The Canberra Capitals could add an international recruit to their roster as soon as the end of the week to bolster their hopes of making a WNBL finals comeback this year.
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The Capitals are in the final stages of contract negotiations to fill the last two spots in their squad for the WNBL campaign, with coach Paul Goriss targeting overseas talent to add depth to a new-look team.
The final pieces of the puzzle are expected to be in place by the end of next week, giving Goriss a chance to start plotting the Capitals' return to the play-offs for the first time since the 2010-11 grand final.
The excitement of some big-name recruits has been tempered by injury, with Marianna Tolo (knee), Kelsey Griffin (ankle) and Kristy Wallace (knee) all having their pre-seasons interrupted.
WNBA draftee Wallace arrived in Canberra this week to start working at the AIS after having a knee reconstruction in March.
The 22-year-old is expected to play only a handful of games this season given her recovery time is expected to be nine months.
But Wallace has vowed to soak up as much point-guard knowledge as possible as she prepares to work alongside veterans Kelly Wilson and Leilani Mitchell.
"I'm very excited to be back here and to be getting into rehab," Wallace said.
"I'm excited with where I'm at [in the rehab], it's a long road and I've got a lot more work to do. But so far it's been good.
"Some of the Opals girls are here as well and I just want to learn from them. Then the rehab facilities in Canberra are second to none."
Wallace was a Big 12 all-first team and all-defensive team guard in her time playing for Baylor in the United States college competition.
But she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in a win in February when she scrambled back in defence in a game against West Virginia.
She was averaging 12.0 points per game and dishing of 5.3 assists and those numbers put her on the WNBA radar. Wallace expected injury to end her hopes of being drafted, but she was still picked by the Atlanta Dream.
Wallace has already been earmarked as a future Australian Opal and has signed a two-year deal with the Capitals to develop her game.
"It's going to be tough to be on the bench, I don't really like to sit down and watch," Wallace said.
"It will be a learning experience. I learnt a lot about myself [in the US] and grew up a bit. I've still got a lot to learn here as well and I'm excited to bring back what I picked up."
