As the traffic crawled along Auckland's Southern Motorway in rush hour on Monday night, it is safe to say there wasn't a happier commuter than Magic shooter Ellen Halpenny.

Today's naming of the Silver Ferns team to defend their Commonwealth Games title looms as a major distraction for the Magic as they prepare for their next playoffs showdown.

A penalty goal from English import Jo Harten at the end of regulation time has secured the Magic a dramatic come-from-behind win over the NSW Swifts.

Recent history will be against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic when the ANZ Championship finals series kicks off today.

Greatest Silver Fern stands down but still hopes to play at club level and coach.

Veteran Silver Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk has made the shock announcement that she is stepping down from international netball from today.

Bouncing around the Mystics' defensive circle Temalisi Fakahokotau is on high alert as the visiting West Coast Fever side move the ball swiftly through the court.

It's an issue causing major headaches for rugby codes, now netball is dealing with its first reported case of concussion in the ANZ Championship.

According to the Aztec calendar it's about this time of year we all start panicking about the state of New Zealand netball.

The Northern Mystics side we had been expecting all season finally arrived at Trusts Stadium last night.

The Magic's hopes of a top-two finish - and with it an extra life in the transtasman league playoffs - have taken a dive.

The Mystics have endured another dismal year and things could get even worse in 2015.

Pulling on the Silver Fern is a dream come true for most Kiwi footballers but, for All White Chris James, it means a little more.

With just three rounds remaining in the regular season, hope that Silver Ferns star Kayla Cullen will return to the ANZ Championship this year is fast running out.

The transtasman netball league will follow in the footsteps of Super rugby and move to a conference system next year if a proposed structural change is approved.

The Magic have spectacularly blown an opportunity to secure top spot on the transtasman league table after producing their most error-ridden display of the season.

They boast some of the biggest names in New Zealand and international netball and were tipped to be ANZ Championship title contenders this year. Some even had them pegged as favourites.

Rising Kiwi basketball star Steven Adams is making a name for himself in the NBA for getting under the skin of opponents. Several of them have lost their cool this season and been ejected and fined for attacking Oklahoma City's giant Kiwi.

At least one player in the Mystics camp had something to smile about this week despite their early exit from the playoffs race - import Julie Corletto has been recalled into the Australian side for the Commonwealth Games.