How 'a call out of the blue' brought Brittney Sykes to Paul Goriss and the Canberra Capitals

So often the two-time WNBL championship-winning coach is the one picking up the phone chasing imports to bolster his squad.

This time it was an agent calling him about a 27-year-old Los Angeles Sparks guard who had been taken with pick seven in the 2017 WNBA draft.

And to prove Sykes was serious about a move to Australia?

"She had actually done research on me, the Caps, on the WNBL," Goriss said.

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"When I got to actually speak to her on the phone one on one and ask some questions before we offered her a contract, she knew more about the Caps and WNBL than what I first thought.

"She wanted to come here. That's what made it easier for us, she wanted to be in Canberra and had heard good reports. It was a good fit for us."

Take a few minutes to cast your eye over Skyes' WNBA highlights and it becomes clear the Capitals have landed a freakishly athletic competitor boasting a will to win like few others.

Her determination on defence fits the mould of any Goriss-coached team. Steals, rebounds and a transition game are the order of the day.

It's enough to rekindle memories of another Capitals import who claimed the Rachael Sporn Medal as the most valuable player in a grand final series just two seasons ago.

"I think she's a bigger version of [Olivia] Epoupa. She is just that athletic and has got the quickness. She's just a bigger size," Goriss said.

"To me, it's a bigger version of Olivia but not as a point guard, Britt plays more of the two-three, and can play multiple positions.

"The fans and everyone will be excited by the energy she plays with and how hard she plays. We wanted a point of difference in our imports, and I think we've done that in the past with Olivia, with how Kia was as a knockdown shooter.

"I think we've got something different in Britt Sykes. Her main game is defence but she is a super athletic talent.

"Going back for those Caps fans that have been around, she's not as big, but she reminds me a little bit of [WNBA All-Star] Alana Beard with that defensive mindset. She was a great asset back in the day for the Caps."

Sykes will fill one of Canberra's import slots for the 2021-22 season with Goriss exploring the prospect of luring another in search of the club's 10^th championship, and his third in the past four seasons.

She looms as a major coup for the club as WNBL rivals compete for the services of overseas stars once more, after COVID-19 saw borders shut to import players last season.

"It creates more depth in the league, having imports back," Goriss said.

"From the calibre some other teams have signed, it's high-calibre WNBA imports we're getting out here this season. Some other clubs have signed starters in the WNBA, whereas in the past it has more so been rookies that have come out here and played.

"We're legitimately getting some WNBA players to come out here that are starters in that league, coming out and having Australia as an option to play."

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