Canberra Capitals guard Maddison Rocci set to end emotional wait in WNBL finals

So the Opals hopeful will have extra motivation to shine when the Canberra Capitals fight to save their WNBL season in a do-or-die semi-final in Townsville on Wednesday night.

Rocci's parents Maryanne and Marco will be in the stands to watch Rocci and the Capitals take on the Melbourne Boomers in the minor semi-final.

The equation is simple for the Capitals: win and they're one game away from a grand final, lose and the dream of a third successive title is over.

Now one of the league's most promising talents is relishing the chance to play in front of her parents after they fly in from Victoria, with Rocci kept apart amid the COVIC-19 pandemic after spending her off-season playing in Queensland.

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"I haven't seen them since March, so it'll be really exciting to see them in the stands. They're really looking forward to it, they love coming to every finals series I've had so far with the Caps," Rocci said.

"I still talk to them every day but it could be a little bit emotional. I always say I miss my parents a lot, so to play basketball and not have them in the stands like I normally do, it will be pretty special when I see them in the crowd.

"It could be pretty emotional if I get to see them before the game, but I'll be really happy to see them in the stands.

"I hope they get to see us go all the way into that grand final game, it would be special again for them to see that."

Rocci was named in the WNBL's all-second team this week following the best season of her four-year career in the league.

The 22-year-old has averaged 16.2 points per game and is a part of Opals coach Sandy Brondello's squad on the road to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Now she wants to repay Canberra coach Paul Goriss' faith in her ability as the Capitals launch a frantic finals campaign.

"I go back to when I first joined the Caps, having the confidence Gorrie first gave me from the get go, and then having the likes of Vealy [Kristen Veal], [Marianna] Tolo and Kelsey [Griffin] pushing me along the way, and having faith in everything I did on the court," Rocci said.

"There have been times when people have been tired and fatigued. Now it's the back end of the season, we know it's finals time and we just have to put our best foot forward.

"It's do or die now, so we've got to give it everything [on Wednesday] night and moving forward if we are successful.

"We have such great leaders at our club, Tolo and Kelsey know how to get us up and about and know how to get rid of those nerves.

"Obviously there is going to be a few little nerves but we have such great leaders that are going to help us get through that."

WNBL FINALS

Minor semi-final: Wednesday, December 16 - Canberra Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at Townsville Stadium, 6pm.

Major semi-final: Wednesday, December 16 - Southside Flyers v Townsville Flyers at Townsville Stadium, 8pm.