The gun Canberra Capitals recruit is set to play her first game in Australia just days after landing in the country to be a part of the club's rebuilt roster.

The 22-year-old Canadian has been earmarked as a player to watch this year, linking with the Capitals after her rookie WNBA season with the New York Liberty.

But her main motivation is driven by sibling rivalry and a family history of sporting achievements that makes dinner time at the Nurse house just as intense as playing games.

Nurse's dad Richard played in the Canadian Football League, mum Cathy and sister Tamika played college basketball and brother Darnell plays for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL.

"Me and my sister are nine years apart, but my brother and I are just one year apart. So we did everything together growing up - we played on the same soccer team, the same skating," Nurse said.

"Growing up was completely competitive. Dinner table conversations are competitive, conversations about medals or who went to the best schools.

"But it's fun and we're always each other's biggest fans as well. It helps that me and my brother don't play the same sport, but it's really exciting.

"And everyone in my family has already been through everything or something crazy. Dealing with agents or teams or contracts, so if I ever need anything, I'm the baby so I get the phone call."

Nurse arrived as the final piece of Canberra's puzzle and the Capitals are excited to see her in action after she averaged 18 points per game for Canada at the world championships last month.

Family pedigree aside, Nurse has already made a name for herself and has already accomplished more than most do in their sporting careers.

She was picked to play for Canada when she was 16 years old, won two NCAA titles by the time she was 20 and played at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

"But I'm excited for this challenge in Canberra. Every time you step on the court it's an opportunity and great blessing, because you never know when it's the last," Nurse said.

"This is a great chance for me to make new friends, build relationships and play some great basketball. It's about how you can grow as a person and a basketballer."

Nurse played 34 games for the Liberty after being taken at pick No. 10 in the WNBA draft, averaging 22.8 minutes and 9.1 points per game.

She turned down lucrative offers from Europe to play in Canberra and coach Paul Goriss hopes she transfers that form to the WNBL as the Capitals chase their first play-off berth in almost a decade.

But he will wait until closer to game time against the Sydney Flames on Friday night before deciding whether Nurse will be in the starting five or on the bench just three days after arriving in Australia.

"We want the ball in her hands because she can score," Goriss said.

"I targeted two American imports and she was one of them. I knew we needed someone to stretch the defence, a knock-down shooter and she's great at running the floor.

"She shoots the three well and she gets in defends, she ticks all the boxes we wanted her to bring. We didn't want a one-trick pony, we wanted someone who can play both ends of the floor."

Capitals squad: Kelsey Griffin, Marianna Tolo, Kia Nurse, Leilani Mitchell, Kelly Wilson, Kristy Wallace, Lauren Scherf, Keely Froling, Hannah Young, Maddison Rocci, Eliza-Jane Loader, Kaili Mclaren, Abby Cubillo, Issie Bourne.

CANBERRA CAPITALS DRAW (home games in bold)

October 12: Capitals v Sydney Flames at Sydney Uni, 7pm

October 19: Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at Geelong, 7.30pm

October 21: Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at NCC, 2pm

October 26: Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at AIS Arena, 7pm

November 4: Capitals v Sydney Flames at NCC, 2pm

November 10: Capitals v Perth Lynx at Perth, 3pm

November 18: Capitals v Dandenong Rangers at NCC, 2pm

November 23: Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at NCC, 7pm

November 30: Capitals v Perth Lynx at Perth, 9.30pm

December 2: Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at Adelaide, 3.30pm

December 9: Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at NCC, 2pm

December 14: Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at Adelaide, 7.30pm

December 16: Capitals v Perth Lynx at NCC, 5pm

December 21: Capitals v Dandenong Rangers at NCC, 7pm

December 23: Capitals v Townsville Fire at Townsville, 4pm

December 28: Capitals v Townsville Fire at NCC, 7pm

December 30: Capitals v Dandenong Rangers at Dandenong, 3pm

January 4: Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at AIS Arena, 7pm

January 11: Capitals v Townsville Fire at Townsville, 8pm

January 13: Capitals v Sydney Flames at Sydney Olympic, 12.30pm

January 19: Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at Bendigo, 3pm