'Canberra has missed winning': Why this star spurned every rival team

All eight WNBL clubs made a play for the 21-year-old guard before she signed a new deal with the Capitals to play under coach Paul Goriss in Canberra again.

Now Melbourne is anxiously awaiting a call from Opals coach Sandy Brondello, who is set to name her squad for the Paris Olympic Games this week.

"Fingers are crossed. I've done everything within my power to showcase what I can do," Melbourne said.

"I've obviously missed the last few tours they've done but I think I had a great WNBL season, I think I did all I could when I was over with the team in Brazil. Whatever happens, happens. I'm hoping when I get that phone call later this week, I'm being told I'm going to the Olympics."

Melbourne's audition tape includes a scintillating WNBL season that saw her named Canberra's most valuable player and land a place in the league's all-first team.

Now Goriss says she is going from strength to strength after being traded from Seattle to Washington in the WNBA.

"The trade happened so quickly, it was the biggest whirlwind 24 hours I've ever experienced in my life," Melbourne said.

"You get told you're being traded, your dreams come crashing down and the next day you're in another locker room. I think it's been the best thing that could have happened to me.

"I'm a lot more myself out on the court now, Washington have put a lot of trust in me. My game has grown a lot and I'm taking a lot of confidence out of it."

The Capitals are on the verge of announcing more signings, with the club closing in on deals with a handful of players to ignite hope of a climb up the ladder.

"Canberra has missed winning. That's something I want to be a part of," Melbourne said. "There's so much more to be done in Canberra and for me in a Caps jersey."

Virtually every player Goriss has spoken to has asked the same thing: was Jade Melbourne going to be back at the Capitals?

There was a moment he thought she might not be with every other club in the league launching talks with one of the most exciting prospects in Australian basketball.

"It would have been easy for her to go to another team with more established players that has probably got a roster that is ready to win a championship right now," Goriss said.

"She could have done that. Being able to come back and build this for her is important to me. She had every other club reach out and give her an offer to go elsewhere.

"For a young player to have the kind of character she has had to stand by the club through good times and through bad just shows the true character of her and what she is as a person, as a leader, and what she wants to do for the Capitals. That was the biggest part for me.

"If we didn't get Jade, I was concerned about where the program would head, where we would be this season as far as recruitment, but also trying to win games. You need Opals to compete."

Jade Melbourne will return to the Canberra Capitals as the focal point of a rebuild in a huge coup for championship coach Paul Goriss.

The 21-year-old has signed a one-year deal to stay at the Capitals for the 2024-25 WNBL season as the club looks to rebound from consecutive wooden spoons.

Melbourne's signature is a major coup for Goriss, who is set to return to the helm of the club he led to back-to-back championships.

The Capitals coach made Melbourne's signature his No.1 priority, declaring: "she is the franchise player, she's the face of the Capitals".

"Her commitment and passion for the game are unparalleled, she is an amazing talent and still has so much more to give," Goriss said.

"We can't wait to see what the future holds for Jade Melbourne."

Rival clubs were preparing to target Melbourne the moment she entered free agency, with an out-clause in her contract allowing the rising star to test the waters following Kristen Veal's departure from Canberra.

But the star guard - who won the Capitals' most valuable player award and was named in the WNBL's all-star side last season - opted to re-sign to play under Goriss, the man who brought the smiling assassin into the league four years ago.

Melbourne is in the mix for an Olympic Games berth with the Opals having turned heads following her move to the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.

Now Goriss will be hoping Melbourne's decision will entice other players to sign with Canberra.

"You need one or two people to sign to start the domino effect," Goriss said.

"We saw that the year we signed Kelsey [Griffin] early on, it created a domino effect of people wanting to play with Kelsey. They knew what kind of program we were building.

"I have no doubt we've got our work cut out for us. I'm up for that challenge, but we've got to get the right people here to start with."

Melbourne is the third player on Canberra's books for next season, joining Nicole Munger and Jayda Clark as the Capitals look to bounce back from two forgettable seasons.

"Together, we are building something really special," Melbourne said.

"I'm excited to contribute to our continued growth towards success. I'm thrilled to continue representing this awesome team and its loyal fan base for a fifth year."