Three New Zealand-based netballers have been voted into the ANZ Championship All Star team, despite Australian sides dominating the transtasman competition.
Silver Ferns and Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic pair Laura Langman and Casey Kopua were joined in the selection side by Jamaican sharpshooter Jhaniele Fowler from the Southern Steel.
Voted by fans for the first time, the team was dominated by the top two teams in the regular season, the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Melbourne Vixens. Only Adelaide made Sunday's final, however, with Melbourne knocked out by the Queensland Firebirds.
The Firebirds also accounted for the Magic earlier in the playoffs, despite the best efforts of Langman and Kopua. Langman finished the season with the third-most goal assists and in the top 10 for loose ball pick-ups, good enough to see her named to the All Star side for the second straight year.
Kopua was another to enjoy repeat selection after another rock-solid season at the heart of the Magic defence. An uncompromising and consistent player, the Silver Ferns captain again made it difficult for opponents to create space and goal-scoring opportunities.
Fowler was a revelation in her first season in the competition, setting several new records while reviving the fortunes of the Steel. The 23-year-old finished with the most goals scored in a season (666) and in an individual game (65), averaging 52.1 goals a game with a 94 per cent accuracy.
The 2013 ANZ Championship All-Star team: Jhaniele Fowler, Southern Steel; Erin Bell, Adelaide Thunderbirds; Madison Browne, Melbourne Vixens; Laura Langman, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic; Renae Hallinan, Adelaide Thunderbirds; Casey Kopua, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic; Geva Mentor, Melbourne Vixens. Coach: Jane Woodlands-Thompson, Adelaide Thunderbirds.
