Netball: Loffhagen springs surprise

Double international Donna Loffhagen will make a surprise return to netball in tonight's semifinal for the Sting.

A longtime Silver Fern and Sting ever-present since the National Bank Cup began in 1998, Loffhagen had taken a break from netball to try out for the Connecticut Sun in the American Women's National Basketball League.

But she missed selection and returned disillusioned and wanting a break from sport.

However, defender Anna Galvan has withdrawn due to being pregnant and Loffhagen has stepped forward.

It's likely Loffhagen, who played basketball for the Tall Ferns at March's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, will start on the bench, given the Sting have an established successful pairing of Tania Dalton and Belinda Colling this season.