Silver Ferns shooter, captain and Commonwealth Games medallist

Overview

Maia Wilson is one of New Zealand's most respected netballers — a Silver Ferns shooter with 50+ test caps, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (Birmingham 2022) and the youngest captain ever appointed at NZ elite-league level. A foundation player at the Northern Stars for nine seasons and now at the Northern Mystics, she also represented NZ in basketball before choosing netball. She is admired for her on-court composure and her openness off-court about body image, identity and women in sport.

Who is Maia Wilson? Born 21 September 1997 in Auckland, Maia attended Mt Albert Grammar School and was a four-time NZ Secondary School champion. She represented NZ at age-grade basketball and made the Tall Ferns squad at 16 before turning down a basketball scholarship to the University of Idaho to take up a netball contract with Central Pulse. She debuted for the Silver Ferns in 2016 at 19, was a non-travelling reserve at the 2019 World Cup, won the 2017 World Youth Cup, took bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and made her senior World Cup debut in South Africa in 2023.

Career Highlights • Commonwealth Games bronze medal, Birmingham 2022 • Silver Ferns shooter, 50+ test caps • 2023 Netball World Cup squad member • Youngest captain at NZ elite league level (Stars, 2021) • Foundation Northern Stars player, 9 seasons; 2024 Fast5 Ferns silver medallist • 2017 World Youth Cup winner with NZ Under-21

Key Speaking Themes • Leadership and captaining young teams • Team culture and women in elite sport • Body image, identity and mental wellbeing in sport • Building resilience through setback and selection • Whakapapa, identity and representing Aotearoa

What Your Audience Will Gain Maia is composed, thoughtful and refreshingly grounded. Audiences leave with an inside look at high-performance team culture and a genuinely honest conversation about identity, wellbeing and the realities of women's elite sport.

Ideal For • Sport, performance and culture events • Women in business and women in sport forums • School and youth leadership programmes • Wellbeing and mental health forums • Awards nights and gala dinners

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Maia Wilson speak about? Leadership, team culture, women in elite sport, body image, identity and mental wellbeing.

How many caps does Maia Wilson have for the Silver Ferns? 50+ test caps, with her debut in September 2016 at age 19.

What major titles has Maia Wilson won? Commonwealth Games bronze medal at Birmingham 2022, the 2017 World Youth Cup, and the 2021 Constellation Cup with the Silver Ferns.

What teams has Maia Wilson played for? Central Pulse (2016), Northern Stars (2017–2025, including as captain) and the Northern Mystics from 2026.

Did Maia Wilson play basketball for New Zealand? Yes. She represented NZ in age-grade basketball, made the Tall Ferns squad at 16 and was offered a US college scholarship before choosing netball.

Is Maia Wilson available for keynotes and panels? Yes. Maia speaks for school, corporate, women's sport and wellbeing audiences across NZ.