Phoenix Karaka

EVENT: Netball

Phoenix Karaka was a member of the New Zealand Netball Team which won bronze over home favourites England at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In her first full season back after the birth of her first child, Karaka led from the front to return a consistently high standard of performance with the Mystics in 2022. 

A menace with her long reach and athletic ability, the rangy defender took her game to new levels in an inspiring season. Having played for the Steel and Pulse before returning home to Auckland and the Mystics, experience has paid dividends for Karaka who made her Silver Ferns debut in 2014. 

Able to move comfortably between the two in-circle defensive positions, Karaka has a strong all-round skill set with her movement and ball handling ability. Karaka has developed into a classy defender with her athleticism, tight marking, ability in the air and sense of awareness for the intercept.