It was not that she had expected to get a contract with the Southern Steel.
On the contrary, she had been a little surprised to be included in next year's shooting line-up.
She was excited too.
But there is a certain amount of pressure that comes with being touted as the next big thing.
It was a tag she has had since starring at St Hilda's Collegiate.
Her twin sister, Kate, had lived up to the hype, starting in the wing defence bib for the Steel this year.
So many school stars do not make it to the top, though.
That was something that began to play on the 19-year-old's mind when her sister received her break.
However, perhaps it all helped her reach that end goal.
To do it with her twin made it all the sweeter, as it was what they had always wanted.
''I was sort of like, 'I'm going to be Kate Heffernan's identical twin sister','' she said.
''Last year, we'd always get told 'which one is the netball one?' and I'd be like 'we both play netball'.
''It's pretty cool. I definitely had it in the back of my mind last year, that I had to work harder.
''Me and Kate push each other. If she's going for a run I'm like 'I have to too'. We're quite competitive.''
Heffernan has been a training partner with the Steel for the past two seasons.
She initially had linked with the team in that capacity with Kate and Taneisha Fifita, both of whom are now fully contracted players.
Showing that pathway was there was great and she was glad the Steel invested in its local players.
This season she took the court in five ANZ Premiership games, while also playing pre-season and Super Club games last year.
Goal attack is now her preferred position, having been pushed there by the late Georgie Salter.
Fitting around all that is a cricket career in which she has played alongside Kate for the Otago Sparks.
She impressed growing up as a right-arm bowler, although injuries in recent years have restricted her.
Last summer proved hectic.
On top of training Monday to Friday with the Steel, she played two games for the Sparks in the weekend.
When those two games were both 50-over one-day games, that made for long and tiring weeks.
At one point, she went five weeks without a day off as she tried to fit both in.
While she loved both, it became too much.
''I'm not ever doing that again. I hardly survived it.
''It was cool and I do enjoy cricket, but I think netball's my priority at the moment.''
Despite that, she hopes to keep playing cricket, although she is unsure if that will be for the Sparks or just the under-21s.
Either way, she will keep the option open to go back to the sport if her involvement becomes limited.
For now, she will continue her vet nursing degree studies, while also playing for Phys Ed A in the Dunedin club competition.
