Southern Steel
Gains: Lenize Potgieter, Kate Heffernan, Kendall McMinn.
Losses: Wendy Frew, Dani Gray, Olivia Bates.
Outlook: Has retained the majority of last year’s champion side and has added the premiership’s most dominant shooter in Potgieter. Heffernan and McMinn both impressed when given the chance this year and will fight for the hole left by Frew at wing defence. Not to call it too early, but this is a team well set up for a three-peat.
Mainland Tactix
Gains: Kate Lloyd, Lily Marshall.
Losses: Jess MacLennan, Zoe Walker.
Outlook: Definitely a good offseason to follow the best season in franchise history. The Tactix has kept this year’s side together for the most part, its losses coming via injury. If its attack can keep improving to match its suffocating defence, this is a team that could do damage.
Central Pulse
Gains: Maddy Gordon, Elle Temu.
Losses: Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Renee Savai’inaea.
Outlook: Another team that has done well to keep its core together. The Pulse retains the eight players who were so dominant right until the final two minutes of 2018. Should be tough right through the court and will not lack motivation after losing this year’s final from a near-unbeatable position.
Waikato-BoP Magic
Gains: Lisa Mather, Abigail Latu-Meafou, Kelsey McPhee, Jenna O’Sullivan.
Losses: Katherine Levien, Kate Lloyd, Amorangi Malesala, Lenize Potgieter, Hayley Saunders.
Outlook: Potgieter is a huge loss and her absence in 2018, when the side struggled to score while she was injured, is reason for concern for the Magic. She will be replaced by Latu-Meafou, a 1.95m tall New Zealand-born shooter, who comes across from the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Aside from that, the Magic should be better for having Kelly Jury and Casey Kopua back from injury.
Northern Mystics
Gains: Kristina Brice, Tayla Earle, Emma Iversen, Grace Kukutai, Erena Mikaere.
Losses: Tera-Maria Amani, Maria Folau, Anna Harrison, Samon Nathan, Storm Purvis.
Outlook: There is plenty of experience lost here, notably in Folau and Harrison. However, the team gains experience in Mikaere’s return from Australia, while Australian shooter Brice will fill a hole in the shooting circle. The Mystics still retain two Silver Ferns in Elisapeta Toeava and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, as well as the experienced Bailey Mes.
Northern Stars
Gains: Leana De Bruin, Charlee Hodges, Storm Purvis, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan.
Losses: Ama Agbeze, Paula Griffin, Fa’amu Ioane, Christina Oscar.
Outlook: Added a 41-year-old De Bruin and former Silver Fern Purvis to the defensive line-up, alongside Australian shooter Charlee Hodges. The Stars hold on to Maia Wilson and Kayla Cullen, but this is a side lacking the firepower the others do.
