We have run out of seats, so we might need someone to dive across their teammates for a photo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
No prizes for guessing which Canberra Capitals star jumps at the chance to have a bit of fun.
![Keely Froling and the Capitals want to go bigger. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong Keely Froling and the Capitals want to go bigger. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc77h9xwvbx89etk6tk0p.jpg/r0_297_5255_3310_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It's Keely Froling, the 23-year-old who boasts confidence beyond her years off the court. On it? She is growing into a veteran presence most her age could only dream of.
But that's not to say catching the attention of Opals coach Sandy Brondello comes easy.
The most hectic off-season of the budding WNBL star's career took her to all parts of the globe - so far Froling didn't even bother counting the kilometres she covered. So far that calling it an "off-season" would be a bit of a stretch.
There was the FIBA three-on-three World Cup in Amsterdam in June, when Froling spent more time travelling than she did in the host city, and the world series in Japan.
There was the World Uni Games in Italy, where Froling and her Capitals teammate Maddison Rocci helped Australia to a gold medal.
MORE CAPITALS NEWS
There was the remarkable NSW Waratah League season in which Froling seemed as though she had unlocked cheat codes en route to winning the most valuable player award.
"Selfishly I hope I've been a part of that, I hope I can claim a little piece of that," Capitals co-captain and WNBL MVP Kelsey Griffin said with a smile.
Now comes the biggest five months on Froling's calendar - a WNBL season opened by a clash with the Adelaide Lightning at the AIS Arena on Sunday.
"I appreciate Keely's work ethic and her competitive spirit, and how she wants to win all the time. I have really enjoyed getting to see her development in some of the international success she has had in three-on-three," Griffin said.
"As a veteran player, getting to see younger players that you are trying to mentor and trying to develop have that success is what it is really about.
![Keely Froling is set to play a huge role this year. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong Keely Froling is set to play a huge role this year. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc73hmvk9tkl31n5ou9en4.jpg/r0_152_2736_1690_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Keely will bring exactly what she has been doing. Three-on-three has helped her immensely and has improved her perimeter game, and also some of her low post game.
"The thing for her is to stay true to who she is and keep playing how she has been playing, and not let it change anything she has been doing. That will put us in a really good spot.
"Seeing the young players come into their own early on has been great. You really can't go past what Keely has been able to do, but also Abby [Cubillo] and Maddy [Rocci] have done great.
"Alex [Delaney] has done great. I think the pieces are starting to come together which is always exciting.
"The best part has been is to see the improvement between each game and how the younger players want to get feedback and want to improve.
MORE CAPITALS NEWS
"As a veteran player, that makes me excited that that is the kind of teammates I get to play with."
Capitals co-captain Marianna Tolo has already backed Froling to start banging on the door of the national team en route to Tokyo.
The 23-year-old has firmed as a likely inclusion for Australia's three-on-three squad at next year's Olympic Games having become a staple for Australia in the format.
But Tolo thinks the prospect of an Opals debut is not as crazy as Froling might think, and the star centre isn't the only one taking notice.
The person leading Australia's hunt for a breakthrough gold medal at the Olympic Games has kept one eye on Canberra's rising star in recent months.
Keep aspiring to be an Opal, because there's a lot of things coming up and we want to make sure we're taking the best team that helps us achieve our goals
- A message from Opals coach Sandy Brondello
"Keely Froling is on fire at the moment," Brondello said.
"I'm always constantly evaluating the talent coming up. There's always opportunities, and it is more about them just keep playing hard and keep improving their games."
The message for any player hunting a start in international basketball's showpiece event remains the same.
"I just keep telling them, keep working hard and keep aspiring to be an Opal," Brondello said.
"Because there's a lot of things coming up and we want to make sure we're taking the best team that helps us achieve our goals."
![Keely Froling is a regular in Australia's three-on-three team. Picture: Elesa Kurtz Keely Froling is a regular in Australia's three-on-three team. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc755o8gfchudq9f8f1wh.jpg/r0_109_5438_3166_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But first comes the opening round of the season for a depleted Capitals outfit missing Tolo with a foot infection following surgery and Mikaela Ruef due to a citizenship paperwork stall.
A clash with Adelaide goes far beyond being a grand final rematch - many expect those two sides to be there again at the business end of the season this time around.
Coach Paul Goriss wants Froling to stand tall in a bid to get there, and her teammates have no reservations about her ability to do so.
"She is ready, she has shown that in the pre-season games," Tolo said.
"It will be a challenge. She will have to play in a bigger position with me out. She has advantages in that position too, with her speed and her skill."
WNBL ROUND ONE
Sunday: Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at AIS Arena, 1.30pm.