Nat Hurst, the current UC Capitals senior assistant coach and seven-time WNBL Champion, former Australian Opal, and Basketball ACT Life Member brings all her knowledge, leadership, and local passion back to the Canberra Nationals NBL1 East program for 2026.

Hurst is excited to return to the role and says WNBL and international experience has already improved her as a coach since she last led the Nationals in 2020 and 2021.

“I just feel really grateful to be able to come back, almost full circle into this role and see where my growth as a coach can take the program.

“I want to see more players come through the Canberra Basketball pipeline, and to be a part of that feels really special.”

Hurst made the transition into coaching while still playing in the WNBL, and jumped at the chance to get her first taste as a Head Coach with the Nationals, in what she describes as “interesting times” as the COVID pandemic took hold five years ago. But right from the start, Nat says she knew coaching was where she was heading.

“Towards the end of my career, especially the last season in Adelaide with Chris Lucas, I kind of stepped into a hybrid player assistant coaching role. I really loved it and knew that exactly what I wanted to do next.

The growth of the game in Canberra and the ACT, as well as being back in the Nation’s Capital after linking up with Paul Goriss at the Caps, excited Hurst most about taking the helm for the Nationals.

“To see Canberra kids coming through that program, it’s a program that I came through, it’s the way that I went from step to step to make the Caps.

“To see that growth, I want to help continue that. We’ve got two locals at the Caps this season, both great people, but both great basketballers and getting rewarded for all the hard work that they’ve done.

“We’re working through the Nationals roster build as we speak. And even before, you know, my name was on a piece of paper, we were already making phone calls.

“So hopefully we can bring back a nice core of that team that have had the last few years together, and add a couple of nice pieces too. 

And with a growing partnership and future collaborations in place between Basketball ACT and the UC Capitals, Hurst says is unequivocal about the importance of female pathways in the ACT.

“It’s the most important thing to me.

“Had that not been there when I was a junior, I don’t know if I would have been lucky enough to play for the Capitals, to win Championships and to be part of those special playing groups. 

“It’s extremely important to me that we continue to build that.”

First puzzle piece locked in for the Gunners

2025 NBL1 East Coach of the Year Pete Herak will return to lead the Canberra Gunners NBL1 East and National Championship defence, confirming he’ll continue as Head Coach for another season.

With National Finals MVP Will Mayfield gaining overseas experience, and Glenn Morison playing in Sweden over the Australian summer, Pete is already busy at work locking down his roster as all eyes turn to the quest for back-to-back Championships.