Ameliaranne Ekenasio (born 11 January 1991), previously known as Ameliaranne Wells, is a New Zealand netball international. In 2010 and 2011, Wells represented

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

at under-19 and under-21 levels. In

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

she switched allegiances to

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. She represented New Zealand at the

2018 Commonwealth Games The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and also known as Gold Coast 2018, were an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, bet ...

and was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the

2019 Netball World Cup The 2019 Netball World Cup (also known as the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th edition of the INF Netball World Cup. It was held from 12–21 July 2019 at the Liverpool Arena in Liverpool, England with matches ...

. She captained New Zealand when they won the 2021 Constellation Cup. Between

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

and

, Wells played for

Queensland Firebirds Queensland Firebirds are an Australian professional netball team based in Brisbane, Queensland. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they pl ...

in the

ANZ Championship The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, is a former netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned ...

. Between

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

and

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

, Ekenasio played for

Central Pulse Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Central in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Central is the governing body that ...

. She was a prominent member of the Pulse teams that won the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club and the

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

and 2020 ANZ Premierships. Since

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

, Ekenasio has played for

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are a New Zealand netball team based in Hamilton. The team were formed in 1998, following the merger of Waikato Wildcats and Bay of Plenty Magic. In 1997, Wildcats and Magic had been founder members of the Coca-Col ...

in the

ANZ Premiership The ANZ Premiership is the top level netball league featuring teams from New Zealand. In 2017 it replaced the ANZ Championship, which also included teams from Australia, as the top level netball league in New Zealand. It is organised by Netbal ...

Early life and family

Wells is a Māori Australian with Ngāti Kahu and

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimate ...

affiliations. She was born in

Bundaberg Bundaberg () is the major regional city in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the List of cities in Australia by population, ninth largest city in the state. The Bundaberg central business district is situa ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

. She is the daughter of Anthony and Denese Wells. Her father was born in

. Her mother died in December 2015, following a

terminal illness Terminal illness or end-stage disease is a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is expected to result in the death of the patient. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer, rather than fatal injur ...

. She has an older sister, Haldaana, and younger brother, Jordan. In December 2015, Wells met Damien Ekenasio, a basketballer who played for

Wellington Saints The Wellington Saints are a New Zealand professional men's basketball team based in Wellington. The Saints compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Bank Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as ...

. Within three weeks the couple were engaged. In August 2016 they were married. In June 2017 she gave birth to a son, Ocean. In November 2021, she gave birth to a daughter, Luna.

Playing career

Early years

Wells started playing netball at 13 for her school and then for Across The Waves. In 2007 and 2008 she was a member of ATW Gold teams that won Bundaberg Netball Association first division premiership titles. She was later selected to join the Ergon Energy Netball Academy. She also played for Wide Bay Thundercats, Brisbane South Wildcats and Yellow Cab Lions in Queensland state netball leagues. Wells' mother served as manager of Thundercats. In 2009 she was a member of the Wildcats team that were won the Queensland state league title, defeating Kedron Wavell Cougars in the final. Wells was named player of the final.

Queensland

Wells represented

at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels in the Australian National Netball Championships. In 2010 she was a member of the Queensland team that won the under-19 tournament, defeating

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

in the final. She shot 17 from 19 in the semi-final victory against Victoria and averaged close to 90% accuracy throughout the tournament. Her shooting partner was

Stephanie Wood Stephanie Fretwell (born 28 November 1991), previously known as Stephanie Wood, is a former Australia netball international, who currently plays for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Super Netball competition. Wood was a member of the Au ...

Queensland Fusion

Between 2010 and 2014, Wells played for Queensland Fusion in the Australian Netball League. She helped Fusion finish as ANL runners up in 2014.

Queensland Firebirds

Between

and

, Wells played for

in the

. She was a fringe member of the 2011 Queensland Firebirds team won the ANZ Championship. Laura Geitz compared Wells to

Maria Tutaia Solonaima Maria Folau (née Tuta'ia; born 18 February 1987 in Tokoroa, New Zealand) is a retired New Zealand netball player. She played regularly for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns. Early life Folau was born Solonaima ...

