Canberra Capitals player Alex Bunton. Photo: Jeffrey Chan
She has been cleared to make her return from injury this weekend, but centre Alex Bunton will delay a decision on whether to recommit to the Canberra Capitals until the end of the season.
The ACT junior is off contract after this campaign and has expressed her desire to stay and help her home club rebuild after another lean season.
Lauren Jackson is due to return to the Capitals next season, re-establishing a formidable partnership with Opals national teammate Abby Bishop.
Bunton's dilemma will be to stay at the Capitals and be an apprentice to the star ''bigs'' or chase more court time elsewhere.
Bunton has been a regular starter in her second year with Canberra and is averaging nine points and eight rebounds a game, but would likely drop back to the bench if she decides to stay.
''After this season I'm off contract, I'm still exploring my options and I won't make any decisions until the end of the season on where I'm going to go or if I'm going to stay,'' she said.
''It [interest from other clubs] is exciting but Canberra's a great team, you never know where I'm going to go.
''I like it here, I love the team and Graffy's [Carrie Graf's] a good coach, there's no negatives, so they're one of my high-listers. It's good to stay in the one place instead of hopping from team to team. It's definitely nice to think you could be part of a team which could become champions again.''
The 20-year-old has been cleared to play against Bendigo (home) and Sydney (away) this weekend after missing Canberra's two losses before Christmas against Logan with a broken nose.
Canberra (5-10) faces the unlikely task of winning at least eight of its last nine matches to make the finals. Friday's clash against defending champions Bendigo (13-1) shapes as the last thing the Capitals want, but Bunton said it was a chance to earn back respect.
''Everyone was pretty down before we went away on our break, but we know it's not the end of the season and you have to play it out, no matter what position you're in,'' she said.
''We have to come out stronger and show the league we're not just putting up with it any more and stir up a few teams.
''The good thing about our team culture is we don't hang our heads, we keep on going.''
WNBL: Friday - Canberra Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at AIS Arena, 7pm. Saturday - Sydney Uni Flames v Canberra Capitals at Brydens Stadium, 7pm.
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