THE Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season is just a couple of months away, and the player movements are still coming through, as sides look to fill out their rosters and begin true preparations for the 2022/23 season.

Each year, more and more players are joining from competitions across the world, as the league continues to become a more prominent force in the world of women’s basketball. This year has been no different, with a number of talents bringing a wealth of experience to Australia, with the competition potentially set for its biggest season yet.

Recent months have seen many sides either adding to or replacing their already impressive players, and one of the most eye-catching additions came from the Townsville Fire, who announced the signing of Tianna Hawkins, a WNBA champion and eight-year veteran of the big stage.

With the versatility to play at either the four or the five, Hawkins brings over 200 games of WNBA experience, and will be a welcome addition to a Fire side that will be eager to make the jump into the top four.

Hawkins has also shown a strong ability to defend in pick and roll situations, so expect her to see plenty of court time, particularly in clutch situations.

She was not the only player to join from the WNBA, with the UC Capitals recently acquiring the services of Los Angeles Sparks rookie Rae Burrell.

She was drafted to the Sparks with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 draft, but suffered a season-ending knee injury with just three games under her belt.

After going under the knife in May, the forward is looking to recapture her college basketball form, which saw her average 10.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Burrell cited the influence of her former Capital and fellow Spark Brittney Sykes in making her decision, after seeing how far her game has progressed since joining the WNBL.

“She is the definition of an athlete and competitor, she influenced me into joining the Caps because of the progress her game has shown since playing with the team,” she told the club’s website.

“I am hoping to get a championship ring out of this season and really just elevate my game. I am also looking forward to the bonds and experiences that will come with being on the team.”

The duo join the likes of Amy Atwell (Perth Lynx), Hannah Sjerven (Sydney Uni Flames), Karlie Samuelson (Townsville Fire) and Jocelyn Willoughby (Sydney Uni Flames) in joining the competition after forging success in the WNBA, in a trend that looks to resume in the future.