Casey Kopua’s return to the court at 40 years old was abruptly halted by injury during a competitive match in Auckland on May 3, 2026. She played for Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic as an interim replacement but left the game early.
Kopua suffered a lower leg injury while competing against Northern Stars. The Magic lost the match with a final score of 56-39. They trailed by three goals at halftime and struggled after Kopua exited the game.
Key statistics:
- The Magic scored 39 points, while the Stars scored 56 points.
- The teams were tied at halftime, but the Stars dominated the second half.
- The Stars scored 17 points in the third quarter after Kopua left.
Kopua had shown impressive skills before her injury, making significant defensive plays. She was replaced by Oceane Maihi following her exit from the match.
The ANZ Premiership match was significant for both teams. The Northern Stars improved their record to three wins and one loss after this victory. Meanwhile, Aliyah Dunn from Southern Steel is also dealing with a calf tear from a previous match.
This marked a notable moment in Kopua’s career as she returned to professional netball after playing regularly at club level. Her performance before the injury indicated she still possesses valuable skills on the court.
