Basketball On The Internet.

KELSEY Griffin may soon be an Australian citizen, the Bendigo Spirit WNBL star being strongly-supported to have her papers processed well ahead of the Rio Olympics.

The dual Rachael Sporn Medallist as Grand Final MVP in Bendigo's back-to-back title wins, Griffin spent four months out of the sport with injury this past off-season but is back and ready to hit the court tonight against the new South East Queensland Stars.

"Loving it," Bendigo's rookie WNBL head coach Simon Pritchard said when asked how he was enjoying inheriting the Spirit gig.

It all tips off tonight, with the bullseye now firmly on the back of Townsville's Fire.

"We're as confident as we can be," Fire coach Chris Lucas said.

"We know we've got the bullseye and every team will be gunning for us but by the same token, it should bring the best out of us too.

"And we all start at 0-0."

It's a new year, MVP Abby Bishop is back, Lauren Jackson is playing again and Canberra still has WNBA-title chasing playmaker Renee Montgomery to come.

League General Manager Paul Maley has said talent-wise, the WNBL now may be the best league behind the WNBA.

It's a big call. But it's a great league.

Rd1 Tips:

Bendigo to dim the Stars

Canberra to put the gong on Dandenong.

Melbourne to light up Lightning.

Townsville to dispirit Bendigo.

Perth to put out the Flames.

And congratulations to Canberra in advance, given the WNBL Ladder already is showing the Caps with one win and the Rangers with one loss, without a game yet even being played. Jump onto Centrebet with that one!

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My News Corp WNBL season preview, team-by-team: http://bit.ly/1QcUmD2