Netball: Silver Ferns great Casey Kopua reveals she played at World Cup while pregnant

Casey Kopua of New Zealand and her daughter Maia celebrate the World Cup title. Photosport

Silver Ferns great Casey Kopua has revealed she is expecting another child and was in the early stages of pregnancy during the side's successful Netball World Cup campaign.

Kopua announced in March that this year would be her final season playing competitive netball following 17 years.

Te Āo Māori News reports the 34-year-old is 14 weeks pregnant.

"It happened very quickly but I'm very excited about it," she told Te Āo Māori News.

It wasn't until after the World Cup in June, where the Silver Ferns stunned rivals Australia 52-51 in the final, that Kopua found out she was pregnant.

"I took the test because I was feeling unwell and when I told my husband Terry, he was like "are you sure?" Because we didn't see each other that much before the World Cup," she told Te Āo Māori News.

It will be the couple's second child following the birth of daughter Maia.

Maia made headlines herself at the World Cup earlier this year in a post-match interview.

As Kopua answered questions on Sky Sports following the thrilling one-goal victory over Australia in Liverpool, Maia began licking her mum's neck and shoulder.

"Do you like the taste of sweat?" the BBC interviewer asked Maia, while her mum explained that she liked the saltiness.

Prompted to help celebrate, the toddler raised an arm in triumph and managed an impressive wave.