Liz Cambage says she contemplated walking away from basketball after the Opals' disappointing Rio Olympics campaign.
But after a nearly year-long break from the game, the star Australian centre has rediscovered her motivation and is aiming for a third Olympics at Tokyo in 2020.
Cambage, 25, is preparing to play in the WNBL for the first time in five years when she lines up for the Melbourne Boomers from October.
She has not played since the Opals missed out on a Olympic medal last August for the first time since 1992, deciding to pursue other interests outside the court.
"I thought Rio was the last time I would play basketball," the 203cm Cambage told ESPN.
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"I honestly thought 'I'm done. I don't want to do this anymore'.
"But I didn't want Rio to be the thing I went out on."
Cambage made her Olympic debut in London 2012 before starring for the Opals in 2016 when they lost by a point to Spain in the bronze medal match.
WNBA side Dallas Wings, where Opals great Erin Phillips works as an assistant coach, have expressed interest in signing Cambage, which would boost her prospects for another Olympics campaign.
"Tokyo is a big goal of mine. That's the main goal right now," Cambage said.
"I've got a big season coming up with the Boomers and the WNBA next year and the Commonwealth Games and world champs.
"But I haven't really had any thought past Tokyo."
