Every time the 23-year-old steps onto the court she goes all out, evident last season with the Sydney Flames when she was named as the WNBL's lead rebounder (157) - averaging 12.1 per game.

"I don't know how to play the game any other way," Maley said.

"I am not looking for statistics or anything, I don't even think about it.

"I want the ball more than everyone else and I go after it harder than others."

Maley said the opportunity to play alongside Opals squad members Leilani Mitchell and Tessa Lavey and under Spirit coach Tracy York drew her to sign with a Bendigo squad that is coming off a winless 2020-21 season.

"The playing group Tracey York has put together is full of great people foremost, who are also great players that are versatile across the floor."

The team is busy with pre-season training at the Bendigo Stadium and are working towards the season-opener or December 4 against reigning champions Southside Flyers.

"From day one of when we were first together we all gelled and it wasn't a struggle to find momentum with flow and offensive plays," Maley said.

"The more sessions we have, we just keep getting better as a team."

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Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Maley is purely focused on doing whatever she can to help the team succeed.

"When you focus on yourself in a team environment all it does is take away from the overall success," she said.

"I am doing all the things I can to help the team, whether that's being tenacious on the board, or being a shutdown defender."

Maley's never-say-die attitude on the basketball court is an attribute she's harnessed from a young age after watching her father Paul Maley compete within the NBL.

"One of my earliest memories is watching my dad play," Maley said.

"My love for the game grew over the years, I lost my way a little bit in the middle, but now I've rekindled my love for basketball.

"Having a family connection to the sport certainly makes a difference."

Approximately three weeks away from game one, Maley was pleased to have crowds back after the 2020-21 hub-season in Queensland.

"Basketball is back!" she said.

"It will be nice to have the community back at our games and to have familiar faces watching us at the stadium."

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