. However, she found herself behind Romelda Aiken, Natalie Medhurst and Amorette Wild. At the end of the

season, Wells was on the verge of giving up netball and travelling overseas. However she was subsequently offered a contract to play for

Central Pulse

Between

and

, Ekenasio played for

. After missing the

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

season due to pregnancy, she returned in

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

and competed with

Aliyah Dunn Aliyah Dunn (born 19 October 1999) is a New Zealand netball international. Dunn was a prominent member of the Central Pulse teams that won the 2019, 2020 and 2022 ANZ Premiership titles. She was also a fringe member of the 2017 Southern Steel ...

and Tiana Metuarau for a place in the team. Ekenasio was subsequently a member of the 2018 Central Pulse team that were minor premiers. She also help Pulse win the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club. She was a prominent member of the Pulse teams that won the

and 2020 ANZ Premierships. Between 2018 and 2020, Ekenasio played and scored in three grand finals for Pulse. Ekenasio was initially named as captain of the 2021 Central Pulse team. However she subsequently missed the entire season. She was rested for the Otaki tournament, then went on medical leave due to fatigue and then became pregnant. In August 2021 it was announced that Ekenasio would not be returning to play for Pulse.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

Ahead of the

season, Ekenasio signed for

. On 20 March 2022, she made her debut for Magic against

, playing the opening quarter of a

Round 2 Round 2 may refer to: * ''Round 2'' (J. Holiday album), 2009 * ''Round 2'' (The Stylistics album), 1972 * Round 2 (company), a toy company based in Indiana, United States {{disambiguation ...

match. Ahead of the

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

season, Ekenasio was named as Magic captain.

International

Australia

Wells represented

at under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2010 she was a member of the Australia U19s team that won a Tri-Nation series against representative sides from

and

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Wells achieved an overall accuracy rate of 93% in the tournament and a 97% accuracy rate in the opening game against New Zealand. In 2011 she play for Australia U21s against New Zealand in a three-match series.

New Zealand

In September 2014, after signing for

, Wells was included in

squads. On 8 October 2014, Wells made her senior debut for New Zealand against

during the second test of the 2014 Constellation Cup. Ekenasio represented New Zealand at the

. She was also a member of the New Zealand team that won the

2018 Fast5 Netball World Series The 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series was the 9th Fast5 Netball World Series. Australia hosted England, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand and South Africa in a series, played in October 2018, at the Melbourne Arena. With a team coached by Debbie Fulle ...

. She was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the

. Ekenasio scored 24 from 26 at 92% in the gold medal match. She was subsequently named the 2019 Silver Ferns Player of the Year. Ahead of the 2020 Netball Nations Cup, Ekenasio was named New Zealand captain. She captained New Zealand when they won the 2021 Constellation Cup. After not playing international netball for 18 months due to pregnancy, Ekenasio was recalled to the New Zealand team for the 2022 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. She was also elected captain by her team mates and coaches.

Statistics

Grand finals

Individual stats

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2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

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2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

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, style="text-align:center;", Magic , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , - class="sortbottom" ! colspan=2, Career ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ;Notes * Between

and

, Wells made 36

appearances for

and

. * Ekenasio missed the

and

seasons due to pregnancy.

Honours

;

Netball World Cup The Netball World Cup is a quadrennial international netball world championship organised by World Netball, inaugurated in 1963. Since its inception the competition has been dominated primarily by the Australia national netball team and the New ...

**''Winners'':

* Constellation Cup **''Winners'':

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

Taini Jamison Trophy The Taini Jamison Trophy series is an international netball series hosted by Netball New Zealand. The series traditionally features New Zealand national netball team, New Zealand playing a series of Test match (netball), test matches against a ...

**''Winners'':

*Netball Nations Cup **''Winners'':

Fast5 Netball World Series The Fast5 Netball World Series is an annual international Fast5 netball competition. The competition, which began in October 2009, features modified Fast5 rules, and has been likened to Twenty20 cricket and rugby sevens. The competition is co ...

**''Winners'':

;

**''Winners'':

, **''Minor premiers'':

* Netball New Zealand Super Club **''Winners'':

; Queensland Fusion * Australian Netball League **''Runners up'': 2014 ;

**''Winners'':

;

* Australian National Netball Championships **''Winners'': Under-19 (2010) ;Brisbane South Wildcats * Queensland state netball league **''Winners'': 2009 ;Individual Awards

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekenasio, Ameliaranne 1991 births Living people New Zealand netball players New Zealand international netball players New Zealand international Fast5 players Netball players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games competitors for New Zealand 2019 Netball World Cup players Queensland Fusion players Queensland Firebirds players Central Pulse players Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic players ANZ Premiership players ANZ Championship players Australian Netball League players Queensland state netball league players Australian netball players 21st-century Australian sportswomen Australian expatriate netball people in New Zealand Netball players from Queensland Sportspeople from Bundaberg New Zealand Māori netball players Australian people of Māori descent Ngāti Kahu people Ngāpuhi people 2023 Netball World Cup players 21st-century New Zealand sportswomen