What she got was everything she wanted and more.

"It was the best experience of my life," the 17-year-old Spirit rookie said following her arrival back from Queensland, where the entire 2020 season was played.

"I think it will be, hands down, the thing I will cherish most for the rest of my life. Honestly, it was nothing short of amazing."

Having only turned 17 two-months before the abbreviated 2020 season started in November, Dunlop was the youngest player on any team stationed in the North Queensland hub.

Not even a winless season for the Spirit could take the gloss off a dream come true for the former Australian junior representative.

"It would have been nice to come home to Bendigo and have secured a win in my first WNBL season, but in the whole scheme of things, it was a slight downfall to an amazing season," she said.

Dunlop, a product of the Bendigo Braves and Victoria Country junior programs, said there was no other way to describe a season played entirely away from home but as surreal and gruelling on all players - both mentally and physically.

"Coming from juniors, you always play tournaments, so I went up there kind of knowing how it would work. In the past, I've trained for all these one-week tournaments," she said.

"This was kind of like six one-week tournaments. But while I tried to go with that mentality, but it was completely different.

"I don't think any athlete could prepare themselves for what this season was.

"I think our team did an amazing job to stay on top of things The culture that was built in that team, it was the best team I have ever been involved in - off and on the court.

"We were really close - we were sisters by the end of it."

With players having to effectively uproot their lives for six weeks, Dunlop acknowledged each individual player's circumstances in handling it was always going to be unique

To that end, the former Victoria Country junior standout found solace in her online year 11 studies at Catherine McAuley College (CMC).

"There were people up there, who were married and missing their children - they were also missing their work," Dunlop said.

"I still had school and had my Zoom classes all the way through. So, there wasn't much of a change for me, only a change of scenery.

"I could not have asked for better team-mates, or a better school. The way they handled assignments, tests and exams, I will be forever grateful to CMC for the way they conducted all my schooling up there, they made it so easy."

On the court, there was a surety in Dunlop's performances that belied her tender years.

Originally chosen as a development player, Dunlop suited up for the Spirit's opening game against the championship favourites Southside Flyers and had an immediate impact.

On her very first shot, she nailed a three-point attempt, both vindicating the faith shown in her by Spirit coach Tracy York and assistant coach Mark Alabakov and filling herself with a sense of quiet of confidence.

"The next two shots didn't quite land - you can't win them all," she said with a laugh.

"But it did give me every confidence to shoot again. A three wasn't exactly my shot type in juniors, but if it's there you have to take it.

"If this is the shot that needs to be taken and is the best for the team, I'll take it. That's my mentality in this game."

Dunlop ended the season having played in eight of the Spirit's 13 matches for averages of 2.4 points per game and 1.4 rebounds.

She produced a season-high seven points against the Melbourne Boomers on December 5 and grabbed a season-high three rebounds against the Canberra Capitals in just 1:43 of court time on November 16.

Solid returns for a teenager, who was pegged only as a development player, back when she first signed in July.

"Obviously I wanted to, but I really didn't think I'd get the chance to perform much up there," Dunlop said.

"On the court, it was surreal.

"The higher level of game ... to get some buckets in, (and) to play some good defence ... it really allowed me to sit back and appreciate what a step up it was from juniors and how I really do have a pathway here.

"Every player up there (in the hub) I have grown up watching. They would come down to Bendigo to play, or I would go down to Melbourne to watch them.

"So, now to be playing against them and to score some buckets against them, is nothing but incredible."

With an exhilarating debut WNBL season done and dusted, the focus for Dunlop shifts to the forthcoming NBL1 season, almost certainly to be played with the Bendigo Braves.

READ MORE:

Piper Dunlop eager to bring her best for the Bendigo Spirit in the 2020 WNBL season

Piper's pathway leads to the WNBL

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