Before making her WNBL return last season, Isabella Brancatisano was working in her family's fruit and vegetable wholesale business.
Now, she's become a key part of the UC Capitals as they aim to reach finals for the first time since 2022.
After Opal Jade Melbourne suffered a hand injury, which required her to undergo surgery in December, Brancatisano had to shoulder the WNBA star's impact.
Brancatisano's relentless defensive pressure, laced with clinical three-point shooting, has since made her a mainstay in Paul Goriss' squad.
But, she hasn't always been flying high in the league.
At the start of the 2024-2025 season, the 30-year-old signed with the Sydney Flames, marking her return to the league for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.
"I had been playing in the NBL1, living my life, working and just being a regular person," Brancatisano told AAP ahead of the Capitals' finals-defining clashes against the Townsville Fire and Southside Melbourne Flyers on Saturday and Tuesday.
"I was working for my dad in the family business. They were fruit and vegetable wholesalers … That was morning to afternoon work and it worked perfectly.
"I've had some more life experience, more experience overall, so I'm a bit calmer and level-headed coming into this.
"I haven't had as much experience as some people at this level … In the real world it's different so all that stuff helps."
In her first season in the competition, Flames forward Unique Thompson has become a stellar force for her team.
As Sydney's top scorer, she's stayed cool as injuries to stars Lauren Nicholson and Issy Morgan occurred, while veteran coach Guy Molloy stepped down from his role.
But the American has been able to work past the noise by asking one simple question.
"What do I want to be portrayed as?" Thompson told AAP ahead of the Flames clash against Geelong on Sunday.
"In the midst of everything that may change, I want everybody to be like 'Unique has literally remained the same. She hasn't wavered'.
"I feel like for so long, it was like, 'Ok, what's gonna happen this week?' … I feel like the one thing you can control is how you show up."
But Thompson's season has even surprised her.
"I had high expectations, so I feel like I've been doing a good job of just navigating my goals and everything," she said.
"I'm really hard on myself. Even saying this right now is surprising, but I have to be honest with myself. I've done very well."
With two rounds until finals, the Bendigo Spirit will tip off against cellar-dwelling Geelong on Friday before the Flyers take on the Adelaide Lightning on Saturday.
Bendigo and Perth face off in a crucial clash for a top-two spot on Sunday.
