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WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage will provide the WNBL with significant clout after confirming her return with the Southside Flyers.
Liz Cambage will end a two-season WNBL absence after the Opals and WNBA star signed with the Southside Flyers.
An All-Star with Las Vegas last season, Cambage was granted a medical exemption for the current WNBA season after she was deemed to be at high risk for severe illness if she contracted COVID-19.
It has allowed her some rare downtime in Australia, with unofficial training to begin this week ahead of a planned November season start.
Cambage last played in the WNBL for the Melbourne Boomers in the 2017/18 season.
But the 28-year-old began her domestic career with the Dandenong Rangers, who were rebranded as the Flyers last season.
Owned by prominent businessman and sports enthusiast Gerry Ryan, the Flyers were runner-ups last season, boast Opals captain Jenna O'Hea and are coached by Opals assistant Cheryl Chambers.
The trio's close working relationship will be a massive boost as the side aims for a maiden Olympic gold at next year's rescheduled Olympics.
"It will be great playing with a number of Opals teammates ... Jenna O'Hea is one of my favourites, she is also the Opals captain, she is like my captain on and off the court," Cambage said.
"While the coronavirus interrupted my WNBA career, it has given me the opportunity to play in Australia ... I have always enjoyed playing in the WNBL, it is one of the best competitions in the world and I hope to see more supporters get behind the Flyers this season.
"I want to thank Gerry Ryan, not just for giving me the opportunity to play in Australia for the Flyers but for the incredible support he continues to provide women's sport and of course women's basketball."
Chambers described Cambage as a "superstar of the sport" while Ryan anticipated her pulling power to enhance next season's league, which will be played without import.
"It is exciting ... I remember her playing for Dandenong in 2007 as a young up-and-coming star," he said.
"It will be great to see her in action for Southside Flyers this season and I am sure it will be a real bonus for the WNBL."