Sissoko is known as a versatile player of great speed and agility. Photo: Rex Bergas.
As a young girl, it was ballet or basketball for Kadi Sissoko, and luckily for the UC Capitals, the latter won out.
The French import has joined the team for its 25/26 season in the latest move in a career that’s seen rapid progression.
A versatile player of great speed and agility, Sissoko played college basketball at Syracuse, Minnesota, and USC, for French national youth teams including the U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U23, and was selected in the third round of the 2023 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury.
She also played in the EuroCup Women, most recently for Villeneuve-d’Ascq in the 2024/25 season.
But basketball wasn’t always Sissoko’s plan. Her talent was spotted serendipitously at age 11 while she was casually shooting hoops at her big sister’s game.
“I was just the little kid shooting half-court shots during timeout, and one day my sister’s head coach told my parents, ‘I think she should try out — I see something’,” she says.
“I had been doing ballet til then, and I had to choose. I chose basketball.
“I had to learn to be physical in a different way, and it was hard work. If I’m being honest, I didn’t like it at first, but I was good at it. It was winning I liked. It played into my natural competitiveness.”
Kadi Sissoko with UC Capitals teammate Nyadiew Puoch. Photo: UC Capitals.
The offer to play for the UC Caps came at the right time in her career.
Sissoko was ready to leave Europe on a new adventure and already had a connection to UC Capitals head coach Paul Goriss.
“My agent reached out to him, and it turns out, he saw me playing in my time with Phoenix Mercury, and remembered me,” Sissoko says. “I knew a couple of WNBL players were coming in to play for the team, and I like the vision for the team, so I said ‘Sign me up’.”
Sissoko is a forward for the UC Capitals, but has guard skills, can handle the ball, run the floor, shoot and finish.
This versatility is considered one of the player’s major strengths — and she’s not alone.
“We have multiple players that can play multiple positions, including Sara Blicavs and Jayda Clark … Having numerous triple threats is a great advantage.”
The UC Capitals are getting all their ducks in a row this season, not only assembling a team of great chemistry, but a team of high-performance professionals to support them on and off the court.
They’re shooting for the top four this year, a goal Sissoko believes is lofty but achievable.
“We’ve had some tough losses, but there is something to take from wins and losses alike. I see growth, and I truly believe in our capacity to bounce back and show a better version of ourselves every game,” she says.
“We’re putting in the work, and every time we step foot on court, we’re poised to bring the energy every time.”
The UC Capitals extinguished the Sydney Flames last week in a decisive 96 to 56 win.
Next, they face off with Perth Lynx on Saturday, 29 November at AIS Arena.
Tickets can be booked via Ticketek.
