Phoenix Karaka (born 6 November 1993) is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

teams that won the

2019 Netball World Cup The 2019 Netball World Cup (also known as the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th edition of the INF Netball World Cup. It was held from 12–21 July 2019 at the Liverpool Arena in Liverpool, England with matche ...

. Christine Papali'i is her mother.

Career

Following her success at secondary school level at

Auckland Girls' Grammar School "Through trials to triumph" , colours = gold, navy blue , type = State single-sex girls' secondary school (Years 9–13) , established = 1878 , address = Howe Street, Newton, Auckland , coordinates = , principal = Ngaire Ashmore ...

, Karaka rose through the ranks at age group level as a part of both the NZ Secondary Schools and NZ Under-21 teams, including the victorious Under-21 side at the Youth World Cup in Glasgow in 2013. Karaka signed her first professional contract with

Southern Steel Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball South in the ANZ Premiership. Netball South is the governing body that re ...

for the 2013 ANZ Championship, and remained a part of the Steel for the next three seasons before signing with the

Central Pulse Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Central in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Central is the governing body that r ...

in 2016 after consistently impressive performances, including being ranked 3rd overall for intercepts in the 2015 ANZ Championship. She captained

Northern Mystics Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Northern in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Northern is the governing body tha ...

in 2019 and 2020. but pulled out the following year due to pregnancy

International

Karaka made her debut for

on their 2014 Tour of the UK where she was initially selected as a training partner, however was soon promoted to the main squad following injury concerns to

Casey Kopua Casey May Kopua (née Williams; born 19 June 1985) is a retired New Zealand international netball player and former captain of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Kopua became a member ...

. She participated in the exhibition games against Scotland and England A, before making her test debut off as a substitute in the final stages of the Silver Fern's 17-goal victory over England on 20 January 2014. Karaka made a triumphant return after earning her spot in the

winning team. Karaka again returned following the birth of her daughter to the

2022 Netball Quad Series The 2022 Netball Quad Series was the seventh Netball Quad Series of test matches, contested by four of the five highest ranked nations in netball. The series was played in England during January 2022, several months before the 2022 Commonwealth ...

Karaka was named in the team of 12 for the

2022 Commonwealth Games The 2022 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Birmingham 2022, was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations that took place in Birmingham, England bet ...

Personal life

Phoenix Karaka's partner is

All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

Patrick Tuipulotu Patrick Tito Tuipulotu (born 23 January 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player who is currently a lock for the Blues in Super Rugby and in the Mitre 10 Cup. Tuipulotu is the Blues' current captain and has previously captained Auckland in 201 ...

Phoenix Karaka eager to back partner Patrick Tuipulotu's own World Cup bid - 'Hope I'm going to Tokyo!'
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karaka, Phoenix 1993 births Living people New Zealand netball players New Zealand international netball players Central Pulse players Southern Steel players 2019 Netball World Cup players 2015 Netball World Cup players Northern Mystics players Netball players from Auckland ANZ Premiership players ANZ Championship players People educated at Auckland Girls' Grammar School Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in netball Netball players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games New Zealand international Fast5 players 2023 Netball World Cup players