‘We came in firing’: Vui leads Mystics to Grand Final redemption

The hurt of last year's Grand Final loss never left the Mystics.

On Saturday, they made sure history would not repeat itself.

Led by Sāmoan goal attack Filda Vui, the Mystics produced a polished performance to beat the Southern Steel 56-46 and reclaim the ANZ Premiership title in front of their home fans.

Vui was named Most Valuable Player after shooting at 93 per cent and playing a key role in a clinical team display.

She told TVNZ post-match that lifting the trophy made last year’s disappointment worthwhile.

“It feels so good,” Vui said. “I’m proud of my team and everything we’ve been doing all season. We had some games where we doubted ourselves, but in the end, we’re enough.

“The main goal was to come out strong. Last year, that loss [against the Tactix] took a toll on us, so we came in firing from the first whistle.”

That fast start set the tone. The Mystics looked settled from the opening centre pass and relied on their experienced players to keep the Steel under pressure throughout the match.

At the defensive end, Phoenix Karaka was outstanding. The defender constantly disrupted the Steel’s shooting combination of Georgia Heffernan and Aliyah Dunn.

Mystics players celebrating their win. Photo/Shane Wenzlick/Photosport

Karaka was relentless at goal keep, getting hands to ball in one-on-one contests while combining effectively with Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson.

“I’m just happy,” Karaka told TVNZ, acknowledging she was “nervous” heading into the match after missing last season following the birth of her second child.

“I knew my role, and I trusted in myself, and I believed that I could execute that.”

Karaka also said a performance conversation with head coach Tia Winikerei helped lift her game.

“Tia asked me a few weeks ago, ