Former Silver Ferns captain Katrina Rore, who was signed in a bid to boost the hopes of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, has announced a surprise pregnancy.
Katrina Rore is expecting her second child. Photo: SWpix.com
Rore, the fourth most capped Silver Ferns player of all time, was one of three major signings for the new-look Magic. However she is unlikely to fill a key playing role with the team she was debuting for this season.
Rore, a Pulse stalwart, alongside shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio and dependable midcourter Claire Kersten, shifted to the Magic after years of long service with the Central Pulse.
The experienced trio, each covering a different area of the court, were set to revive the hopes of the once great Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic side, the only New Zealand team to claim the silverware in the the former trans-Tasman championship.
Rore, who calls Rotorua home, was returning to the game following the birth of her first child, a daughter Lilybud, and some had hoped she would be there for the Silver Ferns at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July.
"Lilybud is as stoked and surprised as us to be welcoming her new brother or sister into the world in 2022," Rore said.
Rore during her Silver Ferns playing career. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
The Magic have further changes with 183cm shooter, Khiarna Williams, set to miss the start of the ANZ Premiership due to a back injury.
Williams, 19, is expected to make a return to action in May, but in the meantime will be replaced by interim player Ivana Rowland.
"It's disappointing for Khiarna that she won't be there for the start of the season but it's important that she's 100 percent right before coming back to play," Magic coach Mary-Jane Araroa said.
Araroa has plenty of player management challenges in her first season as head coach, after stepping up from the assistant role.
"Having our Silver Ferns out for a month for the Quad Series means they've missed quite a bit of that team bonding, connection and structure that takes place during that time," Araroa said.
"And then, of course, we've got Ameliaranne, who is returning from having her second baby, so it's been a case of slowly having players integrating into the environment."
Mystics 2021 champion Bailey Mes is also part of the new-look Magic side.
There are three games in round one of the ANZ Premiership, with the Magic playing the Mystics in the season opener next Sunday.
* ANZ Premiership Round 1
Sunday 13 March, 2.10pm - Magic v Mystics
Sunday 13 March, 4.10pm - Tactix v Steel
Monday 14 March, 7.15pm - Stars v Pulse
-RNZ