West Coast Fever defender Ruth Aryang ruled out for the rest of Super Netball 2025 season

The West Coast Fever have been dealt a major injury blow, losing a star defender for the rest of the season as they chase their first win of the 2025 campaign.

West Coast Fever has been dealt an early-season injury blow with defender Ruth Aryang ruled out for the rest of the year with a ruptured achilles tendon.

The Fever revealed on Tuesday morning Aryang had ruptured her achilles at training over the weekend, ending her 2025 campaign.

The club said Aryang would consult a specialist on Tuesday to determine when she would undergo surgery.

Aryang’s injury is also set to rule the 21-year-old out of the World Youth Cup in September.

West Coast Fever general manager Sue Gaudion said the club was weighing up options to replace Aryang ahead of this Sunday’s clash against the Vixens in Melbourne.

“The injury to Ruth is absolutely devastating for her and will preclude her from selection to play at this year’s World Youth Cup,” Gaudion said.

“We are supporting Ruth through what is a very difficult time for her.“

The Aryang sisters, Sunday and Ruth. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

It’s a massive blow for Aryang, whose likely elevation to the Fever’s squad was delayed when she suffered a ruptured ACL in 2022.

“We will weigh up the options available to replace her for the Vixens match over the coming days,“ Gaudion said.

An exciting young defender, Aryang, the younger sister of fellow Fever defender Sunday, made her Super Netball debut in 2024.

She was the fourth defensive player in the squad after being added to the trio of Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Fran Williams and Sunday Aryang and came into the 10 in place of Kelsey Browne, who remains on the Fever list as a training partner and club ambassador.

Ruth Aryang in action for the West Coast Fever. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

The Fever have several options to replace Aryang, including nominated athlete Zoe Cransberg, whose twin Jordan is a member of the full-time squad; Browne, or they could keep goaler Mwai Kumwenda on their list.

Kumwenda joined the club as a replacement player this season after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard announced her pregnancy but the Jamaican, who suffered a miscarriage earlier this year, has given her notice to return to work, with Kumwenda set to move into a training partner role.

The Fever remain one of two winless teams in the Super Netball competition alongside the Giants.

Originally published as West Coast Fever defender Ruth Aryang ruled out for the rest of Super Netball 2025 season