Super Netball 2024: Dual international Chelsea Pitman announces her retirement from netball

A career spanning nine clubs across three different countries, and international representation for two nations has come to an end for netball’s ultimate “gypsy”.

Netball didn’t make Chelsea Pitman a millionaire, but the dual international says she leaves the game as a “billionaire” from the journey it gave her after announcing her immediate retirement from the game.

The ultimate netball “gypsy” called time on her netball career on Tuesday after almost two decades at the top level, most recently at the Giants.

One of netball’s most well-travelled players, Pitman played for nine different clubs in three different countries, as well as representing the Diamonds and English Roses internationally.

The 35-year-old midcourter made her debut at the NSW Swifts as a teenager in 2006 and also represented Canterbury Tactix, Queensland Firebirds, West Coast Fever, Manchester Thunder, Central Pulse, Adelaide Thunderbirds and London Pulse.

Pitman signed on with the Giants as a temporary replacement player for the then-injured Maddie Hay ahead of the 2024 Super Netball season.

After announcing her retirement from international netball last year, Pitman said the time was right to step away from elite netball.

Pitman in round two of Super Netball. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

“I was very aware that my position this year being a temporary replacement player would look differently, but I wasn’t starting the year going ‘Yes, this is my last year at all’,” Pitman said of her retirement decision.

“But I think just looking at it and the way I was feeling and wanting to say yes to some fun things away from sport and travelling, I thought maybe it is time.

“The thought of moving to another team for next season would be my fourth move in four years and that just was something that my brain said ‘No’ to, so there were definitely a few things saying ‘Yeah, now is the right time’.

“Obviously it hasn’t been a successful campaign so far with Giants in the games that I have played, but at least I can go out knowing that I was going out in form and playing good netball … I’m not going out holding on for dear life to just be part of it.

“I am very emotional, but I think that will always be the case, but I’m also feeling pretty good about it.”

Alongside her extensive club journey in netball across Australia, England and New Zealand, Pitman also had 18 Test caps for the Diamonds and 38 for the Roses, as recently as last year.

She was a member of Australia’s World Cup winning team in 2011 and won gold with the Roses at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“I look back on it and go ‘Wowee, I’ve done a lot’ and I’ve moved around a lot and I know my friends like to joke that I’m very good at being a gypsy,” Pitman said.

Pitman in action for England during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I heard someone once say that sport didn’t make them a millionaire, but it made them a billionaire in the best possible way from the memories that it gave them and I think that’s so true to what netball has given me.

“Obviously as an athlete you are very driven for success and wins and I am extremely proud of those, but I think that the thing that I am going to miss the most is the discipline of it, my teammates, the passion I feel for it and the excitement I feel getting out of bed everyday.

“It’s making me reflect on ‘Am I ever going to love anything as much as a love sport and the feeling it gives me?”

Pitman rated England’s thrilling one-goal win over Australia on the Gold Coast in 2018 as the highlight of her playing career.

“I think the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2018 playing for England was just an absolute whirlwind,” Pitman said.

“The history we created and the nation we inspired to look at netball, talk about netball, want to play netball, to be part of that team that created that is something extremely special.

“So I think that is definitely one of the highlights. It’s not just the gold medal, but it’s what we did to inspire a new generation of netballers and fans to watch a game that is very close to my heart.”

Pitman said she wanted to remain involved in netball in the future, but was unsure at the moment what path she might take.

“I absolutely love the game and I want to see it get better and grow and be in the media for the right reasons,” Pitman said.

“And for it to be the go-to sport for women – and men – to chose to want to have a career path in and I think we have got a lot of work to do in that space and I want to play a role in that.

“What that is, who knows? Is it a coaching, or high performance space, is it player involvement and engagement, but whatever opportunities that become available in that space, I will be open to having that conversation.”

Originally published as Super Netball 2024: Dual international Chelsea Pitman announces her retirement from netball