Canberra Capitals coach Carrie Graf has admitted the shock withdrawal of key recruit Ann Wauters has made them "vulnerable" just six weeks out from WNBL season tip-off, but insists there's no cause for panic.
Belgian international centre Wauters informed the club on Wednesday she would be unable to honour her contract, with her mother failing to recover fully from a stroke.
It's a huge blow to an already undermanned roster, with just nine players officially signed before the season-opener against Dandenong on October 10.
Star centre Lauren Jackson, who is making another comeback from knee surgery, is currently the only post player on the Capitals squad.
Former Australian Opals coach Graf was already on the hunt for two back-up posts but is now scouring the globe for a starter to play alongside Jackson.
Point guard Kathleen MacLeod (Dandenong) is the only new recruit confirmed next year, with the Capitals parting ways with reigning WNBL most valuable player Abby Bishop, Kristen Veal, Michelle Cosier, Sam Norwood, Tara Hay and Sarah McAppion.
"It makes us vulnerable right now, we need to turn that into opportunity," Graf said. "I spoke to her [Wauters] on Wednesday night and in her email she was apologetic, and had never done this in her career before.
"It's far from perfect, but some things are out of your hands. I've been madly reaching out to my networks around the world and contacting agents, it's never an ideal process when most players are already locked in at Europe.
"We were in the market for two back-up spots and I'm confident in the next week we'll have one or two in place, the critical thing is we need a starter. You've just got to cop it on the chin and hope there's a silver lining, the Caps are due for a few breaks."
Capitals veteran Jess Bibby is still confident the team has enough quality to be capable of ending its four-year play-off drought. But she admitted Jackson can't be expected to play huge minutes given her limited court time through injury the past few years.
"Obviously we're not in a ideal situation roster-wise with lots of depth," she said. "As good as the reports are about how Lauren is tracking, there's always going to be that question mark until you see her out there on the floor.
"We can't be expecting Lauren, who hasn't been playing a lot for a few years, for her own health you can't have her playing 40 minutes. Obviously, we need more size and I know Graffy is frantically trying to organise something."
