Third time lucky: Ainsleyana Puleiata's inspiring comeback

A Pacific netball player is rewriting her own story in the 2025 season as she triumphs over a series of devastating injuries.

After suffering three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to her knee within six years, Ainsleyana Puleiata’s journey is one of resilience, honour, and a relentless spirit.

Signed to the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse for this year's ANZ Premiership, the proud Porirua midcourter finds it hard to believe how far she has come.

“I don’t think I would ever believe anyone if they told me that I could be back in this environment after doing my third ACL,” she says.

Netball is known to be one of the riskiest sports for ACL injuries. With a rehabilitation period lasting between nine and 12 months, Puleiata’s time away from the sport presented major challenges.

Feeling that her opportunities were slipping away, Puleiata returned to the court just eight months after her first surgery in 2018. But this early comeback taught her valuable lessons.

Listen to Ainsleyana Puleiata’s full interview below.

“Because I rushed my process, I literally did it the next year, and that was my second ACL. So reflecting on my first year, this is actually something I can’t rush,” she says.

Despite enduring two more ACL injuries, the dream of returning to the court never wavered for her. It was only a matter of “when, not if”.

Throughout her recovery, she embraced self-development, focusing on upskilling her craft and finding new ways to contribute to the sport, whether at the grassroots or professional level.

Recognising that athletes can become overly-fixated on their dreams, Puleiata also discovered silver linings amid her struggles.

She celebrated major milestones, such as completing her university degree in 2022 and starting her career as a policy adviser at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - all while playing netball.

With patience and perseverance, Puleiata has achieved significant milestones on the court, including her debut start against the Tactix in round eight. Her journey has come full circle, paying homage to her Pacific roots.

“If I were to say anything to my younger self, I’d say thank you for not giving up, but also thank you for being open to explore new things,” she says. “There are moments at a high-performance level where you can lose yourself, and I’m a proud Pacific woman.

“I like to be connected to my Pacific communities because they’re the people that will ground you and keep you humble.”

Puleiata is now focussed on the upcoming elimination match against the Mainland Tactix in Christchurch on Sunday.