Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic In 2011 and 2012, Tone-Fitzpatrick made 16 senior appearances for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. During the 2011 season, she formed a very effective partnership with Casey Williams and was subsequently nominated as Best Young Player. In 2011, while playing for Magic, Tone-Fitzpatrick made her senior debut for New Zealand. However she was only a bit-part player as Magic won the 2012 ANZ Championship as she found herself kept out of the team by Leana de Bruin.

Southern Steel In 2013, Tone-Fitzpatrick made 13 senior appearances for Southern Steel. She formed a defensive partnership with Rachel Rasmussen, keeping Storm Purvis out of the team. While playing for Steel, Tone-Fitzpatrick became pregnant and she would subsequently miss the 2014 season. However, Fitzpatrick's relationship with Mystics head coach Debbie Fuller became strained and she subsequently found herself dropped from the starting seven. Fitzpatrick suffered an ACL injury during preseason. Normally, a season-ending injury, in Fitzpatrick's case, medical staff took the rare step of opting not to do surgery, as they determined the muscles that support her knee were strong enough to compensate for being short a ligament. Aided by layers of strapping tape, she managed to complete the season. She was a prominent member of the Pulse teams that won two minor premierships, the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club tournament and the 2019 ANZ Premiership. Her 2018 performance with Pulse saw Fitzpatrick recalled for New Zealand after a seven-year absence. Fitzpatrick pays credit to Pulse for reviving her netball career when she thought it was over.

Northern Mystics (2020–2023) Between 2020 and 2023, during her third spell with the team, Fitzpatrick made 55 senior appearances for Northern Mystics. On 15 March 2020, in a Round 1 against Northern Stars, Fitzpatrick made her 100th senior league appearance. In February 2021, Fitzpatrick was announced as the new Mystics captain. She subsequently captained the 2021 Northern Mystics when they won their first ANZ Premiership title. In December 2021, Fitzpatrick received the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award. In January 2022, Fitzpatrick contracted COVID-19. In April 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. In May 2022, Fitzpatrick announced that she would retire after the 2023 Netball World Cup. On 6 May 2023, in a Round 10 against Southern Steel, Fitzpatrick made her 150th senior league appearance. Ahead of the 2023 grand final, she confirmed her decision to retire. Fitzpatrick subsequently captained the 2023 Northern Mystics as they won their second ANZ Premiership title.

New Zealand Tone-Fitzpatrick represented New Zealand at schoolgirl and under-21 level. In 2010 she captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools team to victory in an International Schoolgirls Tournament. She also captained the under-21 team. On 3 October 2011, Tone-Fitzpatrick made her senior debut for New Zealand against England during the 2011 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. She was introduced at goalkeeper for the final quarter. She also played for New Zealand at the 2011 World Netball Series. However, Fitzpatrick would have to wait another seven years before been recalled to the senior New Zealand team for the 2018 Constellation Cup. She captained the New Zealand team that won the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. She was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2021 Constellation Cup. In September 2023, Fitzpatrick was named as vice captain to Gina Crampton. On 22 September 2021, in the absence of an injured Crampton, Fitzpatrick captained New Zealand against England during the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. She was a member of the New Zealand team that were bronze medalists at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Statistics

Fitzpatrick missed the 2014 season due to pregnancy.

Personal life Fitzpatrick has spoken openly about her family life, her mental health battles, struggling with depression and anxiety, food and alcohol issues, her pregnancy and the pressures of being both a mother and netball player.

Honours New Zealand Constellation Cup Winners: 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Winners: 2011, 2020, 2022 Fast5 Netball World Series Winners: 2018 Northern Mystics ANZ Premiership Winners: 2021, 2023 Minor premiers: 2021, 2023 Central Pulse ANZ Premiership Winners: 2019 Minor premiers: 2019 Netball New Zealand Super Club Winners: 2018 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic ANZ Championship Winners: 2012

Individual Awards