The Islander, who played a key role at wing-defence for England at this summer’s World Cup, was named the third best player on the planet yesterday by a Guardian panel of former internationals and sports pundits, and is the only player from the northern hemisphere to make the top ten.
1 Caitlin Bassett (Australia and West Coast Fever)
2 Sharni Layton (Australia and NSW Swifts)
3 Serena Guthrie (England and Northern Mystics)
4 Natalie Medhurst (Australia and West Coast Fever)
5 Laura Geitz (Australia and Queensland Firebirds)
6 Kim Ravaillion (Australia and Queensland Firebirds)
7 Laura Langman (New Zealand and Northern Mystics)
8 Bailey Mes (New Zealand and Canterbury Tactix)
9 Maria Tutaia (New Zealand and Northern Mystics)
10 Julie Corletto (Australia and NSW Swifts)
Guthrie has gone from strength to strength following her move to Auckland-based Northern Mystics from Team Bath last year, and having claimed the ANZ Championship Rookie of the Year accolade in her first season she is now well and truly on the world map.
Australia goal-shooter Caitlin Bassett was crowned world number one after scoring 964 goals in all competitions in 2015 – with an accuracy of 89 per cent – and fellow Aussie, New South Wales Swifts defender Sharni Layton, claimed second.
‘I guess it hasn’t been a bad year,’ Guthrie said.
‘Going out to the ANZ and establishing myself in a new competition was great, and I was obviously happy to bring my form from that into the World Cup.
‘It is amazing to be noticed and recognised by people who are involved at a high level in the sport, it gives the list a bit more credibility, but next year I’m sure it will look very different. There have been a lot of good netballers coming out of the woodwork and putting a big stake in the ground at international level, so I’m definitely going to be having my head down and working hard next year.
‘To be in the top ten is really nice.’
Jets head coach Linda Andrews, who is considering unleashing Guthrie’s prowess in their Premier League 2 game at Fort Regent this Sunday, said: ‘I had the privilege of watching Serena in action in Australia at the World Cup, and without being biased she was the best centre-court player in that competition. Obviously the judging panel have looked at it the same way.
‘To have her as number one centre-court player in the whole world … I just can’t believe it. She has said how much she has learned since moving to New Zealand, and this is just a testament to everything she’s put in and all the sacrifices she’s made. She’s on her way up.’
