The Australian Women's Register

Formed in Canberra in 1984, the Capitals won the Australian Women’s Basketball Conference in 1985, and entered the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) in 1986. The introduction of coach Carrie Graf in 1999 saw the Capitals win their first WNBL title in the 1999/2000 season. This win was followed up with several more in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The 2003 win was coached by Tom Maher.

Many Capitals players have also played for the Australian Opals, including Tully Bevilaqua, Jenny Cheesman, Sue Geh, Lucille Bailie (Hamilton), Fiona Robinson, Shelley Sandie, Jenny Whittle, Eleanor Sharp and Lauren Jackson.

The Capitals have been named ACT Team of the Year four times and Carrie Graf has been ACT Coach of the Year three times while coaching the Capitals. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2004, the WNBL announced an anniversary team of 10 players and coach. Three Capitals were included in the honorary team: Lauren Jackson, Shelley Sandie and Jenny Cheesman, with Capitals coach Tom Maher named anniversary coach. In 2012, the Capitals were given a plaque on the ACT Honour Walk, located on Ainslie Place between London Circuit and City Walk in Civic, celebrating their contribution to the Canberra community.

The Canberra Capitals are owned and managed by ACT Basketball Incorporated, a part of Basketball Canberra which oversees all ACT basketball programs. This association allows the Capitals to maintain a grass roots relationship with the developing teams and players of the Canberra region. The team has enjoyed great commercial success, drawing the largest crowds in the WNBL and unequalled sponsorship agreements.