we play here is close to WNBA style because it's influenced by what we do with the Opals and Sandy's influence on me and my coaching.

"It was a good marriage, saying 'if you're going to make it, you are going to have to make it from here because you haven't made it in Europe yet after five years. Give this a chance in Canberra and WNBL'.

"I was just so happy for her and happy I could deliver on the promise that I could help get her into the WNBA."