How Silver Ferns standout Kate Heffernan took her game to the next level with Super Netball champions

Sunday, 12 July 2026

Kate Heffernan has raced to 50 test caps for the Silver Ferns after debuting at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Celebrating with the Adelaide Thunderbirds’ diehard fans at the city’s famed Rundle Mall, Silver Ferns standout Kate Heffernan knew all the angst was worth it.

The dynamic midcourter became a Super Netball champion on Saturday after the Thunderbirds capped a dominant campaign, thumping the Melbourne Vixens 61-40 in the grand final.

It completed a season to savour for the South Australian side, who resembled a juggernaut, losing just once in 16 games on their march to the title.

Heffernan was instrumental to the Thunderbirds’ success, thriving on both attack and defence and starring in her first season in Australia’s glitzy competition. She was so outstanding, netball pundits dubbed her one of the best players in the league and the top overall midcourter.

That much was evident last week when the Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA) announced her as the midcourter and international of the year for Super Netball, as voted by her fellow players.

Kate Heffernan will be a pivotal figure for the Silver Ferns at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

To think Heffernan was a bundle of nerves before she headed to Australia for pre-season, leaving behind Silver Ferns team-mate and identical twin sister, Georgia, and her family, for the longest amount of time in her life.

Having spent eight seasons with the Southern Steel, farewelling home comforts for a fresh challenge in Australia was a daunting move.

Celebrating with the Thunderbirds’ ‘Pink Army’ tragics at Rundle Mall on Monday during their title-winning festivities and holding the trophy aloft, it was crystal clear the move had paid off.

Her netball went to another level, benefiting from the Thunderbirds’ high performance environment, coaching, and playing alongside some of the world’s best. Heffernan could not speak highly enough of the Thunderbirds club and the resources available to her.

“I am definitely proud of myself for making that decision to go over and having the courage to do so because it was an amazing opportunity. I did it for my growth.

“I wanted to get better and see what I could do on that big stage in SSN [Super Netball] and really grateful it was the Thunderbirds that reached out and I was able to take that pretty special opportunity.”

The Thunderbirds made it three titles in four seasons after being knocked out in the minor semifinal last year, becoming the first Super Netball side to win three grand finals since it was launched in 2017.

Kate Heffernan brings the ball through court for the Silver Ferns against South Africa in Auckland last year.

Heffernan praised the way the Thunderbirds were able to create a game plan around the strengths of the playing group and how the players managed to execute it to perfection.

“We got to a point where we knew how to bring the best out of each other and we were able to do so. So consistently that it was something that was pretty cool to be apart of. All round the whole experience, on the court, off the court in the gym, I definitely grew a lot as a person.”

Heffernan’s focus has quickly moved from grand final celebrations to the Silver Ferns’ Commonwealth Games build-up.

She hugged identical twin sister Georgia for the first time in six months when she arrived in Auckland on Tuesday for Silver Ferns training camp.

This will be the second Commonwealth Games for Heffernan after she debuted for the Ferns in their opening match of the 2022 event in Birmingham against Northern Ireland.

Since then she has rapidly become a cornerstone of the national side and a must-start option for coach Dame Noeline Taurua at either centre or wing defence.

Kate Heffernan, left, and identical twin sister Georgia warm up for the Steel before a 2023 ANZ Premiership game.

Heffernan brought up her 50th test in their final match last year, a series-clinching victory over England.

The Silver Ferns open the Games against hosts Scotland in Glasgow on July 25 before a crunch clash the following day with Jamaica –and Heffernan’s Adelaide team-mates, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson.

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls have owned the Ferns at recent pinnacle events, beating them twice at the 2023 Netball World Cup and also the semifinals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Whoever wins the pool match will likely top the group and could dodge Australia in the semifinals, who will be favoured to finish first in group A.

Kate Heffernan is interviewed by former Silver Fern Anna Stanley after a 2023 Constellation Cup test against Australia in Invercargill.

“I know they’re going to be out to get us for sure. They’re the coolest people, Latty and Sham. I’ve loved getting to know them, but also playing with them.

“They’re absolutely incredible the things they can pull off. I had a bit of exposure to what they can do all season. Not looking forward to being on the other side of that.”

After a disruptive 2025 where the Ferns dealt with Taurua being stood down as coach for 51 days after issues in the high performance environment, Heffernan said there was a positive mood in the squad.

Taurua is finally back in charge after also sitting out the Northern tour in November to minimise disruption to the playing group.

The Ferns finished the year strongly, winning the final two Constellation Cup tests against Australia after losing the opening two across the ditch. They then triumphed 2-1 away against England, playing through a gastro bug which swept through the side to win the final match.

“It’s pretty exciting to see the way we’re building and I can’t wait to get out on court and I think we’re going to do some pretty cool things and it’s going to be pretty special because we’ve got some great connections and some that have had three-four years to grow.

“I just think this year too with having a few more in SSN and the other girls that have been in the ANZ Premiership playing massive roles in their teams. We’ve got girls coming off some great seasons.”