Former Australian netball captains Caitlin Bassett and Liz Ellis have engaged in a spicy off-court stoush after Bassett was snubbed by Super Netball teams despite being part of the Diamonds squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bassett, 33, appeared to have been overlooked by Australia's Super Netball clubs for the 2022 season, with the trade period closing Friday.
Australia's most-capped player and now netball commentator Ellis commented that if Bassett was "considered good enough ... someone would have picked her up".
That prompted Bassett to take social media to respond: "Hey Liz, it's hard to show you are 'good enough' when getting sat on the bench & pigeon holed into a rebounding role. How can a player be 'good enough' to be in the Australian Squad but not make the court in SSN?" Bassett tweeted.
Ellis said they were good questions best answered by Super Netball clubs.
Having already closed the door on returning for a second season in the New Zealand competition, it leaves Bassett without an elite showcase to push for selection for next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and stranded on 102 Test caps.
Bassett shifted to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic this year after she was starved of court time by the Giants after an Australian league rule change that rewarded teams with double points for long-range shots.
Standing 196cm, Bassett has long been regarded as the world's best holding shooter and with no Super shot in international netball, can still command a place in the Diamonds squad.
Ellis said was a "difficult and disappointing situation" for Bassett, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, but felt no-one "had a right to a contract".
Many of Super Netball's goal shooter spots are filled by imports.
The pair had differing opinions on Super Netball's unlimited import rule, which Ellis supported because it attracted the world's best players.
Rather than restrict that, the former goal-keeping great called for a revamped Australian Netball League feeding into the top competition.
Bassett responded that Ellis' view came because she no longer played so wasn't impacted.
"I think the imports bring amazing talent but I also believe that we have equally talented Aussie athletes, I would love more options to help them achieve their netball dreams," Bassett tweeted.
Australian Associated Press
