Diamonds and West Coast Fever star Sunday Aryang dealt horror news with ACL injury
Australia's netball triumph over New Zealand has come at an enormous cost, with defensive star Sunday Aryang suffering a devastating knee injury in the final moments.
The Diamonds face the prospect of being without one of their best defenders for next year’s Commonwealth Games after confirmation Sunday Aryang ruptured her ACL in Wednesday night’s Constellation Cup decider in Christchurch.
Aryang put her body on the line to prevent a final-second pass into the New Zealand circle, front marking star shooter Grace Nweke, but crashed to the court after contesting the ball, clutching at her right knee in obvious pain.
Netball Australia confirmed in a statement on Thursday the 24-year-old had ruptured her ACL.
While she will undergo “further medical consultation to plan the next steps in her recovery” it’s likely that will mean surgery and a knee reconstruction, a process that usually sidelines a player for at least 12 months, especially in netball.
Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich said the team is rallying behind Aryang.
“It is such difficult news for Sunday, who is such an important person and player within our Diamonds environment,” Marinkovich said.
“She’s a valued member of our team, and we’ll support her every step of the way through her recovery.
“We know with the support network around her, Sunday will rally and be back stronger than ever.”
Aryang was one of the standouts for the Diamonds across the Constellation Cup, starting all four Tests at goal defence in concert with former West Coast Fever teammate Courtney Bruce, who was inconsolable after the match.
Already a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and World Cup winner, she would have been a lock for selection for Glasgow next year, with coach Stacey Marinkovich now having to look to fill the void.
Veteran Jo Weston, who sat out the Constellation Cup after playing a leading role in the South Africa series and Matilda Garrett, who played in both the series against the Proteas and the Silver Ferns, are the most likely candidates at goal defence, while defenders including Teagan O’Shannassy and Erin O’Brien, who were named as 2025-26 squad training partners, will also be in the mix.
Immediately though, the Diamonds thoughts will be with Aryang and her recovery.
Despite Wednesday’s match ending with a Diamonds win – snapping their four-year hoodoo across the ditch, there was little celebration from the Australian players, with many in tears and distressed at the sight of their teammate having to be helped from the court.
Nweke, who was in no way to blame for the incident, also showed immediate concern for Aryang.
Aryang will also miss the Super Netball season with the West Coast Fever, who will also be without her younger sister Ruth Aryang, at least for the start of the year after she ruptured her achilles tendon earlier this season.
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