Super Netball: Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix announces she is expecting her first child in early 2025

Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix has announced some exciting personal news less than a week after the Super Netball grand final.

Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix has announced she is pregnant, less than a week after the team suffered a shattering two-goal loss in the Super Netball grand final.

The Vixens revealed on Thursday the 30-year-old goal keeper would welcome her first child in early 2025.

Mannix will stay involved in an off-court capacity at the Vixens, but the club said any decision on whether she would return to play in the 2025 Super Netball season would be made at the “appropriate time”.

Our Vixens family keeps growing 🥰🦊 Em Mannix has announced her pregnancy and will welcome her first child in early 2025!

Find out more 👉 https://t.co/HoN1xHQZh5pic.twitter.com/y8wfFudGs0

— Melbourne Vixens (@MelbourneVixens) August 8, 2024

Mannix has enjoyed one of the best seasons of her career for the Vixens in 2024, putting her back on the Diamonds’ radar.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich had named Mannix as one of two invitees when she announced her 2024-25 national squad in June.

Mannix started on the bench for the Vixens in the preliminary-final win over West Coast Fever and grand final, but played 25 minutes in the premiership decider against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

She produced match-turning play when she was injected into the game in the third quarter against the Fever to help propel the Vixens into the grand final.

The defensive stalwart was excited to share her family news and thanked the club’s medical staff for their support to allow her to keep playing through to the finals.

Mannix has announced she is expecting her first child. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“Ari and I are excited to share that our family will be growing in the new year,” Mannix said.

“I’m grateful for how supportive the club has been across the season, especially to our amazing medical staff for their support to enable me to continue playing.

“It’s been an incredible experience sharing this news with teammates, staff and the whole Vixens family, and we appreciate all the love we’ve received.”

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said Mannix would continue to play a key role off-court and hoped to see her back on court in the future.

“Our whole team is so excited for Emily and Ari and their families,” McKinnis said.

“Em and her family are such an important part of our club. As a team we’re looking forward to supporting her throughout her pregnancy, and we can’t wait to welcome a new member to our Vixens family.

“We know Em will stay connected and play a key role with our group over the coming months – albeit off the court – we couldn’t be more excited for her, and we look forward to welcoming her back on court when the time comes.”

Mannix had served as vice-captain to Vixens’ skipper Kate Moloney this year.

Originally published as Super Netball: Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix announces she is expecting her first child in early 2025