Liz Cambage needed some time away from basketball to rediscover her passion for the sport.
The 203cm Australian centre took more than a year off after the 2016 Rio Olympics to "find herself".
Now she's back in the WNBA, signing a multi-year contract with the Dallas Wings earlier this month.
She's returning to the organisation that drafted her second overall seven years ago.
"(Last year) was just a big year of me wanting to step back from a lot of things and get the right mentality and take a lot of things off my bucket list," Cambage said in a phone interview on Monday.
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"I did a self-discovery. ... I really needed it to remember who I am as a person and what direction I want to be going in. I matured a lot. It was great for me to step back and remember who I am."
Cambage was only 19 when the Tulsa Shock drafted her and she acknowledged that the Oklahoma city wasn't the right fit.
When the franchise moved to Dallas a few years ago, Cambage began considering a comeback after her hiatus from the WNBA. A trip to the Texas city in May helped seal the deal.
Cambage got to talk with staff members, including coach Fred Williams, who weren't in Tulsa when she was drafted.
Also, former Australia teammate Erin Phillips was now working with the Wings.
The two Aussies have been tight ever since Cambage started playing for the national team.
"It's a pretty cool city," Cambage said of Dallas.
"Erin's been a big sister to me. When I joined the Australia team, I was 17 or 18. She took me under her wing. It will be great having her here as an assistant coach as well."
Cambage also credited Australian national team coach Sandy Brondello for convincing her to play in the WNBA again.
Brondello, who coaches the Phoenix Mercury, told Cambage that she should go up against the best competition, which exists in the WNBA.
In the past, former Australian coaches would strongly encourage players to stay in Australia to train for the Olympics and world championships and not play in the WNBA.
"Sandy was one of the major factors. She understands that she works here as well. It's the best league and the best place for me to develop," Cambage said.
Before her WNBA season starts, Cambage is returning home to play in the Commonwealth Games.
"We get to represent our country on our home soil," she said. "We haven't been a part of the last couple Commonwealth Games, but now we are."
