Global Netball Injury Report: Babia's Groundbreaking ACL Return and Durant's Farewell Headline Latest Updates

The physical toll of professional netball is immense, demanding relentless changes of direction, explosive vertical leaps, and punishing physical contact. As the 2026 season progresses across the globe, the latest injury updates highlight both the cruel suddenness of the sport and the remarkable resilience of its athletes. From groundbreaking rehabilitation protocols in Australia to emotional farewells in the United Kingdom, the mid-year injury report is defined by players overcoming adversity and shifting medical paradigms. Teams across the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN), Netball Super League (NSL), and ANZ Premiership are being forced to adapt on the fly, testing the depth of their rosters and the ingenuity of their medical staffs.[3]

The most groundbreaking story of the week comes from Queensland, where 22-year-old Maryke Babia has achieved what was once considered medically improbable. The Firebirds Futures and Carina Leagues Club Tigers standout has successfully returned to the court exactly 360 days after suffering a full rupture of her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—and she did it entirely without undergoing reconstructive surgery. Babia suffered the devastating season-ending injury in June 2025 during a routine extension for the ball, a moment that typically guarantees a trip to the operating room and a grueling 12-to-18-month recovery.

Rather than opting for the traditional surgical route, Babia and her medical team pursued an innovative, non-invasive approach. Because her ACL ruptured near the top of the ligament—an area with significantly better blood flow than the center—she was deemed an ideal candidate for natural healing. The grueling protocol required immense discipline, beginning with six weeks of wearing a specialized knee brace locked at a strict 30-degree angle to keep the ligament ends touching. This was followed by another six weeks of unbraced, highly controlled rehabilitation to stimulate tissue repair without overstressing the joint.

The gamble paid off spectacularly. A follow-up MRI confirmed a "good heal," showing that the ligament had fully reattached on its own. By November, Babia had resumed running, and she has now officially returned to competitive play. Her successful recovery is sending ripples through the sports medicine community, offering a potential blueprint for other athletes who suffer specific types of ACL tears. "I could have come back earlier but I didn't want to risk it," Babia noted, crediting her positive mindset and the support of her teammates for carrying her through the haze of the initial diagnosis.

While Babia’s career is just resuming its upward trajectory, a legendary one is coming to a graceful close in the United Kingdom. Loughborough Lightning wing defence Beth Durant has officially announced her retirement from the Netball Super League, stepping away from the court following a final injury setback sustained in South Africa in January. Durant had originally hoped to push through the 2026 season and potentially vie for a spot in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, but the physical toll of her illustrious career ultimately dictated her timeline.[1]

Durant’s legacy is one of unparalleled perseverance and championship pedigree. She won the NSL title an astounding five times—claiming the crown in 2012 and 2014 with Manchester Thunder, before adding three more titles with the Lightning in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Even more remarkably, she achieved this sustained excellence while battling back from three separate ACL injuries over her decade-plus in the sport. "I have always said that if I get another injury I am done," Durant explained, walking away with immense pride in her achievements and zero regrets about her journey.[1]

Elsewhere in the NSL, the Leeds Rhinos have been dealt a significant blow with the confirmation that Cassie Howard will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Howard had been managing lower leg pain, but recent MRI scans revealed a grade 3 stress response in her shin. The diagnosis requires an extended period of complete rest and targeted rehabilitation to prevent the injury from progressing into a full stress fracture, ruling her out of the Rhinos' push toward the playoffs.[2]

However, Howard's frustrating setback has inadvertently created a heartwarming family milestone. Her absence paved the way for her sister, NXT Gen player Sasha Howard, to be elevated into the Rhinos' match-day squad. The siblings had the rare opportunity to step on the court together earlier in the season, and Cassie has expressed immense pride in watching her sister seize the opportunity to thrive in the elite NSL environment, turning a personal disappointment into a collective family triumph.[2]

In New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership, the Stars are navigating the devastating loss of key defender Lili Tokaduadua. Scans confirmed that Tokaduadua suffered an ACL rupture during the team's Round 2 clash against the Steel, abruptly ending her 2026 campaign. The injury is a massive blow to the Stars' defensive structures, forcing head coach Temepara Bailey to scramble for a replacement capable of anchoring the backline and providing immediate leadership.

To fill the massive void, the Stars executed a brilliant mid-season coup by signing 34-year-old Australian veteran Kate Walsh as an injury replacement. Walsh, formerly Shimmin, had retired from Suncorp Super Netball at the end of the 2022 season and had been living in Canada. Convinced to return to the court by Stars assistant coach Leana de Bruin—with whom she previously played at the Adelaide Thunderbirds—Walsh brings over 100 games of elite domestic experience and a loud, passionate voice to the Auckland-based franchise.

Finally, the reigning ANZ Premiership champion Northern Mystics have been forced to reshuffle their own defensive end after influential goalkeeper Catherine Hall was ruled out with a severe ankle injury. Hall's absence removes a critical piece of the Mystics' rim protection, forcing the team to rely heavily on the newly formed in-circle pairing of Charlotte Manley and veteran Phoenix Karaka.

Despite the disruption, the Mystics have showcased the depth required of championship teams, with Karaka stepping up to deliver defining defensive rejections in Hall's absence. As the global netball calendar marches toward the postseason and the looming Commonwealth Games, the ability of teams to weather these physical storms—and the courage of players fighting their way back to the court—will ultimately define the 2026 season.[3]