Fin Hansen, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Kadina’s Stephanie Talbot is already eyeing a return to the court just six months after rupturing her ACL.

The 29-year-old Adelaide Lightning captain will miss the majority of the 2023-24 Women’s National Basketball League season following the knee injury in her side’s third-to-last game of last season.

Coming off her first Defensive Player of the Year campaign, Talbot said she had returned to full non-contact training.

“I should start doing some one-on-one stuff in the next couple weeks and then build up from there,” she said.

“I’m hoping to catch the end of it (the 2023-24 WNBL season)… the last month would be good heading into finals, but also if I’m not ready I’m not going to push it.”

Talbot’s injury came just three weeks after signing a two-year deal with her fourth WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks.

However, not suiting up for her new side has allowed Talbot to spend time in her hometown Kadina.

“I couldn’t really do anything for the first few months (after the injury), so I didn’t enjoy that, but the last three months have been good because I’ve been able to spend some time at home with Hef (partner Abraham Helfand) and my family,” she said.

“We started preseason this week and I’m doing most of my rehab in Adelaide, so I’m a bit busier now and won’t get home as much.”

Talbot re-signed with the Lightning for four seasons in June this year, locking her away until 2027.

She is also contracted with the LA Sparks through to the end of 2024.

Steph Talbot’s career accolades

• Women’s National Basketball League Most Valuable Player (2020)
• Two-time WNBL First Team (2020, 2022)
• Two-time WNBL Second Team (2020, 2023)
• WNBL Rookie of the Year (2013)
• FIBA World Cup silver medal (2018, Spain)
• FIBA World Cup bronze medal (2022, Australia)

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 19 September 2023.