Ameliaranne Ekenasio

Who is Ameliaranne Ekenasio?

Ameliaranne Ekenasio is a prominent New Zealand netball player, known for her exceptional skills and versatility on the court. Born on 11 January 1991, in Australia, Ekenasio made her debut for the New Zealand Silver Ferns, the national netball team, in 2014. She plays in the goal attack and goal shooter positions and has been an integral part of the Silver Ferns’ success on the international stage. Her ability to shoot accurately and create scoring opportunities for her teammates has made her a vital player for the team.

Playing Career

Ameliaranne Ekenasio’s netball journey began at the age of 13 when she started playing for her school and later joined the Across The Waves (ATW) team. Her talent quickly became evident as she contributed to ATW Gold teams winning the Bundaberg Netball Association first division premiership titles in 2007 and 2008. Recognising her potential, she was selected to join the prestigious Ergon Energy Netball Academy. Ameliaranne also had stints with Wide Bay Thundercats, Brisbane South Wildcats, and Yellow Cab Lions in the Queensland state netball leagues. In 2009, she played a pivotal role in the Wildcats’ triumph, securing the Queensland state league title and earning the player of the final accolade.

Her excellence extended to the representative level, representing Queensland in the Australian National Netball Championships at under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels. In 2010, she was part of the victorious Queensland team that clinched the under-19 tournament title, showcasing her impressive shooting accuracy. Ameliaranne continued to hone her skills and gained valuable experience playing for Queensland Fusion in the Australian Netball League from 2010 to 2014, followed by her inclusion in the Queensland Firebirds squad for the ANZ Championship from 2011 to 2014.

Club – Central Pulse

However, her most significant achievements came when she joined the Central Pulse in 2015. Playing for the Pulse until 2020, she became a crucial player for the team, contributing to their victories in various competitions, including the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club and the 2019 and 2020 ANZ Premierships. Her leadership qualities were evident when she was initially named the captain of the 2021 Central Pulse team, but her season was interrupted due to pregnancy.

New Zealand National Team

On the international stage, Ameliaranne represented Australia at the under-19 and under-21 levels before making a pivotal decision to switch allegiances to New Zealand. She made her senior debut for New Zealand in the 2014 Constellation Cup against Australia. She played an essential role in New Zealand’s triumphs, such as winning the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series and, most notably, the 2019 Netball World Cup, where she demonstrated her outstanding shooting abilities in the gold medal match. As a testament to her exceptional performances, she was named the 2019 Silver Ferns Player of the Year. Ameliaranne’s leadership qualities were further recognised when she was appointed as the captain for the New Zealand team ahead of the 2020 Netball Nations Cup, leading the team to success in the 2021 Constellation Cup. After a break from international netball due to pregnancy, she made a triumphant return and was elected as captain by her teammates and coaches for the 2022 Taini Jamison Trophy Series.