Canberra Capitals import Olivia Epoupa keen to shine in WNBL

All she knows is "Australia is the land of basketball" - and the French national team point guard is determined to get straight to work with the Capitals.

The 25-year-old has touched down with an eye on the Capitals' WNBL season opener against the Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena on October 13.

Epoupa's arrival will help Capitals coach Paul Goriss to offset void left by championship-winning duo Leilani Mitchell and Kelly Wilson.

But Goriss is away with the Australian side at the FIBA Asia Cup, Kia Nurse is still a fortnight away and Canberra's co-captains in Marianna Tolo and Kelsey Griffin are on the comeback trail from injury.

So Epoupa knows she has to rise to a new challenge in the pre-season to help Canberra launch a championship defence.

"To be honest, it's going to be my first experience so I have no idea," Epoupa said.

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"I just know that Australia is the land of basketball, so it's going to be very interesting for me.

"It will improve myself, because the way they work is very interesting for me as a player, so I can't wait to start.

"I'm going to learn. I have to be patient to learn different things. I know it's going to be tough because we're going to be one of the favourite teams in this league, so the detail will make the difference.

"It was a challenge for me, I know this team has been very successful. I know there will be more pressure on us, so I just have to be ready for this kind of competition.

"I need to be very smart and very serious, because the time is very short.

"I need to have the ability to practice, rest, and to learn about the way we play, the style of play, the slight differences.

"The first day was a little bit tough for me after the jet lag but now I'm here, I'm happy to be with my teammates. I'm so excited to start and I can't wait to start a new season."

Epoupa will link up with rising stars Maddison Rocci and Abby Cubillo in the guard spot during a lengthened season which will come to a close with the grand final series in March.

It is a stage Rocci is desperate to return to - and the speed she and Epoupa will bring to the Capitals this season is set to be a trademark of their title defence.

Rocci is relishing the chance to link up with the French international come the opening tip-off of the season.

The best part about it? Rocci will be able to jump out of the firing line and watch Epoupa turn defenders inside out.

"It's exciting. I watched a few of the clips Gorrie posted and she is super fast, so I'm going to have to tape those ankles [at practice]," Rocci said.

"It will be really good to have her on court with us this season. It's exciting to be back, it's a long off-season so it's good to be back in Canberra again.

"It's just very exciting, we have just got to do what we did last year and hopefully make our way back up to that championship game again, but we've just got to take it one game at a time.

"Last year I got told at the end of the season to work on a few things so I went off and did that, and I'm hoping to bring that back into the new season this year.

"Those things I worked on, hopefully I bring them into the game this season and then it will make my development better. Hopefully I'll see myself out there a fair bit more this year.

"Gorrie has been really good for my development so I always wanted to play under him again to see how much further I can go in my basketball with his advice and support."