Rival teams are quickly taking notice of Kaili McLaren on the court but she just can't work out why the Canberra Capitals won't take her seriously off it.
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First McLaren jumped into a press conference and asked Kelly Wilson why the team calls her "supergirl", then she snuck into another media scrum to question coach Paul Goriss following Canberra's thrilling win over Adelaide.
"There were some chants for coach Brownie to come in and take over as coach, especially in that first half, what do you have to say about that?"
A wide grin across his face, Goriss replied "I say get out of my face Kaili", before breaking into laughter.
"I don’t know why they don’t take me seriously, but maybe one day it’ll happen," McLaren said.
In all seriousness, Goriss wouldn't change a thing about McLaren as the Capitals prepare to return to their spiritual home against the Melbourne Boomers at the AIS Arena on Friday night.
The towering centre is due to stay with the Capitals until December 6 on a short-term contract to fill the void left by superstar Marianna Tolo for the opening months of the WNBL season.
The 30-year-old admits her short-term deal makes for a tough assignment with Tolo due to return on either November 10 or 18 following her second anterior cruciate ligament tear.
McLaren has already asked Goriss about the prospect of extending her contract to the end of the season and the pair are set to discuss their options over dinner next week - although the American was surprised when the Capitals coach said he can cook.
The Capitals will have to crunch the numbers to decide whether they have room to keep McLaren given they already have a host of Opals stars in Tolo, Leilani Mitchell and Kelsey Griffin on their roster.
"That’s what it will come down to, how quickly Tolo comes back into the group and how many minutes she can play in those first couple of weeks, then it’ll come down to a budget requirement as to how much it’s going to take to keep Kaili around for the rest of the season," Goriss said.
"She has pleasantly surprised me and been great for us in the first three games. If she can continue that form we’ve got a decision to make as she is only short-term, if she keeps playing well she can make it hard for us to say goodbye.
"Kaili is a great personality, she’s a great competitor number one, but two, she’ll always bring a smile and a joke to the group.
"It’s great to have that around every day at practice, whether it’s individuals, whether it’s video sessions, you need someone that is going to bring light heartedness and a smile to every day.
"She makes things fun, she makes things exciting, on the court and in the locker room."
The Capitals will meet the Boomers seven days after they clashed in round two but Goriss says both sides are still finding their rhythm following the World Cup.
The Boomers are still looking to find their groove after Jenna O'Hea, Cayla George, Steph Talbot and ex-Capital Ezi Magbegor joined the group while Canberra have been forced to grind out their past two victories in the midst of a 3-0 start to the season.
"These close games make you or break you, you’re either going to separate or you’re going to come together," McLaren said.
"We did a good job of coming together [in the opening rounds]. Even though it’s early in the season, to respond like that means a lot so later on down the road in the playoffs, when those tough times come, we’ll know what to do.
"We’ve got to be ready to put together 40 minutes of hard intense basketball."
WNBL ROUND THREE
Friday: Canberra Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at AIS Arena, 7pm. Tickets available at the door.
