Sharing the shooting love, Khiarna Williams, left, and Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Photo: Masanori Udagawa
Facing more adversity than most during her short career, talented Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse shooter Khiarna Williams has reached a significant turning point following a lengthy absence from ANZ Premiership netball action.
Overcoming challenging physical and mental hurdles following a shocking run of long-term injury setbacks, Williams, 23, has battled admirably to mark her comeback with the most minutes she’s played in two years for the Pulse, over the last two rounds.
Fifty-three minutes against the Mystics two weeks ago and 27 minutes against the Steel last week heralded the return of one of the country’s bright young prospects when hitting the elite level as a teenager before the injury curse struck.
``Obviously, there’s a bit of strapping on my shoulder but that’s mostly just a precaution so that nothing bad happens to it again,’’ Williams said. ``But, no, the body’s feeling good and ready to go. I’m doing every training and have been available for every game so far, which is a first in the last couple of years.’’
The 1.83m Williams, who can play both shooting roles, made her mark at an early age through her athleticism and aerial skills. Playing national league netball at the age of 14 while a schoolgirl at Trident High School in Whakatane, and subsequently with two years under her belt at the Magic, Williams was poised for higher honours.
Her first serious setback was a car accident, resulting in her spine being broken in three different places, while driving to a netball camp in 2021, and having to learn to walk again.
As the recovery momentum improved, Williams was back playing club netball towards the end of 2022 during which she ``popped a shoulder.’’
A scan indicated it would keep popping out if she didn’t have surgery and that resulted in missing the entire 2023 season by which time she had been contracted as a Pulse training partner.
Back to her best in 2024, Williams played eight matches before a calf strain ruled her out for the rest of the campaign while a pre-season shoulder injury restricted her to just 10 minutes last season.
With time on her side and injury-free, Williams is in re-set mode and ready to kick-start her career and showcase her credentials on a consistent basis.
``I’m just looking at re-establishing myself and doing my best to play good netball,’’ she said. ``This year I’ve been able to enjoy a really good year of off-season, of pre-season and just being 100 percent ready to go by the time Round 1 started.’’
Despite moments of self-doubt the usually bubbly shot-maker made the decision early on that she was all-in to resurrecting her career, the Pulse providing the other half of the equitation in retaining their faith in the Williams skillset, which has played a key role in her continued positivity.
``The first year I was out after the big (car) accident that was probably the hardest time and I think since coming back from that, and then coming down here (Pulse), it’s been just the people around me, really,’’ Williams said.
``It has just made me want it that much more being around good people and being around a supportive franchise. That’s exactly what it’s felt like since I’ve come here, some of my best friends I’ve met from playing with the Pulse, and learning that I’m actually from Ōtaki (to which the Pulse has strong ties). I have whakapapa (genealogy) back to Raukawa and that area there, so that has made it even more special.’’
Struggling to hit their straps this season, the Pulse have a difficult road trip ahead when they come up against the Mystics in Round 7 action in Auckland, on Sunday.
``We’ve definitely had to have a look at ourselves and what is going wrong,’’ Williams said. ``We have patches of really great netball and there’s just a few moments or a quarter where we just don’t quite connect, so we’re working hard on that.
``We put out a great 50-55 minutes the last time we played them (55-47 loss) and now we’re really hungry for a win and just to have a full-60 of playing our best netball.’’
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