Kate Heffernan is one of New Zealand netball’s most versatile midcourters — a Silver Ferns vice-captain, a former Southern Steel captain and, unusually, a New Zealand representative in cricket as well. This profile traces her farming-family roots in West Otago, her rise through the domestic game, her Silver Ferns honours and her 2026 move to Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball.
Quick Facts
Full name: Kate Alexandra Heffernan
Born: 7 October 1999, Invercargill, New Zealand
Height: 1.81 m
Position: Midcourt — Wing Defence, Centre, Wing Attack
Domestic clubs: Southern Steel (2018–2025); Adelaide Thunderbirds (2026–)
National team: Silver Ferns (debut 2022)
Other sport: Cricket — Otago Sparks and two White Ferns T20 Internationals
Early Life and Farming Roots
Kate Alexandra Heffernan was born on 7 October 1999 in Invercargill and grew up on a sheep-and-beef farm near Tapanui, in the West Otago region of the South Island. Sport ran in the family: her mother, Annette Heffernan, was a Silver Fern, and the household encouraged an active, competitive upbringing.
She attended Blue Mountain College in Tapanui before boarding at St Hilda’s Collegiate School in Dunedin, where her netball and cricket talents developed side by side. She later studied psychology at the University of Otago, a background that fits neatly with the calm, tactical reading of the game she is known for.
A Dual-Sport Athlete: Netball and Cricket
Before netball became her full-time focus, Heffernan was a genuine two-sport athlete. As a left-arm medium-fast bowler she played for the Otago Sparks in the domestic women’s competition across the 2016/17 to 2018/19 seasons, and she earned two Twenty20 International caps for New Zealand’s White Ferns in 2018 against the West Indies.
Balancing two demanding elite sports eventually became unsustainable, and Heffernan committed to netball. Her cricketing grounding — reading angles, staying composed under pressure and repeating a skill accurately — carried over neatly into her midcourt game.
Southern Steel: From Injury Cover to Captain
Heffernan’s elite netball career began almost by accident. She was called into the Southern Steel as an injury-replacement player in June 2018 and quickly showed she belonged, becoming part of the squad that won the 2018 ANZ Premiership title in her first season.
Over seven seasons she grew from promising newcomer into one of the Steel’s most important players, taking on the captaincy and playing more than 100 games for the franchise before leaving after the 2025 campaign. Her ability to cover several midcourt positions made her a coach’s asset throughout that period.
Silver Ferns Career and Honours
Heffernan made her Silver Ferns debut on 30 July 2022 against Northern Ireland and cemented her place in the national side within a single, rapid rise. She was part of the New Zealand team that won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, then delivered a standout Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, where she was named Midcourter of the Tournament.
That form was rewarded at home: Heffernan won the inaugural Sandra Edge Medal as the 2023 Silver Ferns Player of the Year. She was appointed Silver Ferns vice-captain in 2024 and has captained the side in individual Tests. She has also featured in New Zealand’s Constellation Cup series wins over Australia in 2024 and 2025, and was part of the Silver Ferns squad that took gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Career Highlights
| Year | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 2018 | ANZ Premiership title with the Southern Steel (debut season) |
| 2022 | Silver Ferns debut; Commonwealth Games bronze |
| 2023 | Midcourter of the Tournament, Netball World Cup; inaugural Sandra Edge Medal (Silver Ferns Player of the Year) |
| 2024 | Named Silver Ferns vice-captain; Constellation Cup win |
| 2025 | Constellation Cup win; final season with the Southern Steel |
| 2026 | Suncorp Super Netball title with the Adelaide Thunderbirds; Commonwealth Games gold |
What are Kate Heffernan’s most notable achievements?
Her headline honours are the 2023 Netball World Cup Midcourter of the Tournament award, the inaugural Sandra Edge Medal in 2023, the Silver Ferns vice-captaincy from 2024, Constellation Cup wins in 2024 and 2025, and Commonwealth Games medals in 2022 (bronze) and 2026 (gold). At club level she won the 2018 ANZ Premiership with the Steel and a Suncorp Super Netball title with Adelaide in 2026.
Crossing the Ditch: Adelaide Thunderbirds
For the 2026 season Heffernan took a bold step, signing with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball — widely regarded as the toughest domestic league in the world. The move paid off immediately: the Thunderbirds beat the Melbourne Vixens 61–40 in the grand final, and Heffernan was a key figure in the midcourt during the title run, contributing assists and intercepts in the decider.
Playing Style and Position
Standing 1.81 m, Heffernan is a tall, athletic midcourter who can play Wing Defence, Centre or Wing Attack. That height and reach make her a disruptive presence — she reads passing lanes well and pulls in interceptions that swing momentum — while her work rate lets her link defence to attack across the full length of the court.
One of Heffernan’s biggest strengths is her leadership. She leads by example, stays composed in tight finishes and lifts the players around her — qualities that saw her handed captaincy roles at both franchise and national level relatively early in her career.
A Netball Family Legacy
Heffernan comes from one of New Zealand netball’s notable families. Her mother, Annette, wore the Silver Ferns dress, and her sister, Georgia Heffernan, is also a professional netballer; the pair played together for the Southern Steel, and the family tree includes further Silver Ferns connections. Away from the court, Kate Heffernan shares glimpses of her netball and personal life with fans on social media.
Whether disrupting play in the midcourt for the Silver Ferns or setting the tempo for her club side, Heffernan has become a fixture of New Zealand netball — and a rare modern example of an athlete who reached international level in two different sports.
Sources
- Silver Ferns — Kate Heffernan squad profile
- ANZ Premiership — Kate Heffernan (Southern Steel)
- Netball New Zealand — Top netball performers of 2023 honoured
- Otago Daily Times — Player of the year wins inaugural Sandra Edge Medal
- Southern Steel — Kate Heffernan bids farewell
- Netball Australia — Thunderbirds crowned 2026 premiers
- New Zealand Olympic Committee — Kate Heffernan
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Kate Heffernan?
Kate Heffernan is a New Zealand netball international, born on 7 October 1999. She is a versatile midcourter for the Silver Ferns, a former Southern Steel captain and, since 2026, a player for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. She also represented New Zealand in cricket earlier in her career.
What position does Kate Heffernan play?
She is a midcourter and can cover Wing Defence, Centre and Wing Attack. At 1.81 m she is tall for the midcourt, which helps her intercept passes and disrupt opposition attacking play.
Has Kate Heffernan played cricket for New Zealand?
Yes. She was a left-arm medium-fast bowler for the Otago Sparks between the 2016/17 and 2018/19 seasons and earned two Twenty20 International caps for the White Ferns in 2018 before choosing to focus on netball.
What team does Kate Heffernan play for now?
She plays for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball, having joined for the 2026 season and won the premiership in her first campaign. She previously spent seven seasons with the Southern Steel in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership.
What awards has Kate Heffernan won?
Her major honours include being named Midcourter of the Tournament at the 2023 Netball World Cup and winning the inaugural Sandra Edge Medal as the 2023 Silver Ferns Player of the Year. She also holds Constellation Cup, Commonwealth Games and Suncorp Super Netball titles.
