25
Jan
Watch Now
Jade's triple double is jewel in crown of Capitals win
Jade Melbourne of the Capitals drives to the bucket during the round 13 WNBL match between Canberra Capitals and Southside Flyers at AIS Arena on January 25, 2025, in Canberra. Photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
Jade Melbourne and Charli Collier lead UC Capitals to solid 15-point win
- Capitals Jade Melbourne records rare WNBL triple double
- Charli Collier drops 19 on 9-from-14 from the field
- Capitals go to 6-11 while Southside drops to 4-13
WNBA and Opals point guard Jade Melbourne delivered a 15-10-10 triple double as the UC Capitals overwhelmed the injury-riddled Southside Flyers 94-79 (Game Centre) in a round 13 WNBL clash on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
Led by a breakout performance from American import Charli Collier, the Capitals seized control early and never looked back.
The Capitals set the tone from the opening tip, racing out to a 28-14 lead after the first quarter behind Collier's efficient inside scoring and Jade Melbourne's playmaking. While the Flyers attempted to claw back in the second period, cutting the deficit to single digits, the Capitals' depth and defensive intensity proved too much to overcome.
As the second half unfolded, it became clear that the Flyers had no answer for the Capitals' multi-pronged attack. Every time Southside seemed poised to make a run, UC would respond with timely buckets.
The stat sheet tells the tale of the Capitals' dominance. They outshot the Flyers 48.1% to 36.0% from the field and dominated the glass with a 54-37 rebounding advantage. Perhaps most impressively, UC racked up 24 assists to Southside's 10, showcasing the unselfish, team-first approach.
At the heart of the Capitals' victory was the stellar play of Charli Collier. She poured in 19 points on an efficient 9-from-14 shooting, while also grabbing six rebounds in just 20 minutes. Her ability to score in the post and draw defensive attention opened up opportunities for her teammates all afternoon.
While Collier may have led the way in scoring, it was Jade Melbourne who orchestrated the Capitals' attack. The WNBA point point recorded a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a masterful all-around performance. Her ability to push the pace in transition and find open shooters kept the Flyers' defence on its heels all afternoon.
