| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (age 23) Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| School | Avondale College,ACG Sunderland | |||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Grace Nweke (born February 7, 2002) is aNew Zealand netball international. She first competed forNew Zealand in September 2021.
Grace Nweke was born in Auckland on 7 February 2002, to parents who emigrated to New Zealand fromNigeria. She has a twin brother and four other siblings. Her parents initially left Nigeria to go toSouth Korea, before settling in Auckland in the 1990s.[1] She attendedACG Sunderland from years 9 to 10 then transferred to Avondale College. AtAvondale College she competed in high jump events as well as netball. Nweke is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree in information systems and marketing at theUniversity of Auckland.[2][3]
Nweke joined theNorthern Mystics for the2019 ANZ Premiership season, while she was still at school. Initially recruited to be a training partner she was rapidly promoted to being a full-time member of the Mystics squad. In 2021 she set a newANZ Premiership scoring record, scoring 852 goals from 951 attempts and scoring 50 or more goals in 12 of the Mystics' 16 games. Her performances inevitably brought her to the attention of the national selectors, who selected her initially for the Under-21 side and then for the full 2021-22New Zealand squad. Nweke missed four matches of the2022 ANZ Premiership season due to an ankle injury; she was cleared to play the Grand Final but theNorthern Mystics were defeated by theNorthern Stars[4] Nweke was sidelined once again half way through the2024 ANZ Premiership season with a knee injury.[5]
Despite her 2019 performance in theANZ Premiership, Nweke was not selected for the2019 Netball World Cup byNoeline Taurua, who cited fitness issues and her age.[6]Nweke made her national debut on 22 September 2021 againstEngland in a2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series match but this ended in disappointment as the team lost 55-45.[7][8][9] In 2021 she was nominated at theHalberg Awards for the Emerging Talent Award but lost out to swimmerErika Fairweather.[10] Nweke was selected for the2022 Commonwealth Games and was noted as having a standout performance in the Bronze medal final againstEngland, when New Zealand won 55-48.[11] Nweke's stellar performance was again followed up in the2022 Constellation Cup against theAustralian Diamonds having never come up against Australian players her shooting form was noted as being flawless, despite this, theSilver Ferns ended up losing the tournament 2-2 to theAustralian Diamonds.[12]Nweke was selected for the2023 Netball Quad Series and was the only player of theSilver Ferns team to play four full games, however theSilver Ferns lost to theAustralian Diamonds in the final 56-50.[13] Further recognition and praise was gained when she won the best shooter and overall player of the series.[14][15] Nweke was selected for the2023 Netball World Cup,[16] however she obtained apatella tear during a game againstSingapore and was ruled out for the rest of the contest.[17][18] Nweke was cleared to play on managed time for the last two games of the2023 Constellation Cup her game play was attributed to theSilver Ferns winning the last two games of the series.[19] Nweke was granted an exception to play for theSilver Ferns for the 2025/26 season[20]
Nweke captained the third game of theTaini Jamison Trophy series where theSilver Ferns beat the South AfricanProteas 3-0. At the trophy award presentation Nweke asked for the microphone and issued thanks to the recently stood down coachNoeline Taurua with pleas for the coaches return, although unexpected the speech was met with a lot of praise for the young athlete.[21]
After the 2024ANZ Premiership season had completed, Nweke was announced to play for theNSW Swifts for the 2025Suncorp Super Netball season, making her still eligible for theSilver Ferns 2024 season but not the 2025.[22] Nweke was voted Most Valueable Player for the Swifts 2025 season and was resigned with theNSW Swifts for the 2026 season.[23]
At the 2022 Netball awards Nweke was awarded theDame Lois Muir Supreme Award shared with fellowSilver Ferns playerKelly Jury, as well as theSilver Ferns Player of the Year .[24]
