Towering shooter Grace Nweke won’t play for New Zealand next year as she signs with the New South Wales Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball competition for the 2025 season.

The 22-year-old – who has played for the Northern Mystics since debuting in the ANZ Premiership in 2019 – was announced today by the Swifts via a statement on their website.

Grace Nweke told NZME she was keen to move across the ditch because she wasn’t challenged enough in Aotearoa.

“I didn’t see any other club in New Zealand being able to tick those boxes for me in terms of growing my game and developing there so an opportunity to play for the Swifts came across to me and I really had to sit on it - but do feel right now that this move will be massive for growing my netball.”

Matt Whineray, chair of the Netball New Zealand board, joins Piney to discuss what this means for NZ Netball.

“This is an opportunity for Grace – there's a real commitment from Grace to the black dress and the Silver Ferns in the long term.”

LISTEN ABOVE

Towering shooter Grace Nweke won’t play for New Zealand next year as she signs with the New South Wales Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball competition for the 2025 season. 
The 22-year-old – who has played for the Northern Mystics since debuting in the ANZ Premiership in 2019 – was announced today by the Swifts via a statement on their website. 
Grace Nweke told NZME she was keen to move across the ditch because she wasn’t challenged enough in Aotearoa. 
“I didn’t see any other club in New Zealand being able to tick those boxes for me in terms of growing my game and developing there so an opportunity to play for the Swifts came across to me and I really had to sit on it - but do feel right now that this move will be massive for growing my netball.” 
Matt Whineray, chair of the Netball New Zealand board, joins Piney to discuss what this means for NZ Netball. 
“This is an opportunity for Grace – there's a real commitment from Grace to the black dress and the Silver Ferns in the long term.” 
LISTEN ABOVE

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB brings you all the action and reaction to the sporting weekend.

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

Matt Whineray: Netball NZ Board Chair on Grace Nweke signing with the NSW Swifts for the 2025 season

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/54895a29-ee37-4cbc-a5ef-b1cf0037a4c9/transcript