Ask Kelsey Griffin about the rocky road the Canberra Capitals have walked towards a championship decider and the superstar forward just laughs.
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What quickly becomes clear as she answers is no amount of injuries, heartache or controversy can shatter the bond they have built.
Griffin took a gamble to sign with Canberra 11 months ago, a city Canadian star and would-be teammate Kia Nurse knew next to nothing about. Leilani Mitchell soon followed to resurrect her WNBL career. This was quickly becoming a roster capable of leading the club to the promised land.
Injuries soon threatened to derail their campaign, and a controversial finish to game two of the championship-deciding series has left them fighting for a title many believe should already be theirs.
Now Griffin - the front-runner for both the league most valuable player and grand final MVP accolades - has a chance to lead Canberra to victory on their own hardwood against the Adelaide Lightning at a sold-out AIS Arena on Saturday.
She is refusing to let the opportunity slip. In Griffin's eyes, a championship is only fitting for the bond created by this group.
"A lot of the time our team is talked about as far as how talented we are. What’s even more impressive than that is our chemistry, how people have come together and what they've sacrificed to be here," Griffin said.
"We’re working for a common goal and that’s to bring a championship back to Canberra. Having somebody like Kia, who is not only a very talented basketball player but a fun person to be around, and works so hard on the court, to get her as an import has been great.
"To have Lei come back and play in Australia has been great. For Kelly [Wilson] to come back and want to play and go around again after the opportunity to retire at 350 [games] and a championship.
"For myself to come here has been great. [Marianna] Tolo is coming off an [anterior cruciate ligament tear]. Having to deal with Wally [Kristy Wallace] and being so excited for her comeback, but then unfortunately having the hiccup she had.
"Loz [Lauren Scherf] couldn’t even do a big chunk of pre-season because she had hurt her collarbone. There was a while there where it was five-on-five with all guards practicing.
"For us to come where we have, it shows a lot about the character of people... We’ve felt nothing but love, it’s been a wild ride but a really fun and exciting one.
"You have your ups and your downs, but teams like this don’t come along very often. You’ll have your very talented teams, but the chemistry we have, that’s been so great to play with and to be a part of."
Capitals coach Paul Goriss knows championships don't come around very often. He joined the Capitals with the club on its knees, far removed from the golden era that delivered seven championships in 12 seasons.
His first season in charge saw the Capitals fall agonisingly short of the finals, while this time 12 months ago he was picking up the pieces of an at times forgettable season.
Now a star-studded roster has the chance to do something special and win a championship in front of almost 5000 fans at a sold-out AIS Arena.
"These kinds of things are special, we’re grateful for the situation we’re in," Goriss said.
"Getting to have a home final in Canberra and finishing on top, now is like the icing on the cake, to finish off that job. We’ve got to enjoy it too, that’s the part you think about.
"There’s the stress and the pressure of the game, but it’s also enjoying the moment. This team will never play together with exactly the same 12 same players."
WNBL GRAND FINAL
Saturday: Game three - Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 5pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
