And that was even before she suffered the most horrific injury of the season, late in January against Canberra when she fell backwards, extended her arm to break the fall and shattered her wrist.
The wrist is still not fully flexible but it's strong enough for Payne to be back on the pine, this time with Lightning's opponent on Saturday, Bendigo Spirit.
"It's never going to be 100 per cent recovered," she said.
"It's still pretty stiff but I can't complain. After the surgery, the doctor was confident I'd play again and I am.
"There's an arthritic feeling in it but it's workable."
Originally, Payne was taking up a contract in Turkey but when the prospective club fell into financial difficulties, she instead accepted a short-term deal with Bendigo.
Payne, 27 and 195cm, had eight points and blocked five shots in 27 minutes as Spirit stunned Dandenong 70-55.
"Bendigo needed a 'big' and I wasn't really needed in Adelaide," Payne said.
"I signed with Bendigo two hours before the game and after I'd only had one training.
"It was an amazing win because our Canadian import Chelsea Aubry also only rolled up on the day.
"It goes to show what the girls in Bendigo are like - so welcoming, such country girls, they made it really easy to fit in."
Not that Adelaide made it difficult to fit in but Payne was never a big part of Vicki Valk's main rotation.
Nonetheless, she has no hard feelings about her season in Adelaide.
"Adelaide just didn't turn out to be a good fit for me," she said.
Bendigo also may not be a full season-long stop, Payne's contract giving her the option to stay for the duration but her agent is continuing to explore other European opportunities.
Payne said Saturday's earlier match-time at Brett Maher Court could play a part in determining whether she suited against Lightning as she had a wedding to attend in Melbourne.
"I don't know for sure I'll be playing," she said. "We're still working on it."
The last time Payne was at the BMC, it was still the Dome and she was sitting with her arm in a sling, cheering on the Lightning against Bendigo.
Lightning won the elimination final - the Spirit in metho - and Adelaide went on to Townsville where it, too, was fired out.
Last Sunday against most pundits' championship favourite Sydney, Adelaide blasted the Flames with a power hose, putting them out 86-73, a scoreline which even flattered its arch rival.
"I was very happy with the way we played as a team, always prepared to make the extra pass," Valk said. "But really, it doesn't count for much if we beat Sydney but then lose to Bendigo."
Injured stars Shelley Burston and Renae Camino are another step closer to playing but it won't be on Saturday.
"They're doing on-court stuff, Renae is jumping off her good leg and landing on the other while Shelley is defending one-on-one in the post," Valk said.
The match has a surprisingly early 12.30pm tip-off to accommodate ABC-TV's live cover interstate which will be from 1.00pm AEST.
Photo courtesy of Joseph Sirucka for The Dandenong Journal
