Northern Mystics' shooter Grace Nweke has been cleared to play in tonight's elimination final against cross town rivals the Stars in Auckland.
Mystics shooter Grace Nweke Photo: Photosport
The Mystics have been sweating on the fitness of Nweke after the Silver Fern rolled her ankle a few rounds ago.
The defending champions were on top of the ANZ Premiership ladder before losing four straight games without the sharp shooter.
Nweke was relieved to be cleared and said it had been difficult not being able to play.
"It's so hard to see your team out there giving their everything and not being able to support them outside of words of encouragement and showing up for them," Nweke said Tuesday.
"I guess just the things that had been said and all that's been going on, I think it's been quite a challenge for me and for the team, so I'm really happy to be able to get back out there."
Nweke said there had been a silver lining.
"I think it's really awesome actually, for the girls to have me out of there and train with new shooters and a different style, so the tool belt is huge. So it's exciting to see what combinations we can put together."
Nweke did a little bit of court work on the weekend and is feeling confident.
"Some of the girls came over and helped me and were being as physical as possible and trying to rile me up to prepare for what the game would be like."
Long-standing coach Helene Wilson is leaving at the end of this season and Nweke said the team had talked about what the season meant to them.
"And obviously with Helene's departure and a lot of trouble and challenges towards the back end of the season.
"We've really come together and spoken about our values and who we are and shared how we're feeling about things - and so the sense of togetherness, and we really want to put out a good product and be proud of how we play, no matter the result."
The Mystics midcourt has also been hit by Covid-19, and Wilson is confident that two will be back tomorrow. They were just waiting on clearance for the third player.
Wilson said a lot of consideration had been given around what impact Nweke's injury could have on her Silver Ferns' aspirations, with the Commonwealth Games looming.
"The whole plan for Grace to get back on court has been done with Noeline [Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua] and I together. The first thing we always ask ourselves as coaches: Is there any risk to her injuring herself further?", Wilson said.
The Mystics coach said the time and energy that Nweke had taken to get back on court showed how much playing for the Mystics meant to her.
"That's testament to the fact that she's a member of our team, she wants to be playing, and Noeline and I have supported that together."
Wilson said there had been an upside to Nweke's injury.
"The gift that Grace's injury has given us has allowed the rest of our team to work at other parts of the court.
"I'm really happy with the supply of ball we're getting into the circle, how we're hitting the circle edge really strongly, and I think the learnings we've had in the last few weeks put together with Grace being in our team is going to enable us to play strongly.
"When you have adversity and you choose to bind together and listen, and write your own story rather than the story that other people are writing about you - it makes you really strong."
Wilson said Nweke could potentially play a full game tomorrow.
"I think I will be playing Grace as much as I can and that will depend on how I watch her move ...and her relationship with our physio during the game with how her ankle is feeling will be important as well. We're not putting any caps on her time, we're just going to play it as it goes."
Wilson admitted that the Stars, who will host tomorrow's elimination final, are humming.
"But we have a great defensive unit that can slow down their attack and we've got the most powerful scoring unit in the competition that can outplay their defence, so I'm pretty confident it will be a very tight match."
