Retiring WNBL champion Carly Wilson has backed Marianna Tolo to lead an Australian basketball revival, tipping the three-time Canberra Capitals' most valuable player as a future Opals captain.
Tolo completed a stunning comeback from a knee reconstruction by winning the Capitals' top individual prize at an awards function on Thursday night.
It also signalled the end of her immediate future in Canberra as she weighs up offers from European clubs for a chance to test herself again on the international stage.
Tolo, who was also named the WNBL's defensive player of the year earlier this week, stamped herself as one of Australia's best to average 18 points and eight rebounds per game.
Capitals co-captain Wilson, who ended her 363-game career two weeks ago, said Tolo's performances proved she could be a key cog in Australia's hopes of an international revival.
The Opals failed to win a medal at the Rio Olympic Games last year for the first time since 1992 and there's a changing of the guard after the retirement of stars Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor.
"Tolo can do it all, there's nothing that woman can't do," Wilson said.
"She's the entire package. The next step for her is cementing herself in that Opals team.
"She's been to an Olympics and she's been to a world championships, she's someone who's really got that leadership and work ethic to become potentially a captain of the Australian team."
Wilson won the players' player prize in the final season of her decorated career while rising guard Abbey Wehrung won the club's rising star award and Kate Gaze won the fan award.
Tolo, who won back to back Capitals MVP prizes in 2009-10 and 2010-11, also claimed the Kellie Abrams defensive player of the year award.
The Capitals will experience their own changing of the guard next year as they step into their first season since 2008 without Tolo and Wilson, who shared the captaincy duties this year.
Coach Paul Goriss has put his faith in a new breed of players and it is hoped several will commit to new deals in the coming weeks.
The Capitals haven't made the finals since 2011 and fell just one win short of breaking their drought to give Wilson a fairytale send off.
Wilson started her WNBL career 18 years ago and won WNBL championships with the Capitals and the Dandenong Rangers.
"I feel like [the awards night] was the final piece in the puzzle and it closes that chapter in my life," Wilson said.
"I haven't had time to fully process it, but I think that will start now. Everything has come full circle and feels like it was the right time for me.
"I feel really comfortable with that for me so I think there's some good closure there for me.
"There are some players who have been around and know the culture, hopefully they can take it to the next level next season.
"The core in all that is Gorrie. He's the one who set the bar and changed the way everything worked. So the bonus is that he's going to continue."
CAPITALS AWARD WINNERS
Most valuable player: Marianna Tolo
Capital on the rise: Abbey Wehrung
Players' player award: Carly Wilson
Capitals fan favourite: Kate Gaze
Kellie Abrams defensive player of the year: Marianna Tolo
