A 12-strong squad, including 10 members of team that won gold in Birmingham, is preparing to head to Cape Town for the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Almost a week later than initially expected after a stand-off between Netball Australia and the players’ union over a new pay deal, the squad, including three reserves, will travel for the tournament in Cape Town starting in late July.
In naming the squad, coach Stacey Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins opted for vice-captain Stephanie Wood and fellow goalers Kiera Austin, Cara Koenen and Sophie Garbin, who plays for last-placed Collingwood.
Garbin’s Magpies teammate Ash Brazill, who retired from Super Netball after the final round, is also in the squad, which will be led by Liz Watson.
Giant Jamie-Lee Price was included, relegating Vixens midcourter Kate Moloney to the reserves.
The versatile Price was left out of Australia’s triumphant Commonwealth Games team but impressed in the Constellation Cup, Quad Series and games against England last year.
She is joined in the midcourt by Brazill, Watson and Paige Hadley.
The defenders include Sunday Aryang, Courtney Bruce, Sarah Klau and Joanna Weston.
Cape Town here we come.
The 12 athletes chosen to play at the 2023 Netball World Cup have been named.
More 👉 https://t.co/FZ8NovAZIF pic.twitter.com/OwmJqqJbPz
— Origin Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) June 18, 2023
Marinkovich said there were some tough selection calls.
“We have incredible strength and depth in our squad, which is a credit to each player’s ability to perform in both the Diamonds program and the Suncorp Super Netball League,” Marinkovich said in a statement.
“We are confident we have the versatility across our combinations, and excited by the variations we can put out on the court in Cape Town.”
The Diamonds will go in as favourites to win the World Cup. They lost the 2019 decider to New Zealand by one goal but have won every trophy on offer since.
Australia World Cup team:
- Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever)
- Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens)
- Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)
- Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)
- Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies)
- Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
- Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)
- Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
- Jamie-Lee Price (Giants Netball)
- Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)
- Joanna Weston (Melbourne Vixens)
- Steph Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Australia World Cup reserves:
- Ruby Bakewell-Doran (Queensland Firebirds)
- Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
- Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds)
