The Canberra Capitals have been hit with a major blow in the WNBL off-season, losing rising star Ezi Magbegor to rivals the Melbourne Boomers.
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But the Capitals are poised to make moves of their own as early as Thursday, with the seven-time WNBL champions expected to unveil two signings to bolster their lean roster.
The Capitals thought emerging Australian Opal Magbegor was set to move her career to the United States college system after a standout season in Canberra.
Instead, she will link with Capitals legend Lauren Jackson at the Boomers on a three-year deal to stay in Melbourne.
The Capitals are trying to rebuild their roster around recruits Kelsey Griffin and Leilani Mitchell, while Lauren Scherf is also returning after last season.
Australian University Games representative Keely Froling is expected to join them this week as coach Paul Goriss continues discussions with several players.
Griffin's ambition to turn the Canberra Capitals into more than "one-hit wonders" is edging closer to reality with the club set to announce two more signings.
Griffin is on board for two seasons while Scherf and Mitchell's deals will expire at the end of the season as the Capitals look to snap a seven-year finals drought.
"As far as I understand, they're not only trying to find talented players but the right people," Griffin said.
"We're trying to build something special that has a lot to do with the kind of character that we're recruiting. That's something I'm really excited about, to not be one-hit wonders but to really go about building something that hopefully will turn into something special.
"Sometimes those things take time, and you might as well sit down and do it right instead of rushing the process."
Griffin has been in rebuilding programs before - in fact she relishes it.
When she joined the Nebraska Cornhuskers college program in 2005 they were battling to win a game. She left as an All-American star with the Cornhuskers setting school records and eventually retiring her jersey.
That's why a part of the former No. 3 WNBA draft pick will always be in the United States - but she will soon permanently relocate to Canberra from Bendigo, where she spent six seasons with the Spirit.
"Part of my life is here, part of my life is still in Bendigo, and part of my life is going to be over in America," Griffin said.
"I'm a bit all over the shop but it's exciting. I'm excited about the move and I think there has been something on every single weekend since I've been here which is pretty exciting, compared to coming from Bendigo where it's a bit sleepier."
Griffin was at Belconnen Basketball Stadium last week to take part in Basketball ACT's 'Mums Who Ball' program, which invites women to play a drop-in social game every Tuesday, with a Friday program set to be launched in the wake of the concept's success.
"One of the things that I love about Australia is all of these different groups that get together and play no matter what age you're at," Griffin said.
"In America if you don't go pro, it's hard to find that niche where you can keep being active and it's awesome to find things like that in Canberra. I'm excited to discover more stuff like that as part of my move here.
"I was asked if I have any kids and I was like 'no, I've got fur babies and I don't know if that qualifies me to get to join in with the mums'. A great group of people here to be active and have a laugh, so it's fun."
Meanwhile, junior duo Emma Rowcliffe and Issie Bourne have been picked in the Australian under-19s squad as they continue their rise through the ranks.
