ANZ Premiership: Australian basketball star Caitlin Bassett joins Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic have confirmed that Australian Diamonds star Caitlin Bassett will join their roster for the 2021 ANZ Premiership season.

Bassett, who has won two Netball World Cups and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, will be the first Australian Diamond to compete in the ANZ Premiership with the 1.96m pitcher recently named to the national team for the new Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich.

Bassett will team up with New Zealand-born Chiara Semple and talented youngster Khiarna Williams in the Magic’s confirmed final.

She told Newstalk ZB’s Elliott Smith that she was excited at the prospect of playing in New Zealand.

“A great new experience, opportunities for more adventures, the opportunity to play in a different country, something that I never thought would happen to me throughout my career.
“And I’m excited to get there and join the Magic,” Bassett said.

“It’s good that everything is finally revealed, I’m not good at keeping secrets, there have been a lot of back and forth in the last few weeks, making sure that I am still eligible to play for Australia, these are complications that have obviously appeared due to Covid, so I am very grateful for being so patient and Netball Australia for supporting me and giving me the backing to come play. “

Bassett denied that Australian netball’s controversial move to the Super Shot format contributed to his decision.

In June Australia Super Netball announced that it had adopted the two-point shot that would be used in Super Netball, despite strong opposition to it.

As a result, Bassett, whose accuracy from under the post, rather than from greater distance, has had limited playing time this season.

“The best teams in our competition have rarely used the two-point shot, I think it’s more the way our team has implemented the rule change and what they have done has left me a bit empty, but I am more than happy. of pulling a long shot, “Bassett said.

“It’s just that at the end of the day the coach didn’t see me on his seventh start, which was frustrating considering all the work I was doing. I just want to be out there playing on the court.”

Magic head coach Amigene Metcalfe was delighted with the opportunity to work with Bassett.

“The entire team is very excited for Caitlin to join the Magic family. She brings a lot of experience and knowledge of the game that will be extremely beneficial.

“Our broader netball community will also have the opportunity to see a superstar in action, which will add great value to our sport.”

Magic CEO Rohan West said they were delighted to have secured one of the best shooters in the world.

“Caitlin is a great signing for the Magic and we are excited for all that she will add to our shooting circle,” he said.

“As a club, we can see that the great experience Caitlin brings will benefit our young shooters, who will have the opportunity to learn from one of the best.”

The Magic have been granted an ANZ Premiership exemption to field two ineligible players, and the 24-year-old Semple represented England’s Under-21 team at the Netball Youth World Cup 2017 in Botswana.