Kia Nurse had heard the horror stories.
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About players being worked into the ground, about contract dramas and about coaches whose demands were downright ridiculous.
So why did she never think twice about re-signing with her first overseas team?
"It was just the right fit," Nurse said.
The Canadian star has arrived in Canberra to help the Capitals in their bid to claim back-to-back WNBL championships.
The 23-year-old guard has little time to settle in - the Capitals open their season with a clash against the Adelaide Lightning at the AIS Arena on Sunday afternoon.
But there is no place she would rather be.
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"For me, I had a great time last year, it's not too shabby when you win a championship either. I loved the people, I loved being in Canberra, and I loved my overseas experience for the first one," Nurse said.
"I had heard so many horror stories from so many other people. I was like 'well, I don't have those so I'm going to go back there'.
"The only thing that is really set in my life is that WNBA season that I know I am playing or the Olympic seasons that come around. For me it was just really fortunate to have had the amazing situation I did.
"I don't know where all of these people get their horror stories from because I enjoyed mine. They said 'that's because you went to Australia'.
"Hopefully all of the plays are the same, or they have the same names at least. I'm really fortunate to be in a position where there is so much familiarity.
"That is something that really helped me with my WNBA season this year as well, just coming to a place where you know the people, you know what to expect, you know the coaching style and the coaching staff.
"That's the best part about coming back to Canberra."
Fresh off making waves for the New York Liberty in the WNBA, Nurse will be back on home soil next month to play in a four-day 2020 Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Edmonton.
It makes for a hectic schedule but Nurse is not one to balk at the prospect of pulling on the colours of her national team - she just wants to play.
The chance to play in a less taxing environment like the WNBL heading into an Olympic Games year was a major factor in Nurse's decision to re-sign rather than look abroad elsewhere.
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That is why she won't think twice about taking on a big role for the Capitals in their season opener against last season's grand finalists.
The Capitals will be without Marianna Tolo due to a foot infection while time is running out for Mikaela Ruef to be cleared for round one as she waits on United States and Australian immigration officials to lodge her citizenship paperwork.
Kelsey Griffin has only just returned to a full training schedule for the first time since last season. The good news for coach Paul Goriss?
Nurse returns to Canberra a more complete player. Better yet, the 10th pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft returns down under as a WNBA All-Star.
"A lot clearly, apparently," Nurse said.
"For me this season was just so much fun and there was a lot of work put in off the court when I got back from the WNBL season.
"What I learned here and what we did every day in practice, shooting, and being able to get up as many shots as I did, that was a big reason why when I came back to the WNBA, I was shooting so well off staggered screens or off down screens, because I had been put in the situations I had been put in here.
"For me it has been really fun to be able to continue to play against some of the best players in the world, day in and day out, and be able to grow and get better."
WNBL ROUND ONE
Sunday: Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 1.30pm.