Canberra Capitals guard Michelle Cosier had tears in her eyes when four-year-old son Brodie held up a sign saying, "We love you mum", in her first game in 18 months.
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After taking time off for the birth of her second child, an ankle reconstruction and a torn hamstring, Cosier was eased back slowly into the WNBL in the Capitals' 101-72 rout of the Dandenong Rangers at the AIS Arena on Saturday.
The 32-year-old scored five points and logged nine minutes in her 227th national league appearance, coming off the bench near the end of the first quarter and returning for the final six minutes when the result was wrapped up.
Watching on from the grandstands was eldest son Brodie and the newest addition to the Cosier family, eight-month old Levi.
Husband Simon was up in Sydney preparing to referee the WNBL game between the Sydney Uni Flames and Adelaide Lightning and tuned into the live broadcast on ABC TV.
"The four-year-old made me a sign that said, 'We love you mum'. I saw him at the start of the game holding it up and I started tearing up," Cosier said.
"That was good to have them there.
"I'm happy to get some game time under my belt after having 18 months off after having a baby, an ankle reco and a torn hamstring."
Cosier said she was about "70 per cent fit" as she continues to manage her workload.
She underwent an ankle operation in May, then suffered another blow when she tore her hamstring five weeks ago, delaying her start to the season.
Cosier is expected to be available for Wednesday night's road game against the Sydney Uni Flames.
Her experience and ability on both the offensive and defensive ends will make her a valuable part of the Capitals' bench rotation.
"Coming off the bench, being a spark player, I'm happy to do that," Cosier said.
"We've got a really talented team this year, we've got so many weapons.
"If she (coach Carrie Graf) doesn't play me, she's doesn't play me, I still love the game.
"As long as we win, that's the main thing."
Led by captain Abby Bishop's 20 points in the first quarter and 28 for the game, the Capitals also made the most of their possessions in the win over the Rangers.
"The key thing for us over the last couple of weeks was limiting our turnovers and we only had 11 yesterday," Cosier said.
"There's been those signs there this season, but the turnovers have killed us.
"Yesterday was some good signs."