The three-week event in Abu Dhabi brought together more than 7000 athletes, coaches and staff and Dederer said it was the most impressive event she'd been to in her more than a decade spent with the Special Olympics. 

But on the court was where she found the most impressive aspect of the tournament, as coaching girls for the first time, Australia claimed a thrilling win in the gold medal match against Spain.

The Australians - having gone through the grading and pool games undefeated, included defeating the grand final opponents twice - were "flat" in the final against a Spanish side which Dederer described as "on fire". 

"They had one player who couldn't hit a shot for the first few games who was sinking everything in the final," she said. 

The Aussies were down for nearly the entirety of the match, hitting the lead late in the piece before Spain equalised, sending the gold medal match into a nail-biting overtime. 

With about 30 seconds left, Australia were one point up, with a three-pointer on the buzzer sealing a stellar four-point win, with Dederer hailing it as one of the best wins she'd been a part of. 

It was her first tournament coaching women, having spent two Special Olympics in charge of the men's side. 

"It was very different, but the girls worked very hard and really, really well together," she said.

Dederer was also full of praise for the location of the event, saying any trepidation about holding the Special Olympics in the Middle East was washed away in minutes after arriving. 

"Abu Dhabi was absolutely incredible," she said.

"There was a real focus on acceptance, of race and religion and not just for people with a disability.

"The opening ceremony was as grand as an Olympic opening ceremony, the infrastructure there is incredible." 

She's looking towards travelling with potentially three Orange girls to the Global Games in Brisbane, with Eliza and Bernie Mills and Zora Hines in line for selection later this year.