WEST Coast Fever captain Courtney Bruce has been selected for her first Netball World Cup.
Bruce was named on Thursday morning in the 12-strong Diamonds squad who will shoot for a fourth straight world title in Liverpool in July.
It comes after the star defender won a silver medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
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READ NOW“I’m very excited,” Bruce said.
“It is always an honour to pull on the green and gold and to hopefully go one better than the Commonwealth Games.
“I’ve dreamt about it for a long time but it became more of a reality after the Commonwealth Games.
“It just seems like a World Cup was that next progression and that next big event so I’ve always wanted to be here, and now I am.”
Bruce made a comeback from an elbow injury with eight gains in last weekend’s two-goal win over Collingwood.
“Everyone knows that your selection for Diamonds comes off your performance in the Suncorp Super Netball so that played in the back of my mind,” she said.
“But knowing that I’d done the work in the past and had to trust in the process, I was hoping that would put me in a good position.
“It was nice to have the phone call and not have that hanging over our heads any longer. It’s now just back to business.”
Fever head coach Stacey Marinkovich said Bruce was a key player for Australia.
“Courtney has really established her place in the Diamonds with her presence, the physicality she brings to the game and also her game sense,” Marinkovich said.
“I think she will show some really good leadership with the experience that she’s gained over the last couple of years on the international stage.
“She has shown that she can move across goal defence and goal keeper, so she’ll provide the Diamonds with some great versatility.”
Marinkovich said Bruce’s first World Cup was a major milestone.
“She has played so much international netball now but we know this is a big moment for the team,” she said.
“For her to be able to go over to England and help secure Australia’s number one spot is a great challenge and I know she will thrive and do everything possible for the team.”
The 25-year-old is one of two West Australians in the team, alongside veteran shooter Caitlin Bassett.
Fever teammate Jhaniele Fowler will also take part, representing Jamaica in the tournament.