The signing came "out of the blue" but the Canberra Capitals have filled the final spot on their roster with New Zealand international Chevannah Paalvast.
The former Townsville Fire championship-winner wasn't sure if she would play in the WNBL again before reaching out to Capitals coach Paul Goriss at the FIBA Asia Cup.
Paalvast was on Tall Ferns duties while Goriss was assistant coach of Australia and she took the chance to float her interest in linking up with the Canberra mentor full-time.
Following a chat with Capitals fan favourite and Paalvast's former teammate Kate Gaze, Goriss decided locking in the Kiwi star was a no-brainer.
Paalvast will pull on a Capitals jersey for the first time when they host Japanese outfit the Fujitsu Red Wave at the Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Friday night.
"I was in India playing in the Asian Cup, 'Gorrie' was obviously assistant coach there and I thought I'd approach him and ask him if he had a spot for me," Paalvast said.
"I decided late that I wanted to keep playing in the WNBL and he was kind enough to have me here.
"I actually hadn't really worked with Gorrie at all, I'd basically heard good things about him and heard he's a fun coach and I decided he would be really good for development.
"I heard nothing but good things about the team as well and it's evident in the way they've just welcomed me in and everyone is really kind. I'm enjoying it so far, it's good."
Paalvast played college basketball for the Monmouth Hawks in New Jersey and has been a regular in the New Zealand line-up for the past two years.
Goriss has seen Paalvast up close after clashing three times last season and he hopes she can help launch the Capitals back into title contention.
The 26-year-old adds balance to a 12-woman roster brimming with youngsters and veterans looking to help Canberra to their first finals series in six years.
"What always struck me about Chevannah was a defensive effort and her athleticism," Goriss said.
"That's an area that we still needed to improve on, so she was a great fit for us coming into this season.
"When we signed Chev she was literally like 'when do you want me here? I'll come straight away'. We gave her a week off after playing for Mackay in the QBL and she wanted to be on the next plane out."
Goriss says Paalvast's signing is evidence the Capitals are "starting to build a culture and a reputation" as a place where players can take their game to another level.
"It's a nice feeling knowing that people want to come and play for the Caps and we're making it a destination that young players want to come and start to ply their trade and improve their game," Goriss said.
"Now we're starting to get some veterans who want to come here and play. It's nice as a coach but part of it is, we've got to get wins on the board too."
CAPITALS PRE-SEASON GAME
Friday: Canberra Capitals v Fujitsu Red Wave at Belconnen Basketball Stadium, 6.30pm.
CANBERRA CAPITALS WNBL DRAW
October 6: Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
October 8: Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at National Convention Centre, 3pm
October 13: Townsville Fire v Capitals at Townsville, 7pm.
October 15: Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at National Convention Centre, 3pm.
October 22: Capitals v Dandenong Rangers at National Convention Centre, 3pm.
October 25: Adelaide Lightning v Capitals at Adelaide, 7pm.
October 27: Capitals v Townsville Fire at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
November 2: Sydney Flames v Capitals at Sydney, 7pm.
November 4: Capitals v Sydney Flames at National Convention Centre, 3pm.
November 11: Perth Lynx v Capitals at Perth, 9.30pm.
November 18: Melbourne Boomers v Capitals at Melbourne, 3pm.
November 25: Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at Melbourne, 5pm.
November 30: Perth Lynx v Capitals at Perth, 9.30pm.
December 2: Melbourne Boomers v Capitals at Melbourne, 7.30pm.
December 7: Capitals v Sydney Flames at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
December 9: Dandenong Rangers v Capitals at Dandenong, 7pm.
December 14: Bendigo Spirit v Capitals at Bendigo, 7pm.
December 17: Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at National Convention Centre, 3pm.
December 21: Capitals v Townsville at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
December 23: Dandenong Rangers v Capitals at Dandenong, 6.30pm.
December 29: Capitals v Perth Lynx at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
