Canberra Capitals' horror run of injuries has continued with guard Kate Gaze succumbing to a niggling foot injury.
The niece of Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze will miss a busy pre-Christmas WNBL schedule and is expected to be sidelined for the next six weeks.
Gaze had been playing with pain in her foot and an MRI scan over the weekend confirmed she was suffering stress reactions.
After a slow start to the season interrupted by a back injury, she was beginning to play freely in the last two weekends leading the offence at guard.
Just this week she was picked in the league's team of the round for her 18 points against former side the Townsville Fire, shooting at 75 per cent beyond the three-point arc.
She will be missed by guard partner Lauren Mansfield, who will shoulder more responsibility again in the coming weeks.
"She played a great game on the weekend," Mansfield said. "She was just starting to find her groove but it gives an opportunity for other teammates to step up and fill that role."
Injury setbacks have been a regular headache for Capitals coach Paul Goriss over the opening two months of the WNBL season.
Gaze missed the opening game with a back injury, US import Jazmon Gwathmey has been restricted with soreness, Abigail Wehrung missed a number of weeks and Alice Coddington is yet to make an appearance this season.
Goriss will now rely on Wehrung, Janelle Adams and Daramalan College student Callie Bourne to provide relief for Mansfield.
"Slowly we're getting Abby Wehrung back, she's still not 100 per cent but slowly she's coming back into our main rotation and we'll be hoping she can provide a few more minutes," Goriss said.
Gaze's injury is a cruel blow for the re-emerging Capitals coming off a season-best win over the defending champions Townsville.
They will now play last season's runners-up Perth Lynx on Sunday.
The Lynx will be buoyed by the signing of American Brianna Butler. Butler holds the Syracuse record for career three-pointers (373) and is expected to make an impact at the small forward position.
With Sami Whitcomb and former Capital Carley Mijovic, the Lynx team will be a constant threat from beyond the arc.
WNBL ROUND 8
Sunday: Canberra Capitals v Perth Lynx, Tuggeranong Stadium, 2pm.
