Phoenix Karaka

{{Infobox netball biography

|name=Phoenix Karaka

|image=

|image_size=

|alt=

|caption=

|fullname=

|maidenname=

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1993|11|6|df=y}}

|birth_place=Auckland, New Zealand

|height={{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|school=Auckland Girls' Grammar School

|university=

|occupation=

|positions=GK, GD

|clubyears1=2013–2015

|clubteam1=Southern Steel

|clubapps1=32

|clubyears2=2016–201x

|clubteam2=Central Pulse

|clubapps2=

|clubyears3=201x–202x

|clubteam3=Northern Mystics

|clubapps3=

|nationalyears1=2010–2011

|nationalteam1=NZ Secondary Schools

|nationalcaps1=

|nationalyears2=2012–2013

|nationalteam2=NZ Under21

|nationalcaps2=

|nationalyears3=2014–

|nationalteam3=New Zealand

|nationalcaps3=34

|medaltemplates= {{MedalCountry| {{NZL}}}}

|updated=

}}

Phoenix Karaka (born 6 November 1993) is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2019 Netball World Cup.{{Cite news |url= https://www.mynetball.co.nz/silver-ferns/team/squad/phoenix-karaka.html|title=Player Details / Silver Ferns Netball |access-date=21 November 2016}} Christine Papali'i is her mother.{{Cite news |last=Stanley |first=Ashley |date=13 May 2019 |title=ANZ Premiership: Phoenix Karaka rises from tough blow to lead the Mystics |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/netball/112675441/anz-premiership-phoenix-karaka-rises-from-tough-blow-to-lead-the-northern-mystics |access-date=8 February 2022|work=Stuff}}

Career

Following her success at secondary school level at Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Karaka rose through the ranks at age group level as a part of both the NZ Secondary Schools and NZ Under-21 teams, including the victorious Under-21 side at the Youth World Cup in Glasgow in 2013.{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/netball/9719085/Phoenix-Karaka-ready-to-take-risks-on-court|title=Phoenix Karaka ready to take risks on court|last=Burdon|first=Nathan|date=14 February 2014|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz|language=English|access-date=21 November 2016}}

Karaka signed her first professional contract with Southern Steel for the 2013 ANZ Championship, and remained a part of the Steel for the next three seasons before signing with the Central Pulse in 2016 after consistently impressive performances, including being ranked 3rd overall for intercepts in the 2015 ANZ Championship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mynetball.co.nz/zones/central/community-netball/news/4706-phoenix-karaka-signs-on-for-mojo-pulse-in-2016.html|title=Phoenix Karaka Signs on for Mojo Pulse in 2016|access-date=21 November 2016}}

She captained Northern Mystics in 2019 and 2020.[https://anzpremiership.co.nz/teams/team/player/phoenix-karaka?season=2019 Phoenix Karaka] but pulled out the following year due to pregnancy [https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300085118/kiwi-sporting-couple-phoenix-karaka-and-patrick-tuipulotu-expecting-first-child Kiwi sporting couple Phoenix Karaka and Patrick Tuipulotu expecting first child]

International

Karaka made her debut for New Zealand on their 2014 Tour of the UK where she was initially selected as a training partner, however was soon promoted to the main squad following injury concerns to Casey Kopua. She participated in the exhibition games against Scotland and England A, before making her test debut off as a substitute in the final stages of the Silver Fern's 17-goal victory over England on 20 January 2014.

Karaka made a triumphant return after earning her spot in the 2019 Netball World Cup winning team.[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball-silver-ferns-reveal-2019-netball-world-cup-squad/5E6EHR25UYF4TYHNA2E7U7XH4A/ Netball: Silver Ferns reveal 2019 Netball World Cup squad] Karaka again returned following the birth of her daughter to the 2022 Netball Quad Series[https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/12/17/karaka-johnson-back-as-silver-ferns-name-quad-series-team/ Karaka, Johnson back as Silver Ferns name quad series team]

Karaka was named in the team of 12 for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball-silver-ferns-team-announced-for-commonwealth-games/AUGPEPXASMTPAPXAHJ3YHXXICM/|title=Netball: Silver Ferns team announced for Commonwealth Games|publisher=www.nzherald.co.nz|date=27 June 2022|accessdate=27 June 2022}}

Personal life

Phoenix Karaka's partner is All Black Patrick Tuipulotu[https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/07/23/phoenix-karaka-eager-to-back-partner-patrick-tuipulotus-own-world-cup-bid-hope-im-going-to-tokyo/ Phoenix Karaka eager to back partner Patrick Tuipulotu's own World Cup bid - 'Hope I'm going to Tokyo!']