LAST weekend saw the opening weekend of the 2023 ANZ Premiership season, and plenty of star performances across all six teams.

In this week’s Team of the Week, all six teams have at least one representative across the 10-player team, with the Northern Mystics having the most representatives with three.

Goal Shooter – Grace Nweke (Mystics)

After a strong offseason at international level, Nweke’s good form has continued into the domestic season. She shot a competition high 46 goals from 48 attempts, but also finished with three assists, three rebounds and six feeds in quite the all-round performance.

Goal Attack – Ameliaranne Ekenasio (Magic)

Not only did Ekenasio shoot a solidly high number of goals for a goal attack, but contributed in plenty of other ways. She finished with 27 goals from 31 attempts, as well as 12 feeds, seven assists, two intercepts and three rebounds.

Wing Attack – Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (Stars)

In a tightly fought battle for the mid court spots this week, Reulu-Buchanan certainly staved off plenty off competition for a starting role. Despite her side suffering the shock loss, she still had a great game, finishing with 34 feeds, 17 assists, three gains, two deflections and an intercept.

Centre – Maddy Gordon (Pulse)

The Pulse star was by far the busiest of the midcourters across the weekend and was the most obvious choice for the converted centre role. Gordon finished with 31 feeds, 23 assists, six deflections, four gains and three intercepts, in her side’s win over the Magic.

Wing Defence – Sulu Fitzpatrick (Mystics)

One of a rare group to play the entire game in the wing defence role on the weekend, Fitzpatrick finished with two intercepts, two gains and a deflection as her side went on to beat the Steel.

Goal Defence – Karin Burger (Tactix)

The Silver Fern was brilliant as her side upset the reigning grand finalists the Stars, finishing with – eight gains, six deflections and three intercepts in her side’s win.

Goal Keeper – Kate Burley (Steel)

Named ahead of some much bigger names for the last starting spot in this week’s Team of the Week, Burley finished with six gains, four rebounds, three deflections and two intercepts as her side went down to the Mystics.

Bench

Aliyah Dunn (Tactix)

Dunn had a stellar debut game for her new side on the weekend, and in any other week may have perhaps made the starting seven but Nweke’s numbers were just higher. Dunn finished with 39 goals from 44 attempts, as well as five feeds, three assists, two rebounds, an intercept and a gain.

Tayla Earle (Mystics)

As previously mentioned it was a tough battle for the mid court spots this week, with plenty of worthy nominees but Earle just missed out on a starting spot solely on numbers. The Mystics midcourter finished with 32 feeds, 18 assists, three intercepts, one deflection and a gain.

Georgia Takarangi (Magic)

The defence was also a tough selection choice for this week’s Team of the Week, with Takarangi name ahead of several other well known faces to even make the bench. The Magic defender finished with seven deflections, six gains and two intercepts in her side’s loss to the Pulse.