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In a year where six Canberra-based teams reached at least the semi-finals of their respective competitions, it was fitting that the only team who actually claimed a title would take out the Team of the Year at the CBR Sport Awards on Friday night.
The Canberra Capitals' eighth WNBL Championship earlier this year only further underlined their standing as the ACT's most successful elite sporting team.
A chance to break the drought for the Raiders captivated the public's imaginations.
But Capitals co-captain Marianna Tolo said being awarded team of the year by CBR Sport Awards was an acknowledgement of women's sports.
"It's huge, and it speaks volumes for Canberra sport and what they recognise, and what they've done for us here," Tolo said.
"I think it's a very good community where they support women's sport, and it has shown through the awards."
Canberra presents a unique case on the elite sporting landscape nationally.
While winter remains the domain for the football codes — and where the Raiders and Brumbies dominate — summertime is when the elite women's teams shine.
And the comradery between the teams is strong.
"We like hanging around the Canberra United girls, going to their games and supporting them when we can. We haven't been to an ACT Meteors game yet, but we'll try and get to one this season," Tolo said.
"Summer is a good time where women's sport kicks off, and I think lots of fans like to try all of it."
That presents a challenge in itself: how to convert those occasional summer fans into every-game diehards — like the football codes enjoy in winter.
"We see the staff working so hard to get people to games, and we're taking care of business on-court, all that we can do is hope people come now," Tolo said.
The success of the WNBL team came almost a decade after the Capitals' last grand final series appearance and spoke to the quality of the rebuild coach Paul Goriss undertook in the lead-in to the 2018-19 season.
"It is great, I also do think it's deserved," co-captain Kelsey Griffin said of the Capitals' Team of the Year win.
"I think what we were able to achieve, and you look at the turnaround, that team wasn't something that was building over years and years and it came together.
"I feel like everyone bought into Goz's vision really quickly, and we were able to build something really special in a quick amount of time.
"So I think it's definitely a deserved recognition, but I am also very grateful for it."
For now, the Capitals' WNBL title defence remains on track after last night's 87-78 win over Townsville, their sixteenth straight win in Canberra — and Canberra has always loved a winner.
The Capitals will continue riding their wave of success, as Canberra's Team of the Year pushes ahead toward its target of a ninth championship.
Topics: basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act
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