From World Vision ambassador to defensive leader: the Diamond stepping out of her comfort zone
She’s the Diamonds player stepping out of her comfort zone on and off the court - from defensive leader to World Vision ambassador, Sunday Aryang is emerging as a woman of influence.
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It’s less than three years since Sunday Aryang made her Diamonds debut and became an irreplaceable part of Australia’s all-conquering netball team.
In that time, the West Coast Fever defender has never tasted a series defeat, with Australia collecting every major trophy in the game - from the Quad Series, in which she made her debut in England in 2022, to the Constellation Cup, series against England and South Africa and benchmark events at the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
This week, Sunday Aryang will step out of the long shadows of some of the best defenders in Australian netball history and take her place as a senior member of the Diamonds team.
It’s a reflection of her personal and sporting growth.
A new chapter for the first African-born Diamond, who left war-torn Ethiopia with her parents and older sister aged just one as they searched for a better life for their children.
After dabbling in basketball at primary school, Aryang found her way to Perth’s netball courts and rose steadily through the ranks to make her international debut at just 21.
“To this day, I still remember it,” Aryang said of playing her first game for the Diamonds alongside then-Fever teammate Courtney Bruce, Jo Weston and Sarah Klau.
“Even though there’s some bits that have gone blurry just from all the excitement and adrenaline but it was such a great moment.”
Veterans Bruce and Weston will be missing from the three-Test series against England that starts in Adelaide on Thursday, with Aryang and NSW Swifts goalkeeper Klau the senior members of a defensive unit that includes potential debutants Ash Ervin and Rudi Ellis.
“That (debut) experience is just untouchable, so I can’t wait for everyone else to get the opportunity to fill it as well,” she said.
Aryang is relishing the chance to step into a leadership role in defence, something she has also done at the Fever this season after the departure of premiership captain Bruce, who is now based on the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s definitely something that I’ve wanted to improve in when it comes to my leadership, and not just being okay with being the youngest and just stepping back,” Aryang said, admitting it felt somewhat “weird” to be one of the most experienced defenders in the group.
“I want to take that next step. I think (stepping up for) Fever this year was a great way to practice in that space and in the Diamonds environment, I can continue to practice in that space.
“You want to be pushed out of your comfort zone, or else you’re never going to really grow as an individual, and I think it’s a perfect opportunity for myself … to do something that I’m not as comfortable doing, but it is going to benefit me in the long run.”
It’s not just on the court that Aryang is stepping up either.
The 23-year-old has linked with World Vision as an ambassador, realising a long-held ambition to give back to others in need.
“I’ve always said that I would love to be an ambassador for some organisation that is helping people around the world,” she said.
“And I think World Vision really stood out to me because it was something that I saw quite a bit growing up.
“My parents used to always talk to us about the stuff that World Vision do. I used to see the ads on the TV and you’d see the athletes as ambassadors back then and before I even knew I wanted to be an athlete, I always said it would be so amazing one day if I could be an ambassador for any type of organisation that helps in this way.
“I’m loving what we’re building together. I think they’ve got so many great things that they’re trying to stand for and so many ways that they’re trying to help young girls and boys around the world and just trying to give them the best life possible, which I was lucky enough to get that opportunity with my parents.
“So I just want to help out in any way possible.”
While she has a full plate juggling her Super Netball and Diamonds duties, working in the field with World Vision - particularly in Ethiopia - is on Aryang’s bucket list and returning to the country of her birth with her mother is something she hopes can become a reality one day.
“It would, for sure be a full circle moment,” said Aryang, who has never visited the country of her birth, with her first time in Africa during last year’s Quad Series in Cape Town, ahead of the Diamonds’ victorious World Cup campaign in South Africa six months later.
“It’s definitely something that stayed front of mind ever since I’ve signed that ambassador role with them.
“They have spoken to me about wanting to get me out into the field - and they’ve mentioned my mum quite a bit, and just said that it would be amazing to get you two back to Ethiopia, if possible, because they do know that that would be my first time going back home.
“It would just be such an unreal moment to experience. “
For now though, Aryang’s focus is on helping the Diamonds beat England, something that will be no easy task against a team that made the World Cup final last year and is determined to remain a regular challenger to the world no.1 team.
“We definitely do have a tough job. They probably want to get their payback from the World Cup.
“And I think they do have such a strong attacking end,” Aryang said of a shooting unit that includes Super Netball stars Helen Housby, player of the tournament at last year’s World Cup, and the Mavericks’ Eleanor Cardwell, who is back under the wing of Tracey Neville, the architect of England’s 2018 Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning Roses side.
“I think for us defenders, it’s definitely going to be a challenge here.
“I’m actually very excited to get to play England again.”
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Originally published as From World Vision ambassador to defensive leader: the Diamond stepping out of her comfort zone
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