Sara Blicavs returns from spinal injury to sign with WNBL Canberra Capitals

In a press conference with assembled media, Blicavs shared how it felt to return to the sport: “for me, I think I’m just at a stage in my life where I want to play happy and I want to play freely and confidently.”

This signing comes as a great indication of Blicavs’ improving health. After suffering a spinal injury late in 2023, she decided to undergo a spinal fusion and disc replacement surgery. But the decision was not an easy one:

“It was a really tough time in my life,” Blicavs shared. “I was really, really flat for three weeks straight. I knew it had to be done. I just hit the point where quality of life was not there anymore. It wasn’t even about basketball anymore. It was just about being able to get off the couch comfortably and not be scared when I sneezed. Feeling like that at 30 is not normal.”

Tune in to Locked On Women’s Basketball

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Listen now!

As for the recovery, Blicavs added, “I’m so overwhelmed by it. I just never thought I would actually be in this position. I didn’t know if I was going to play basketball again let alone at the standard that I’m playing at now. I feel like I’m 23 years old again, and it’s just given me such motivation to keep continuing on with basketball and see how far I can go as well.”

She continued, “at the same time, I’m just so grateful to be able to be back on the floor and playing. I’m just playing for fun now, it’s just really enjoyable. I like working hard and seeing how much I can push myself now. I haven’t felt pain free in so long and it’s it’s such a new feeling for me.”

Blicavs has been getting her reps in with the Melbourne Tigers, who compete in the Australian semi-professional league, the NBL1. Alongside fellow Australian Opal Isobel Borlase, the forward has been putting up 19.6 points per night along with eight rebounds and two stocks (steals plus blocks). The team currently sits in the middle of standings.

Blicavs and Borlase, as well as Aokuso, will team up to represent Australia in the Asia Cup, with Canberra Capitals head coach Paul Goriss at the helm. Blicavs says she is elated to suit up for the Opals once again: “I didn’t know if I would be playing basketball, but here I am in the green and gold,” she said. “I am very grateful that [Sandy Brondello] has given me the opportunity to be back in the team. Feeling comfortable out there as well was huge. I felt great on that floor and I just know it’s going to get better and better and I love playing for Australia. I love playing at that level. I love it when games are harder, more physical. You know, there’s more on the line. It’s just a really enjoyable environment to be a part of.”

Goriss could barely hide his excitement after recruiting Blicavs to Canberra, sharing in the press conference: “it’s a great signing for us welcoming someone of Sara’s capability and experience into our team here in Canberra. One of the key cornerstones in recruitment and free agency that we wanted was experience. We wanted leadership.”

“Sara’s an added bonus as a multiple championship winner as well as an Australian Opal,” he added. “It’s not every day that you have those kind of quality players that that want to come to Canberra, putting together an elite team to contend for a top four spot and win a championship. Sara will be a key piece of that.”

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

Canberra have been very active in the early stages of WNBL free agency. So far, they’ve been able to attract and retain talent, with an emphasis on Australia’s local product. This includes Jade Melbourne, who has been a key part of the Washington Mystics turnaround this season.

The fit between Blicavs and her counter-part Melbourne is striking. As Blicavs puts it, “I’m a really big kid at heart. Like, for me, I match Jade Melbourne’s personality, and she’s, what? What is she, 22 years old, and I’m 32, so, I think I’ll be fine in that aspect.”

Melbourne is currently third on the Mystics in assists per game and fifth in scoring. She’s shooting a WNBA career high 40% on the three ball, all while providing hounding defense that’s characteristic of the Capitals’ style of play. The experience and leadership Blicvas brings should complement Melbourne’s strengths.

Blicavs explained how her fit with the Capitals was imperative, noting, “I didn’t watch many WNBL games, I kind of stayed away from it last season. The ones that I did watch, honestly, were majority Canberra and again, phenomenal talent, great team, but definitely lacked that experience and that leadership as well. I think that’s just something that I’m going to provide and something that I really want to do. I want the best for anyone, especially anyone younger than me. I just want to make sure they’re confident and they’re feeling great about themselves. I’ll try and implement that.”

She continued, “And, hopefully just my calmness out on court. I’m not as a radical and crazy as I used to be anymore, so hopefully that will kind of flow throughout the team. I’m really excited for what can happen with us this year.”

Goriss added his thoughts on how Blicavs fits into the Capitals’ roster: “her size, she can shoot over smaller defenders, she can post up smaller defenders, she can cut, she can play just a multitude of ways. That is really going to enhance our playing style and I think really elevate how we like play the game. And obviously because of like the way that she plays, it’ll fit into the running style and how we want to play fast up the floor and we needed to get bigger size all round.”

Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at BAlarie@theixsports.com to discuss ways to work together.

There’s an excitement among the Capitals; Jade Melbourne won the WNBL fan MVP last season, combining her connection to the fans with her on court excellence. They attracted Aokuso and Blicavs both to Canberra and back to the WNBL. The two bring great basketball as well as being fan favorites.

Their roster also contains the young talents of Monique Bobongie, Jayda Clark and 2024 WNBA first-round pick Nyadiew Puoch. These are terrific depth pieces to supplement their three-headed monster of Australian Opals.

Blicavs gave some insight into her interest in leading a young unit, “I know when I was really young, I went through a bout of being really low on confidence because a certain player or two really ripped me down and they were older. From that moment on I vowed that I would never be like that with young players at all. Like for me, I just want to build that confidence up and get the best out of them.”

She went on to joke, “and, you know, living in Canberra, what else is there to do except bond with the team and hang out with the players?”

Blicavs brings leadership and experience to an exciting group and is a great fit on and off the court. Her addition to the Canberra Capitals has them staring a successful season dead in the eyes.