Latest news with #Kopua
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Kopua back in the fold
Former Silver Fern Casey Kopua has committed to the New South Wales Giants for the rest of the Australian domestic season. Kopua, 39, came out of retirement to play for the injury plagued Giants last week has signed as a replacement player for the remaining six rounds. The Giants are bottom of the table with one win. — APL
1News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
'Like riding a bike': Casey Kopua makes return to elite-level netball
Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua said she "absolutely loved every minute" of her first appearance six years on from retiring from elite-level netball. The 39-year-old netball legend was signed as injury cover for the Greater Western Sydney Giants who play in the Australian Super Netball league. Kopua filled in for Jodi-Ann Ward, who tore her ACL in a recent loss to the West Coast Fever. Kopua had initially retired from the Silver Ferns in 2017 following several knee injuries and the birth of her first child, but the star returned to the black dress in 2019. She finished her career as a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and as a Netball World Cup champion in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT The team lost 71-61 to the Melbourne Vixen but Kopua said she "absolutely loved every minute". "I feel like my lungs at patches were heaving. But it's just like riding a bike, if you put a ball in front of me, I'll go and go and go. "It's definitely a lot faster [in Australia] but I feel like you can get away with a bit more in the circle. "I definitely think for me it's my mind and being able to concentrate and focus those channels again, but I can only go up from here hopefully." Kopua was signed on for three weeks with an extension possible.
Otago Daily Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Kopua, 39, set for shock return to game
Former Silver Fern captain Casey Kopua is in line for a shock return to elite netball. Kopua, 39, has been named as a replacement player for the Giants against the Melbourne Vixens for their Super Netball game tomorrow. The defender, who retired after winning the Netball World Cup in 2019, replaces Giants' Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward, who tore her ACL and is out for the rest of the season. The Giants are also without regular defender Tilly McDonnell. The New South Wales franchise announced Kopua's inclusion yesterday. Kopua, who played 17 seasons for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, will link up with her former Magic team-mates Jo Harten, Jamie-Lee Price and coach Julie Fitzgerald, who are all with the Giants. The goal defence, who was one of the inaugural inductees into the Netball New Zealand hall of fame last year, was one of the best defenders during her tenure, including being part of the Magic side that won the ANZ Championship in 2012. Kopua retired from internationals in 2015 but returned to the Silver Ferns when Noeline Taurua took over the side in 2019 and led them to their first Netball World Cup in 17 years.
