| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 7 February 2002 Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| School | Avondale College, ACG Sunderland | ||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Auckland | ||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | |||||||||||||||||
| Playing position(s): GS | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Club team(s) | Apps | |||||||||||||||
| 2019–present | Northern Mystics | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | New South Wales Swifts | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | |||||||||||||||
| 2021–present | New Zealand | 31 | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Grace Nweke (born February 7, 2002) is a New Zealand netball international. She first competed for New Zealand in September 2021.
Grace Nweke was born in Auckland on 7 February 2002, to parents who emigrated to New Zealand from Nigeria. She has a twin brother and four other siblings. Her parents initially left Nigeria to go to South Korea, before settling in Auckland in the 1990s. [1] She attended ACG Sunderland from years 9 to 10 then transferred to Avondale College. At Avondale College she competed in high jump events as well as netball. Nweke is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree in information systems and marketing at the University of Auckland. [2] [3]
Nweke joined the Northern Mystics for the 2019 ANZ Premiership season, while she was still at school. Initially recruited to be a training partner she was rapidly promoted to being a full-time member of the Mystics squad. In 2021 she set a new ANZ Premiership scoring record, scoring 852 goals from 951 attempts and scoring 50 or more goals in 12 of the Mystics' 16 games. Her performances inevitably brought her to the attention of the national selectors, who selected her initially for the Under-21 side and then for the full 2021-22 New Zealand squad. Nweke missed four matches of the 2022 ANZ Premiership season due to an ankle injury; she was cleared to play the Grand Final but the Northern Mystics were defeated by the Northern Stars [4] Nweke was sidelined once again half way through the 2024 ANZ Premiership season with a knee injury. [5]
Despite her 2019 performance in the ANZ Premiership, Nweke was not selected for the 2019 Netball World Cup by Noeline Taurua, who cited fitness issues and her age. [6] Nweke made her national debut on 22 September 2021 against England in a 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series match but this ended in disappointment as the team lost 55-45. [7] [8] [9] In 2021 she was nominated at the Halberg Awards for the Emerging Talent Award but lost out to swimmer Erika Fairweather. [10] Nweke was selected for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and was noted as having a standout performance in the Bronze medal final against England, when New Zealand won 55-48. [11] Nweke's stellar performance was again followed up in the 2022 Constellation Cup against the Australian Diamonds having never come up against Australian players her shooting form was noted as being flawless, despite this, the Silver Ferns ended up losing the tournament 2-2 to the Australian Diamonds. [12] Nweke was selected for the 2023 Netball Quad Series in Cape Town and was the only player of the Silver Ferns team to play four full games, however the Silver Ferns lost to the Australian Diamonds in the final 56-50. [13] Further recognition and praise was gained when she won the best shooter and overall player of the series. [14] Nweke was selected for the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, [15] however she obtained a patella tear during a game against Singapore and was ruled out for the rest of the contest. [16] [17] Nweke was cleared to play on managed time for the last two games of the 2023 Constellation Cup her game play was attributed to the Silver Ferns winning the last two games of the series. [18]
After the 2024 ANZ Premiership season had completed, Nweke was announced to play for the NSW Swifts for the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, making her still eligible for the Silver Ferns 2024 season but not the 2025. [19]
At the 2022 Netball awards Nweke was awarded the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award shared with fellow Silver Ferns player Kelly Jury, as well as the Silver Ferns Player of the Year . [20]
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented New Zealand at the World Games. New Zealand made their test debut in 1938. As of 2023, New Zealand have been world champions on five occasions and Commonwealth champions twice. They are regularly ranked number two in the World Netball Rankings.
Anna Maree Harrison, originally known as Anna Scarlett, is a former New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won gold medals at the 2003 World Netball Championships and 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. During the National Bank Cup era, she played for Otago Rebels and Auckland Diamonds. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Northern Mystics. In 2012, Harrison began using a rugby union lineout-style form of goaltending. The technique subsequently became known as the Harrison Hoist. During the ANZ Premiership era, she played for Mystics and Northern Stars. As well as playing international netball, Harrison also played for the New Zealand women's national volleyball team and represented New Zealand on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. In 2023, Harrison was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to netball and volleyball.
Cathrine Tuivaiti is a netball international who has played for Samoa, New Zealand and Tonga. She represented Samoa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Netball Championships, New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Tonga at the 2023 Netball World Cup. During the National Bank Cup era, she played for Northern Force. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Northern Mystics. She subsequently played for Central Pulse, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Strathclyde Sirens and Severn Stars. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.
Grace Kara is a former New Zealand netball player of Samoan descent. Kara played in the National Bank Cup for the Auckland Diamonds from 2005 to 2007. She continued playing in Auckland for the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship, starting in 2008. She is the younger sister of fellow Mystics player Rachel Rasmussen and she is also the older sister of Ann-Helen Rasmussen.
Dame Noeline Taurua is a New Zealand international netball coach and former representative player. She is currently head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns.
