The 24-year-old guard landed in Australia from the US last Thursday and has quickly started preparing for the South East Australian Basketball League season.

Bonds has had a couple of training runs with her new teammates and can’t wait to get started this Friday night in Geelong.

But while she’s comfortable on the court in Ballarat, there’s some things that have caught her by surprise.

“I thought it was going to be warm and stuff and then I wake up in the morning and it’s cold. I’m like, what is going on?,” Bonds joked.

“When I was flying over – they said I was going to be driving – I was looking and I see people going opposite ways on the road.”

The trip to Australia is Bonds’ second stint playing basketball overseas.

And she’s eyeing success.

“The ultimate goal is to win a championship,” she said.

“Otherwise there’s no reason for playing.”

Bonds is also keen to get involved with the Ballarat public during her stay, which lasts until August.

“I want to get out into the community and do some community service,” she said.

“I know there’s supposed to be a camp or something coming up, so I want to work that and just visit schools and work with the younger kids.

“I did a lot of that when I was at school, so I just want to do the same out here.

“I know our club is really big with that.”

Bonds played with the University of Florida between 2010 and 2014 and averaged 14.3 points and 3.7 rebounds during her final year with the Gators.

She was keen to take her game abroad in 2017 and a string of conversations eventually led to her being signed by Rush.

The SEABL season started last weekend, but Ballarat will only play its first game this Friday against Geelong.

The team, to be coached again by David Flint, doesn’t play again until April 22.