She found out she was starting in last night’s ANZ Premiership match only yesterday morning.
It was a decision that may have surprised a few, Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham preferring the training partner to contracted player Kiana Pelasio to replace George Fisher.
She had felt it would avoid disruption by not having to reshuffle the shooting circle.
It proved an inspired selection.
Namana hit 35 of her 38 shots as the Steel beat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 65-50 in Invercargill last night.
It was not her first start — she filled in during the team’s injury-ravaged season last year — but it was certainly her first statement game.
"It was pretty surreal," Namana, a fulltime lawyer, said.
"It was always a bucket dream of mine to start an ANZ Premiership game.
"I’m a bit speechless.
"It went pretty well, so that was good. I just wanted to enjoy the moment and soak it up."
For two and a-half quarters the Steel barely put a foot wrong.
While the Magic came back at that point, when it reinjected goal shooter Caitlin Bassett, it was far too late.
The Steel defensive end caused problems all night.
Taneisha Fifita and Renee Savai’inaea were notable in that, limiting the ball the Magic shooting circle received.
But it was the way the Steel shooters stood up in the absence of Fisher that won this one.
Namana and Tiana Metuarau were near faultless.
They combined to shoot 64 out of 68, Metuarau missing just once and providing excellent feeds to Namana.
That helped them to a 43-25 lead midway through the third quarter, a deficit the Magic never threatened.
Namana was quick to praise Metuarau, alongside midcourt duo Kate Heffernan and Shannon Saunders.
"I think because Tiana is such a dominant player, I just need to post up and the ball will come to me.
"But she’s really good at telling me where to be.
"But I think Kate and Shan also ran some really good lines ... "
A patient and confident start helped the Steel out to a 16-9 lead, Namana going 12 of 13 to start the game.
That continued throughout the second quarter as Namana added another perfect 10 to her total, while Tiana Metuarau finished the half shooting 13 from 13.
It was accuracy that would be hard to keep up with even if the Magic was playing well.
However, it was not.
The Magic could not find shooters Chiara Semple and Khiarna Williams, who had replaced Caitlin Bassett, and the Steel made light work of the turnover ball.
The host side led 35-21 at halftime, and kept building.
The Steel’s turnover ball dried up when Bassett returned and Williams shifted to goal attack, but the 16-goal margin proved too much.
