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Sport Nation
Stars' ANZ Premiership title hopes dealt brutal early blow
Kieran Bingham • May 13th, 2025 11:30 am
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With Round 1 barely in the books, the Stars’ chances of winning the ANZ Premiership may already be in doubt.
During Sunday's 71–55 loss to the Northern Mystics in Auckland, the Stars were hit hard by injuries. Key defenders Kate Burley and Greer Sinclair both exited in the first half, and Australian shooter Charlie Bell went down late in the game, dealing a blow to any hopes of a comeback.
Assistant coach and former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin, who returned to coach the side this season alongside her longtime teammate Temepara Bailey, didn’t sugar-coat the situation.
“We’ve had a bit of an update. Obviously, Greer (Sinclair) and Kate Burley are probably not looking so good for the rest of the season,” de Bruin told Sport Nation's Beaver & Guy.
When asked how the team would fill those gaps, de Bruin quipped that hosts Stephen Donald and Guy Heveldt “might look good in skirts.”
But the light-hearted remark had a ring of truth in a week where coaches returning to court doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Southern Steel assistant Liana Leota laced up at 40 years old in Round 1 as an emergency injury replacement.
Could this become a trend, or perhaps - at least - a short-term solution to the Stars' predicament?
“We’re not that desperate,” de Bruin laughed, but she acknowledged the toll the injuries had taken.
“With those two out (Kate and Greer), it’s massive in terms of experience, and I guess that's really hard to come by.
"Experience is key in this competition, especially because it's such a short one. So we’re definitely looking for that in a player.”
As for Bell, the outlook is more optimistic. She suffered a mild ankle and calf sprain, but de Bruin noted the injury is “a little minor more than major.”
The Stars later confirmed via social media that Bell is “tracking positively” for Sunday’s matchup against the Tactix, pending return-to-play protocols.
Tune in to Sport Nation for live commentary of the clash between the Tactix and Stars on Sport Nation from 4pm, Sunday
Listen to the full interview below:
