Both are capital cities brimming with government buildings - "you guys call it Parliament House, we’ve got the White House". She even thinks the weather is similar.

So it's just like home for the Canberra Capitals import, right?

"Kind of, except I saw a kangaroos dash across a street, and you don’t have that in Washington D.C.," McLaren laughed.

"I had to get used to that but other than that it is pretty similar."

McLaren has joined the Capitals on a short-term contract to fill the void left by superstar Marianna Tolo for the opening months of the WNBL season.

She suited up for the Capitals in their first official pre-season game against the Aisin AW Wings at the Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Tuesday night.

The 30-year-old admits the fact her contract only runs until the start of December makes it a strange assignment, with Tolo due to return in November following her second anterior cruciate ligament tear.

"It’s tough, it is very difficult. You never know what can happen, maybe I can sign an extension throughout, I have no idea, if that’s a possibility - please," McLaren said.

"Tolo is a great player, I can’t replace her. I’m just going to be the best Kaili I can be and hopefully when she comes back we’ll be able to gel and mesh.

"There’s a lot of good players in Australia and it has always been a dream of mine to come and play here. For me to have the opportunity, I’m very grateful.

"A lot of people want to play here, but not everybody gets the opportunity to. I’m very grateful for that."

Canberra coach Paul Goriss says McLaren is set to play a huge role for the Capitals as the club looks to snap a seven-year finals drought.

But he hasn't been on hand to welcome her to Canberra, instead watching from afar as he fulfils his duties as an Australian Opals assistant coach during the World Cup in Spain.

Goriss has left Phil Brown and Carly Wilson in charge during his absence, but they only had eight fit players at their disposal with a handful of youngsters filling the void in their pre-season clash with the Japanese outfit.

Kelsey Griffin will start competitive practice next week following a hamstring tear, while Kristy Wallace and Tolo won't be rushed back from injury.

Kia Nurse is playing at the World Cup for Canada, a tournament Australia's "premier point guard" Leilani Mitchell was forced to withdraw from with plantar fasciitis pain.

Mitchell is undergoing a rehabilitation program and Brown hopes she will be fit for round one against the Sydney Flames on October 12.

"It’s a really good opportunity for the young ones, because for some of them it is their first step into the WNBL environment, so it is a big step up," Brown said.

"It is an opportunity for these players to develop their role and get some runs on the board, and grab these opportunities to see where they are going to fit into our rotations.

"Two or three weeks away from the season opener, it’s a great opportunity for these players to establish themselves in our group and potentially grab some really critical minutes. We need to get wins early in the season."