Is this year's ANZ Premiership going to deliver unpredictable results?

RNZ News

07-05-2025

The Mystics celebrate after winning last year's Premiership.
Photo:
Marty Melville
Analysis:
The Mystics broke Pulse hearts last year when
Grace Nweke
landed a shot under the post in the dying seconds of the grand final to claim back-to-back ANZ Premiership titles.
But with their biggest weapon deciding to cross the ditch and the introduction of a
two-point shot, will that help even out this year's competition?
Here's a look over the teams, ahead of the opening weekend of the Premiership.
Donnell Wallam
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Mystics will be aiming to become the first team to achieve the ANZ Premiership three-peat but have lost Nweke, who decided to play in Australia's league to challenge her game.
The franchise snapped up a shooter with similar stature in Australian Diamond Donnell Wallam.
The 31-year-old is the same height as Nweke and has a strong hold but she is also incredibly mobile and will bring a lot of movement.
Wallam is unlike any other shooter the competition has seen and if midcourters Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle form a strong connection to her early, the Mystics will be strong contenders again.
The defending champions have lost vastly experienced defender Phoenix Karaka, who's just had her second child but they will still be well served in defence between Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Catherine Hall, and the addition of Holly Rae (nee Fowler) from the Stars.
Maia Wilson
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
The Stars made the most changes of any of the teams, retaining just half of their players from last year, when they finished a disappointing fifth.
An immediate boost will be the return of Silver Fern midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, who suffered a serious knee injury in the middle of last season.
The biggest potential game-changer for the Stars could be in Australian import shooter Charlie Bell, who at 196cm will be the equal tallest player in the competition.
When Temepara Bailey was announced as the new coach last year there were only one or two positions left to fill and the former Silver Fern reached out to Bell, a training partner in the Australian league.
Perhaps a tall shooter is what the side has been missing, and it will finally allow Maia Wilson to play at goal attack.
Fellow Australian recruit Remi Kamo will add welcome height to the defensive end. She should form a nice combination with Kate Burley, who had to work over-time last season.
The Stars lost up-and-comer Holly Mather, but gained equally promising midcourter Greer Sinclair from the Tactix.
Silver Ferns and Magic captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
The Magic have an incredibly settled line-up, retaining nine of their players from last year. That familiarity could be crucial with the Premiership cut to just two rounds this year and no time to build into the season.
There were really good signs for the Magic last year, who just missed out on the elimination final and they will be determined to reach their first finals campaign in a long time.
Claire O'Brien was a revelation at the Magic last year, which led to a Silver Ferns call-up and the wing attack will really marshall the attacking end.
The Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is a fantastic shooter from long-range so the Magic will be confident to go to the post during the last five minutes of each quarter under the new two-point shot rule.
The experienced circle defence duo of Georgia Tong and Erena Mikaere had their best season last year and will make life very difficult for opposition shooters.
Georgie Edgecombe will provide plenty of spark in the midcourt and turnover plenty of ball.
Kelly Jackson
Photo:
Photosport
Last year Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse had a wretched run of injuries. At one point all three shooters were sidelined and injury also ruled out midcourter Maddy Gordon for a chunk of the season.
Despite that the Pulse still made the grand final, only to lose by one goal to the Mystics.
This year the Pulse have already had to call in reinforcements for the first few rounds, with Gordon, Whitney Souness, and shooter Khiana Williams working their way back from injury.
Amelia Walmsley, who could find herself as the Silver Ferns starting goal shoot later this year, will be a strong anchor again in the Pulse shooting end.
Crafty goal attack Tiana Metuarau is an important cog in the Pulse line-up and will have to bring her A-game.
The Pulse had the best defensive record in 2024, and expect that to be repeated this year with Fa'amu Ioane, Parris Mason, and Kelly Jackson back again.
Retaining eight of their 10 players from last year will make them serious contenders again.
Karin Burger with the ball.
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Tactix shooting end as a collective is probably the strongest in the competition.
The Tactix recruited break-out 2024 player Martina Salmon. Add her to the established combination of Te Paea Selby-Rickit and the resurgent Ellie Bird and Tactix coach Donna Wilkins has got real options.
Teams who have more of a development player in that third shooting position tend to struggle if a starting shooter gets injured. But these three shooters will push each other for court time.
The Tactix lost their captain and midcourt lynchpin Kimiora Poi in the off-season but were smart to recruit Holly Mather, who is relatively new to the competition but plays beyond her years.
The Tactix had the second best defensive record last year and between Paris Lokotui, Karin Burger, and Jane Watson they will be strong again.
Finishing third last year, the Tactix will push for finals again thanks to smart recruitment.
Georgia and Kate Heffernan form the backbone of the Steel.
Photo:
Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz
The Steel finished with the wooden spoon again last year so it's not surprising they went on a big recruitment drive.
New coach Wendy Frew signed Silver Ferns midcourter Kimiora Poi, one of the country's most exciting young defenders in Carys Stythe, and experienced shooter Aliyah Dunn.
The 190cm tall Dunn might make the biggest difference to the franchise, which has struggled since losing tall holding target shooter George Fisher.
Dunn and Summer Temu, who was recruited partway through last season to cover injury, need to take some pressure off the shoulders of goal attack Georgia Heffernan.
With Poi in the midcourt, that should equally take some pressure off her twin sister Kate Heffernan.
Which three teams will reach the finals?
Mystics:
They will still have the ability to score quickly through Donnell Wallam, who also doesn't mind shooting from range.
Pulse:
The franchise has a winning mentality and have retained the bulk of last year's team, who were denied the title by one goal.
Magic:
The Magic might just have the right ingredients to edge into the finals ahead of the Tactix.
First round fixtures:
Sat 10 May
Pulse v Magic, Palmerston North - 4pm
Sun 11 May
Mystics v Stars, Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland - 4pm
Tactix v Steel, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch - 7pm