Koenen is on the rise
SUNSHINE Coast Lightning have moved quickly to lock in goaler Cara Koenen, making the Diamonds shooter their first confirmed signing for next season.
The only Australian-born starting goal shooter in the league last season, Koenen is the heir apparent to former Diamonds captain and Lightning star Caitlin Bassett.
The 25-year-old made her Diamonds debut earlier this year and showed why she is regarded as one of the world’s best.
She finished the 2021 season with a career-high 517 goals during the Super Netball season as the Lightning made the finals for the fifth year in succession.
But in an ominous warning to rivals, Lightning coach Kylee Byrne backed Koenen to take her game to a new level.
“To see what Cara has achieved in the past two seasons especially, has been so pleasing and I have no doubt there is plenty of improvement to come as she adds new dimensions to her game,” Byrne said.
“Cara is not afraid of hard work and while there has always been incredible raw talent, it’s that dedication to her craft that has elevated her status to one of the best shooters in the world.”
Koenen, who is currently in camp with the Diamonds in Brisbane ahead of their planned series against England, was thrilled to be able to continue her career at the Lightning, where she made her 2017 debut.
Having ridden the emotional rollercoaster of moving from family in pursuit of her dream, the rising star has found a home in Queensland’s southeast.
From overcoming ACL injuries to scoring 29 goals on her international debut, the Lightning have been part of her ascent.
Now Koenen said she was determined to return her side to the top of the Super Netball pecking order.
“Lightning holds such a special place in my heart and I’m glad to continue my time at the Sunshine Coast for the next two seasons,” she said. “I’m really enjoying my netball at the moment and the challenge of drawing some of the best defenders each week.
“There’s a lot of excitement building towards 2022 and I’m confident our Lightning team have a lot to offer, with a mix of returning and new faces.”
The Magnetic Island product is the Lightning’s first re-signing after the club confirmed four players would now depart the club.
Koenen and her fellow Diamonds will take on England for the first time in three years in October, ending a more than 700-day hiatus of international games played in Australia.