Formerly with reigning premiers Sunshine Coast Lightning, Bassett will join the GIANTS line-up from 2019, bringing with her an impressive résumé and world-class netball skills.
The two-time Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) Grand Final champion and MVP of this year’s Grand Final match will spend the next three years in orange, joining recent GIANTS’ shooter re-signings Jo Harten and Kiera Austin, adding an intriguing host of options for GIANTS in the circle.
30-year-old Bassett made her entry into elite netball in 2005 with West Coast Fever and has played 183 national league games. For the last two years she has been a standout for Lightning in the circle. She finished the 2017 SSN season as the most accurate shooter in the competition, with a remarkable 94% accuracy, while during the 2018 regular season, Bassett netted 553 goals from 601 attempts and registered 12 goal assists.
Her successes go beyond the national level, as current Samsung Australian Diamonds Captain Bassett has 83 test caps to her name and has taken home two Netball World Championship Gold Medals (2011 and 2014), a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal (2014) and a Commonwealth Games Silver Medal (2018).
“I’m so thrilled to have signed with GIANTS for the next three seasons.
“Joining GIANTS Netball is a fantastic opportunity for me personally and professionally and I’m excited to see where this new challenge takes me in the future. It’s such a great chance to further develop my netball career and I can’t wait to begin the journey.
“It certainly doesn’t hurt that I’ll be able to play under Julie Fitzgerald, who has done such an amazing job in building the GIANTS team into real contenders over the last two seasons. Getting to play with my old Diamond’s teammate Kim Green is also something that I’m super excited about and I can’t wait to work with the likes of Jo Harten and Kiera Austin in the circle.
“I’m really looking forward to that moment where I can put on the orange dress for the first time and take to the court as a GIANT in front of the fans in New South Wales,” says Bassett.
Bassett has proven that she has the ability to shine on the big stage of elite netball at both the national and international level. GIANTS Netball Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald believes the signing is one that will help GIANTS become a much stronger Club in the future.
“GIANTS Netball are thrilled to welcome Caitlin to the team. She is an incredibly gifted shooter and obviously brings with her a wealth of talent and experience, which we know will elevate the team in the coming season.
“With Caitlin’s versatile play and steady shooting, she will be a wonderful complement to our established attacking group and we have no doubt that she will have a positive impact on the direction of GIANTS as a Club.
“Her motivation, determination and off-court efforts as a positive role model are well-aligned with the GIANTS culture and we believe she will be a great fit for what we are building at GIANTS.
“For 2019 we are bringing together a core group comprised of experienced and accomplished players with an exciting mix of talented up-and-comers. It is with pleasure that we welcome Caitlin to our Club and we know she will be an important part of the team structure over the coming years,” Fitzgerald says.
GIANTS Netball are already gearing up for 2019, with 2019 Membership renewals opening soon. Those interested in signing up for the orange army can register their interest in becoming a 2019 Member here to receive information about 2019 Memberships once details are announced.
