Carrie Graf is tasked with shutting down Penny Taylor's brilliance this week, but the Canberra Capitals coach still wonders what could have been had she been fit for the London Olympics.
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At the 2012 Games, Graf was coach of the Australian Opals, who settled for bronze after Taylor suffered a serious knee injury just weeks before the tournament.
The Capitals [3-4] face Taylor's Dandenong Rangers on the road on Saturday night, a crucial clash after last week's heartbreaking loss to West Coast in Perth.
Taylor is averaging 21 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in three games for Dandenong, who are rooted to the bottom of the WNBL ladder despite also boasting WNBA star Cappie Pondexter.
Their youth and inexperience in the front court has been exploited, which the Capitals did successfully in a 101-72 thrashing earlier this month.
Canberra has received a boost with perimeter player Hanna Zavecz set to return from a knee injury against the Rangers.
Graf said the "what ifs" still invade her mind when she wonders whether the Opals could have won a first Olympic gold medal in 2012 had Taylor been fit.
She also said Taylor would have a similar profile to household name Lauren Jackson, currently out injured with the Capitals, had she not spent the bulk of her career overseas.
"Pen and Lauren are the players of our era. Those two would make the US Olympic team in their prime," Graf said.
"That sets them apart; there's not a whole lot of other Opals who could do that.
"When I reflect [on London] I think what we could have done with Pen.
"I have no doubt Penny would be flying the flag as a marquee player right alongside Lauren [had she played in Australia more].
"It's great for the league [that] someone of Penny's class gets to play here. We haven't seen her in the league since 2000 when she was a kid."
Graf said Taylor's presence will make Dandenong a significantly tougher proposition to the blowout at Canberra in round six.
The Capitals match up well with with the Rangers, with star forward Abby Bishop racking up 28 points and 12 rebounds against Dandenong's youthful front court in their last meeting.
Bishop and Michelle Cosier both battled illness in the 80-78 loss to West Coast, while point guard Kristen Veal (blurred vision) played no part in the second half.
"We'll have a whole bunch of people go to Penny. Talbot, Zavecz and Wilson all have the size and athleticism to play on her," Graf said.
"Our game against them a few weeks ago has no relevance; Penny changes the face of them straight away and they're too good to let that happen again."
SATURDAY
WNBL round six: Dandenong Rangers v Canberra Capitals at Dandenong Basketball Stadium, 6.30pm.
