The GoSweetSpot Mystics are excited to welcome Leila Atkins as a permanent replacement player for Catherine Hall.

We sat down to find out a bit about Leila and her netball journey.

LEILA ATKINS
AGE: 24
LIVES: MT ALBERT
HIGH SCHOOL: MT ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Tell me about your family and a bit about you.
I’m the oldest of the crew, I have a younger sister and brother. It’s a great, happy family. We’re pretty close. My parents have always supported me. I played, like, a million different sports when I was younger, water polo and softball and had a brief stint at football. My parents have aways been on the sidelines watching me. So I definitely come from a lot of support, which is nice.

What did you do after you finished school?
After school I went and studied. I did a bachelor of science and majored in psychology and exercise science at the University of Auckland. I nannied for a bit and now I’m working at AUT as a Student Recruiter. I go around to high schools and I do talks at lunchtime and we do expos.

Do you have a good hit rate?
Yeah, I’d say so, the University’s full at the moment so if anything we’re trying to say – look at other options.

Do you like your job?
I do. I really do. It’s nice to talk to people and my team is amazing. They’re so supportive of me doing this as well. And I enjoy going to work every day.

What do you like to do when you’re not playing netball?
I love to go to Op Shops. It’s good fun. Hang out with my dog. My sister and I like to watch movies and TV shows, I’m big into movies. And just hang out with friends.

Tell me about your netball history. When did you start playing? Why?
I’ve always been tall. I was 6 foot when I was 12! My Mum played when it was the Auckland Waitakere reps and I remember thinking, you know what, I’m going to get there, I’ll do one better than you. Sorry Mum! I’ve been playing pretty much since Primary school. I took a little break in year 9. But I’ve always just played and I thought, you know, I am tall and I’ve been doing this for so long, it’d be nice to go the distance. I played Auckland reps. I started in U15’s, U17’s and then I’ve played Opens for the last few years. I got to play for the Marvels and it’s been good, and here I am.

It’s exciting, isn’t it?
Yeah, it’s fun. I mean, you do it for so long, it’s really cool to reap the rewards. I watch so many of the Mystics games in the audience, it’s so surreal to be on the bench now.

Going through the netball grades, did you ever think you’d get this opportunity?
Yes and no. I think you have to be a bit delusional when you are wanting to get places, so I think that I always believed that I would one day. I didn’t think that this would be my journey and that it would happen so soon. But I did think that I really want to be here, so I’m going to do it, you know? And the delusion has served me well!

What do your family think about it?
They’re so stoked. My Dad was crying when I made my debut. I didn’t see it but he told me he had a few tears. They’re my number one supporters so they’re just ecstatic. I got a million messages. My grandparents are blowing up my phone. My family are saying they watched and saw me on TV. It’s really cool. It’s nice, it feels like I’m rewarding them you know? They’ve come and watch me for so many years, out in the rain on the courts, and now it’s like – yeah, we did it. It feels proud to have my last name on the back of my shirt as well. It’s very cool.

You’ve been around the team for a while, but when you came in as part of the team for the first time, what was it like?
They were incredibly welcoming. I was nervous, shit scared. But they were super welcoming. Now, doing three times a week has increased it tenfold! They’ve always been there for me. They give me high fives and are just super supportive.

How much are you learning and growing, being coached by Rob and Tia and also playing with Phoenix?
It’s crazy! When you’re training it feels really tough and hard, and I’ve come away with tears a couple of times because I’m so frustrated, and want to be, good, for lack of a better word, and succeed, but that is where you learn. You learn intention, and they’ve been telling us that. I’ve noticed that when I have got out on court I do feel like I’ve gotten better. And it’s been such an honour and privilege to be trained with Phoenix and Catherine and Scotty, and you have to lift yourself up to that level. It’s been really cool.

How did you feel when you were told that you were going out for your debut?
That was crazy. I had benched once before, last year and I remember Tia saying that you’re probably not going to get on court and I was like, that is fine, that’s cool, now my nerves can be calm. But they didn’t tell me this before the Stars game and I was like, gosh, you know this really could happen. There was a bit of tension in the arena. It was a bit anxious because we really wanted to win as well. So, sitting on the bench was just electric and then when they looked at me and said you’re going on, my heart dropped, but in a good way, and I was like, you know what, it’s fine. We train for this, we’re up. I think we’re going to win. I just can’t do anything that’s gonna make the team lose, right. I have been training. But it was crazy. It was very surreal because I had just played the game before as well for the Marvels and now I’m sitting here and I’m looking at Mystics players areound me like, I’m going on for the Mystics.

How did you feel when you got on and go that first touch?
I did get called for contact, but it was cool. Sometimes you get on and it’s like you’re going through the motions and things are happening, especially in defence, sometimes you feel like you’re not doing anything if you’re not getting the ball. But it was cool to get out there.

Where would you like your netball career to go?
I think it’s everyone’s dream to be in the Ferns right? It’s an honour to represent your country, and all things going well it would be wicked to be part of that environment. But I think my first step, ideally, would be to be a fully contracted player in the ANZ. I’ve always wanted to be here and in this space, especially because this is my home team. To be part of the environment full time would be great.

Do you prefer GD or GK?
GK! I played some preseason goal defence with Mystics and Marvels. My fitness is slowly getting there. I just think I’m not as quick off the mark. I don’t want to be a specialist, specialist. I would like to have both in my wheelhouse.