Silver Ferns claim Constellation Cup in Sydney after beating Australia

The Silver Ferns secured the Constellation Cup for just the fourth time after defeating the Australian Diamonds 52-49 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday, October 25, 2026, 1News reported. New Zealand overturned a dominant first-quarter performance by the hosts with a strong fourth-quarter effort to secure a win.

Taurua reflected on the past year, stating, We’ve had the bad times and the good times and we’ve suffered a lot and now we’re at that stage where there’s an amazing amount of readiness and confidence and they’re working so hard in their own craft. She added, I think we’re coming of age and maturity … we’ve been around for a wee while in regards to even building the team.

Early Pressure and Midcourt Reshuffles

Australia entered the Sydney clash determined to overturn a 2-0 series deficit after suffering losses of 56-50 in Auckland and 62-50 in Christchurch. The Diamonds seized the initiative early, securing a 15-11 lead in the first quarter and putting New Zealand on the back foot for the first time in the series.

Tactical changes unfolded rapidly on the court. Australian wing attack Kate Moloney departed the match within the first minute due to a finger injury, forcing captain Liz Watson into the centre position and bringing Sophie Dwyer on at goal attack. For New Zealand, Taurua brought Kimiora Poi back into the starting lineup at wing attack in place of Peta Toeava, while Te Paea Selby-Rickit entered early to combat early connection breakdowns between goal attack Georgia Heffernan and star shooter Grace Nweke.

Fourth-Quarter Grind and Tactical Resilience

The Diamonds maintained defensive pressure through rookie goalkeeper Jessie Grenvold, who limited Nweke’s scoring avenues compared to the opening two Tests. Nweke still contributed 41 goals for the visitors, while Donnell Wallam’s replacement, Sophie Garbin, registered 37 goals for Australia. The Diamonds finished the match with 10 gains, matching New Zealand, after barely winning any ball on defence in the first two Tests. Australia committed 54 penalties compared to New Zealand’s 45, following an 85-penalty count in the second test.

Australia held a narrow advantage heading into the final stanza, leading by just two goals, and neither side scored for the opening six minutes of the final quarter before the Diamonds built a two-goal lead. Gordon, who brought up her 50th test cap, had to go to the bench not long after a heavy fall, prompting another New Zealand midcourt shuffle. However, the Silver Ferns executed a composed finish under pressure, sealing a three-goal victory. Captain Karin Burger credited pre-match preparation from Taurua for maintaining team composure amidst the hostile environment, noting, We came in gunning for it and we prepared really well. Noels had a really good plan of how she wanted us to do that and it was a grind out there today but all the planning obviously showed out there that it was worth it. Burger added, Good instructions from the bench and what she expected from us and we just went out there and did that for her and it showed with us winning.

Upcoming Melbourne Finale and World Rankings

The fourth and final Test of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:30 pm NZT in Melbourne.

Taurua faces selection decisions ahead of the Melbourne fixture, balancing the objective of finishing the year unbeaten against the need to provide court time to bench players such as backup goal shoot Amelia Walmsley, who has not featured in the series so far.

Match Statistics and Experience

The current New Zealand group has at least eight years ahead in World Cup cycles while continuing to learn.

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