Te Paea Selby-Rickit is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup. She has also represented New Zealand at the 2018 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. She was a member of two premiership winning teams – the 2017 and 2018 Southern Steel teams. She was also a member of the Steel team that won the 2017 Netball New Zealand Super Club tournament. Since 2019 she has played for Mainland Tactix. Her older sister, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, is a former New Zealand netball international. Her father, Hud Rickit, is a former New Zealand rugby union international.
Bailey Mes is an Auckland born New Zealand netball player. She can play at goal shoot, goal attack, and wing attack. She currently plays for the Waikato/BOP Magic in the ANZ Premiership.
Sulu Fitzpatrick, also known as Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, is a former New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2021 Constellation Cup and represented New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She captained New Zealand when they won the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series and again during the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. During the ANZ Championship era, Fitzpatrick played for Northern Mystics, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Southern Steel. During the ANZ Premiership era, she played for Mystics, Northern Stars and Central Pulse. During her career, she played for every ANZ Premiership team except Mainland Tactix. She was a member of four premiership winning teams – the 2012 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, the 2019 Central Pulse, the 2021 Northern Mystics and the 2023 Northern Mystics. She captained Mystics when they won both premierships. In 2021, Fitzpatrick received the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.
Phoenix Karaka is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup. Christine Papali'i is her mother.
The ANZ Premiership is the top level netball league featuring teams from New Zealand. In 2017 it replaced the ANZ Championship, which also included teams from Australia, as the top level netball league in New Zealand. It is organised by Netball New Zealand. Its main sponsor is ANZ. In 2017, Southern Steel were the inaugural ANZ Premiership winners. Central Pulse are the league's most successful team, having won three premierships.
Maia Wilson is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. She also represented New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Wilson made her senior league debut with Central Pulse during the 2016 ANZ Championship season. Since 2017, she has played for Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership. In both 2018 and 2019, she was the ANZ Premiership top goal scorer. Wilson was a prominent member of the 2019 and 2022 Northern Stars teams that were ANZ Premiership grand finalists. Ahead of the 2021 season, she was appointed Stars captain. Wilson is also a former New Zealand women's basketball international.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio, previously known as Ameliaranne Wells, is a New Zealand netball international. In 2010 and 2011, Wells represented Australia at under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2014 she switched allegiances to New Zealand. She represented New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019 Netball World Cup. She captained New Zealand when they won the 2021 Constellation Cup.
Kelly Jackson, previously known as Kelly Jury, is a New Zealand netball international. She represented New Zealand at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. During the ANZ Championship era Jackson played for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Since 2020, she has played for Central Pulse in the ANZ Premiership. She was a prominent member of the Pulse teams that won the 2020 and 2022 ANZ Premierships. Alongside Tiana Metuarau, she was co-captain of the 2022 Pulse team. She was the 2022 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year and shared the 2022 Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award with Grace Nweke.
Gina Crampton is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. Crampton was also a member of the Southern Steel teams that won the 2017 and 2018 ANZ Premierships. She was named the 2016 New Zealand ANZ Championship Player of the Year and the 2019 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year. Crampton has captained both Southern Steel and New Zealand. Since 2021 she has played for Northern Stars.
Karin Burger is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. Burger has also played for both Central Pulse and Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Premiership. She was a member of the Pulse teams that won 2019 and 2020 ANZ Premiership titles. While playing for Tactix, she was named 2021 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year.
Tiana Metuarau is a New Zealand netball international. Between 2017 and 2020, she was a prominent member of the Central Pulse team that won the 2018 Super Club title and the 2019 and 2020 ANZ Premiership titles. In 2022, Metuarau was co-captain of the Pulse team that won a third ANZ Premiership title.
Samantha Winders, previously known as Samantha Sinclair, is a New Zealand netball international. She represented New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the 2021 Constellation Cup. She captained New Zealand for the third test against England during the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. She was subsequently named the 2021 Silver Fern Player of the Year. Between 2014 and 2022, she played for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, initially in the ANZ Championship and later in the ANZ Premiership. Between 2020 and 2022, she served as Magic captain.
The 2022 ANZ Premiership season was the sixth season of Netball New Zealand's ANZ Premiership. With a team coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie, co-captained by Kelly Jury and Tiana Metuarau and featuring Aliyah Dunn, Erikana Pedersen and Whitney Souness, Central Pulse won their third title. Pulse finished the regular season as minor premiers, finishing above Northern Stars and Northern Mystics. In the Elimination final, Stars defeated Mystics 63–57. Pulse then defeated Stars 56–37 in the Grand final.
Saviour Tui is a Samoa netball international. Tui was a member of three title winning teams in New Zealand's National Netball League. In 2018 and 2019, Tui won titles with Central Zone/Central Manawa. In 2021 she won a third title with Northern Marvels. She was also a member of the Central Pulse team that won the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club tournament. She was a fringe member of the 2021 Northern Mystics team that were ANZ Premiership champions. Since 2022, she has played for Southern Steel in the ANZ Premiership.
The 2022 Northern Mystics season saw Northern Mystics compete in the 2022 ANZ Premiership. With a team coached by Helene Wilson, captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Grace Nweke, Elisapeta Toeava and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Mystics finished third in the regular season, behind Central Pulse and Northern Stars. In the Elimination final, Stars defeated Mystics 63–57.
