The Mystics clinched the ANZ Premiership netball title with a thrilling 54-53 victory over the Pulse in Wellington at the TSB Arena.
Grace Nweke scored the winning goal in the final moments, securing the Mystics’ second consecutive championship and their third overall, having previously won in 2021 and 2023.
The game was filled with excitement and tension, with the Pulse leading for most of the last five minutes before the Mystics made a late comeback.
Nweke, who had a standout performance, expressed her emotions after the match, describing it as “crazy.” The match was intense, with the lead changing several times. The game also had its share of controversy when Mystics goalkeeper Phoenix Karaka was temporarily removed from the court in the final quarter for an illegal challenge against Whitney Souness. Earlier, Souness had to leave the game with a cut to her eyebrow.
The Mystics started strong, with Peta Toeava assisting Grace Nweke to gain an early lead of 14-9 by the end of the first quarter. Despite this, the Pulse fought back in the second quarter, equalizing the score at 23-all. However, the Mystics managed to stay ahead with a 27-25 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw a tight competition with both teams exchanging leads. Filda Vui scored a crucial goal after Catherine Hall forced a turnover, putting the Mystics ahead at 42-41 going into the final quarter. Whitney Souness returned to the court amid cheers from the home crowd, replacing Maddy Gordon as center.
In the final quarter, the teams remained evenly matched, but the Mystics ultimately emerged victorious with a last-minute goal, celebrating their remarkable win.
