Even though she was named Player of the Week for Round Four of the Suncorp Super Netball League, Kadie-Ann Dehaney is not popping the champagne just yet.
For the Jamaican defender, the accolade—earned after a standout showing in West Coast Fever’s thrilling 68-66 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning—is a welcome nod, but far from the finish line.
"It was by far unexpected. I really don’t focus on that because those are hard to come by. However, it is always good when your work is recognized, so I’m very flattered. I’m just seeking to get my hands more on the ball and to be consistent with that," Dehaney told SportsMax.Tv from her Perth base.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney in action for the Fever.
At 28 years old, the Kingston native is no stranger to the grind. After debuting with the Melbourne Vixens in 2017 and lifting the Premiership trophy with that franchise in 2020, Dehaney made a move to Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2022, where she was largely an impact player off the bench. Her 50-game milestone came in Lightning colours, but it is her shift to the Fever that has reignited her fire.
That fire was on full display in Round Four, where her defensive presence was pivotal in handing her former team a narrow defeat. Still, Dehaney remains her toughest critic.
"My personal performance so far...I would say it’s moderate. I think there’s room for improvement in supplying my team with more balls through intercepts and deflections. There’s a box, and I have the opportunity to jump out of it by just doing better than last year’s performance," Dehaney declared.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney (right) with compatriot Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.
By the numbers, Dehaney’s 2025 season is progressing steadily. In four rounds, she has two intercepts, 19 deflections, 10 rebounds, and 166.5 net points, as she currently sits second in defensive rebounds across the league. But for a player who posted 22 intercepts, 65 deflections, and 22 rebounds last year, the hunger to elevate is evident.
"The season had a slow start for us, two big blows in the first two games, which wasn't good for us as we found ourselves holding up the ladder, and I know we are much better than that," Dehaney said in reference to the first two rounds when the Fever sat at the foot of the standings.
However, with back-to-back wins since the return of ace shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, the Perth-based franchise has jumped to sixth on eight points, the same as reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds, the Lightning, Queensland Firebirds, and Melbourne Vixens, occupying second to fifth positions. NSW Swifts head the table with 16 points, as Melbourne Maverick and Giants are at the foot with four points each.
The talented Fever unit.
Like many in the Fever setup, Dehaney pointed out that Fowler-Nembhard's return from a nine-month break was a welcome one.
"With the return of Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, we won back-to-back games, which is pretty good, and we are just aiming to build on those performances going forward as we’re gunning for that top two spot," Dehaney shared.
Dehaney's competitive drive and hunger to always be at her best are by no means new. However, what is new, she says, is the freedom and clarity that the Fever environment has brought to her game.
Kadie-Ann Dehaney (right) with compatriot Shanice Beckford.
"The space at West Coast Fever allows me to just focus on playing, and that has been a major factor in my performance,” she said.
"Looking back, my goal was to outdo my 2023 performances in 2024, and I achieved it. But I am disappointed that we didn’t win last season because I thought we had a strong team to lift the title, so finishing third was so close, but so far. So my goals for this season are simple—to be better this year than I was last year and win another championship," Dehaney added.