West Coast Fever captain Courtney Bruce and rising star Sunday Aryang have been named in the Origin Australian Diamonds squad of 18 ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Bruce will have the opportunity to add to her 44 Australian caps, while Aryang is preparing for her first opportunity to represent Australia at a Commonwealth Games after making her international debut in January’s Quad Series in England.
Both players have made a strong start to the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball season and created a formidable combination in Fever’s defensive circle to shut down some of the league’s leading international attackers.
Last week against NSW Swifts, Bruce finished the game with 12 gains, 5 intercepts, 6 rebounds and 4 deflections, while Aryang had 5 gains, 3 intercepts, 3 deflections and a rebound.
Bruce leads the competition in deflections, 29, and defensive rebounds, 20, and is coming second for gains, 43, and intercepts, 15.
Aryang is also in the top 10 across key defensive stats categories including gains, 13, deflections, 19, and intercepts, 7.
They will be joined in the Commonwealth Games squad by fellow West Australians Sophie Garbin (Collingwood) and Donell Wallam (Firebirds).
The 2022 Commonwealth Games team of 12 athletes will be selected from the Diamonds squad.
The squad was selected by head coach Stacey Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.
A squad of up to 22 athletes can be selected, with Marinkovich declaring positions are still up for grabs.
"Selection definitely hasn't been an easy task," Marinkovich said.
"We have such a great depth of talent within our system across every position on the court and I congratulate those who have been selected.
"After showing great accuracy and strength at the post during her debut Suncorp Super Netball season, Donnell Wallam has been selected in the Diamonds squad.
"We have selected 18 athletes and will continue to closely monitor performances throughout the Suncorp Super Netball season, with the potential to add to the squad throughout the year.
"This squad showcases an incredible breadth of experience and new emerging talent.
"We have our sights firmly set on the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and we are also incredibly excited for international netball to return to Australian soil later this year."
2022-23 Origin Australian Diamonds squad
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)
Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)
Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies/New South Wales)
Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)
Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds/Queensland)
Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)
Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia)
Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)
Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia)
Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)
Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)
Maddy Turner (NSW Swifts/South Australia)
Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds/Western Australia)
Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
