Not jaded by Shyla Heal, Opal-hopeful Jade Melbourne puts WNBA on hold

The Canberra Capitals guard was on cloud nine after a double dose of good news this week - picked in the Opals extended squad for their upcoming three-game series against Japan on Thursday after the Storm drafted her on Tuesday.

It's caught the 19-year-old off guard - she still hasn't been able to respond to all the well-wishers from her WNBA drafting before she got another round for the Opals.

But Melbourne's not in a rush to get to the WNBA and the best league in the world.

She feels she's not ready and has instead put it on hold for a year as she focuses on improving her game and her physicality.

Instead she's moved to Ballarat to play for the Miners in the NBL1 and then she'll be back in Canberra for the Capitals' WNBL campaign next summer.

While she'd taken note of Heal's short stint in the WNBA, which lasted just five games before she was cut, that wasn't the driving force behind her decision to put a move to the USA on hold.

"I told them Friday before the draft I wasn't going to be coming over immediately," Melbourne revealed.

"I just want another year to develop my game and try and improve before I go over there and give it a real crack at training camp.

"I'm sure they'll be in communication with me in the next week and we'll come up with an action plan.

"Everyone in Australia was devastated and shocked with what happened to Shyla last year and she was in the same position I was - she also went a lot higher.

"When that happened I realised 19 years of age is really young in the league ... but I think it's more of a personal decision too.

"I think I'm physically not up to that level yet with my size - I get pushed around in the WNBL and the WNBA's a whole other level."

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

But she will head to Sydney for Australia's World Cup warm-up games against Japan in late May.

She was the only Capitals player named in the 21-woman squad that will be looking to impress and book a ticket for the World Cup, which will also be held in Sydney from September 22.

"From here it will be just working on my individual skills, getting stronger in the gym and then we have various camps in all different locations around Australia so I'll go to them," Melbourne said.

"So I'll go there, I'll put my best foot forward - I'm still young, I'm still learning so much along the way so any chance I get to go to a camp I'll just embrace it, soak it up like a sponge and if I can get my name on that final roster to go to the World Cup, to have it in our own backyard, it'd really be a dream come true."

When Melbourne returns to Canberra, hopefully after a successful World Cup-winning campaign, it could have a vastly different feel.

The Capitals have yet to replace WNBA-bound coach Paul Goriss and their roster for next season's still largely up in the air.

She's heard the rumours about who could be taking Goriss's place - Kristen Veal, Chris Lucas and Nat Hurst - but was unsure who would get appointed.

Melbourne will hopefully have a more prominent role for the Capitals with the season potentially a springboard into the WNBA.

"We've got a little bit of a chip on our shoulder after everything that unfolded with the COVID situation and getting taken out of finals," she said.

"I can't wait to get back up there in October and start pre-season, and give another championship a red-hot crack.

"It'll be a new coach, it will be a new group, but I'm sure everyone will embrace the Caps culture that they've built over so many years.

"Same goal in mind - go win a championship."

OPALS FRIENDLIES

May 27: Australia v Japan at Quaycentre, 7.30pm.

May 29: Australia v Japan at Quaycentre, 3pm.

May 31: Australia v Japan at Newcastle, 7.30pm.

Opals squad: Rebecca Allen, Zitina Aokuso, Sara Blicavs, Rebecca Cole, Keely Froling, Darcee Garbin, Cayla George, Shyla Heal, Ezi Magbegor, Tess Madgen, Anneli Maley, Jade Melbourne, Lauren Nicholson, Stephanie Reid, Maddison Rocci, Alanna Smith, Lauren Scherf, Stephanie Talbot, Marianna Tolo, Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb.