WENDY FREW
Frew finished her career on a high, bowing out after the 2018 final. She played 176 games for the Southern Sting and Steel. After stints as a commentator and a specialist coach, Frew is now the Steel’s head coach as they prepare for the final tomorrow night.
GINA CRAMPTON
Crampton joined the Northern Stars in 2021 then took a break to join her partner, former All Blacks Sevens and Otago rugby player Fa’asiu Fuatai, in the US. They relocated to Sydney, where she was named in the Giants in 2025, until she was ruled out through pregnancy. She returned as an injury cover for the NSW Swifts this season, before helping out the Mainland Tactix as injury cover. Played 70 tests for the Silver Ferns and captained the side in 2021-22.
SHANNON SAUNDERS
Missed the 2022 season through pregnancy. Returned in 2023, only to be cruelly ruled out by injury. Played 92 tests for the Silver Ferns, winning the Netball World Cup in 2019 and bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, alongside Crampton and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. Lives in Nelson with her family.
TE PAEA SELBY-RICKIT
The shooter joined the Tactix in 2020, winning another title in 2025. She joined the Queensland Firebirds this season. Played 66 tests for the Silver Ferns and was recently named as a non-travelling reserve for the Commonwealth Games.
OLIVIA BATES
Bates was a handy shooter who finished on a high with the Steel in 2018. The mother of two is a teacher at Tahuna Intermediate. Her sister, Suzie, is currently wrapping up her storied career at the T20 Cricket World Cup.
TE HUINGA REO SELBY-RICKIT
The defender played over 200 national league games before retiring at the end of the 2023 season. The mother of one linked up with the Tactix as an assistant coach, where she won the title in 2025.
JENNIFER O’CONNELL
The tall shooter stayed with the Steel until 2020 and returned as an injury cover in 2024. She also switched codes, playing for the Southern Hoiho in the Tauihi basketball league in 2023.
ABBY LAWSON (NEE ERWOOD)
The defender stayed with the Steel until 2020 and returned to the franchise from 2024-25, where she balanced life as an athlete with farming alongside her husband.
COURTNEY ELLIOTT
The defender had stints with the Northern Mystics and Central Pulse and returned to the Steel for another season in 2023. Now living in Australia.
KATE HEFFERNAN
The midcourter earned her first contract in 2018 and has gone on to become a household name. Heffernan played 101 games for the franchise before signing with the Adelaide Thunderbirds this season. Played 50 tests for the Silver Ferns and was recently named vice-captain for the Commonwealth Games. Her twin, Georgia, will captain the Steel in tomorrow’s final.
REINGA BLOXHAM
Bloxham coached the Steel to back-to-back titles in 2017-18 and stayed with the franchise until 2024. She signed with the Cardiff Dragons and was recently named Super League coach of the year, leading the Dragons to their best result (fifth) since 2014.
