Ten of the Silver Ferns who won Commonwealth Games gold have left New Zealand to continue their careers overseas, with players describing the situation as “pretty sad.”
Maddy Gordon, who was part of the Glasgow 2026 squad, last week announced she would join the West Coast Fever in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball competition on a two-year deal after the lack of a domestic competition left her with little choice but to look overseas.
“I don’t blame the girls who have now left the comp and gone overseas, whether that’s Australia or England, and I’m glad that they’ve grabbed that opportunity,” Gordon told Sport Nation.
“But yeah, it’s pretty sad to see the state of netball in New Zealand right now.”
The midcourter has already experienced the intensity of SSN, having spent part of the season with the Queensland Firebirds after pay cuts in the ANZ Premiership and greater opportunities made moving overseas more appealing.
She hopes playing alongside athletes from different countries and learning from the Australian coaching staff will help develop her game and provide valuable experience for New Zealand’s international programme.
However, the future of that programme remains uncertain, with no Silver Ferns squad named yet for October’s Constellation Cup.
“I don’t know when that squad’s being named, to be fair,” Gordon shared.
“We’ve had a few emails from the Players Association saying it should be coming in the next week or two but obviously we’re still training hard behind the scenes and just doing what we can until that announcement’s made.”
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Gordon said winning Commonwealth Games gold had been important for New Zealand netball, particularly during such a difficult period.
“We wanted to get that gold for the netball in New Zealand and for those young girls back in New Zealand to show that the pathway is still there,” she said.
“So hopefully by doing that it really sends a message to Netball New Zealand that netball is great and we all love it in New Zealand.”
SSN’s Kiwi contingent:
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (Melbourne Vixens), Amelia Walmsley (Vixens), Carys Stythe (Vixens), Kimiora Poi (Queensland Firebirds), Georgia Heffernan (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Ameliaranne Ekenasio (West Coast Fever), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Firebirds), Kate Heffernan (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Maddy Gordon (Fever), Kelly Jackson (Firebirds), Karin Burger (Lightning), Grace Nweke (Sydney Sirens).
Listen to the full interview below: