CANBERRA, Australia (Sept. 16, 2025) -- Former Stonehill women's basketball point guard Sharn Hayward '25, recently signed a deal with the University of Canberra Capitals as a development player. The UC Capitals are part of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), an 8-team professional basketball league in Australia.

After graduating from Stonehill in May, Hayward spent the summer with the Willetton Tigers in the NBL1 West, where she averaged 11.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, helping contribute to a Tigers team that made the finals last season.

Hayward was chosen as an NEC All-Conference first-team selection after recording a program record 11 Prime Performer nods and three Player of the Week awards. Hayward excelled from deep for the Skyhawks, putting together one of the best seasons in Stonehill history. Her 99 three-pointers made throughout the 2024-25 season shattered the single season program record set in 2017-18 by Courtney Walsh, '18, who knocked down 83 shots from long range. Hayward ranks fifth all-time in program history in three-pointers made with 190. Hayward's 16.1 points per game led the team and ranked second in the conference while her 38.4 percent (99-258) clip from deep and 86.0 percent (49-57) mark from the free throw line also ranked second in the NEC. The Penguin, Tasmania native, ranked third in the country and topped the conference with 3.4 three-pointers per game. Her 99 threes made was the fifth most in all of DI. She had a team-best 24 double-digit scoring games as well as nine games with at least 20 points. 

"You only ever hear good things on and off the court about the Caps, so to be a part of that this season is something very special and then to be able to compete against some of the best players every day is an incredible opportunity that not everyone gets," said Hayward. "I want to continue to get better and I know I'll be in an environment where I will be pushed every day, so I want to use this experience to learn as much as I can and take that knowledge to ultimately be a WNBL rostered player down the line." (Credit: UC Capitals Website).

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