It took Kristy Rinaldi less than a year get on the phone to Ballarat Rush head coach Eric Hayes to ask for her place in the side back.
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She was playing at Broadmeadows in the Big V Championships competition, and for the most part, enjoying her time there.
But it wasn't the NBL1.
"I think the league stepped up a notch," she said.
"The league is probably a little bit stronger and heading in the right direction.
"I saw what Ballarat was doing in the NBL1 and I wanted to be back and part of it, so I gave Eric a call asked to come back.
"I'm a competitive person and I want to play at a high level for as long as the body allows."
Rinaldi watched from a far as the Rush overcame a slow start to finish 12th on the competition ladder. She said she liked what she saw.
"I watched them play and I loved what they were doing, they were developing the young ones which is what it's all about," she said.
Rinaldi will step into a leadership role when she returns to the Rush for the 2020 NBL1 season.
Playing in what will be her 14th year, she said she would use her insight to guide the younger players.
"I'm a bit more senior than most of the girls, so I'll be helping out the young ones and doing whatever the coaching staff want me to do," she said.
"I was helped when I was their age, and that's what the program is about - building the program and having young ones step forward."
Rinaldi joins at an exciting time for the Rush, which will transition to the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre in 2020.
She said it was great to be back.
"It's a good feeling, the stadium is very impressive from what I've seen and it's exciting to be back."
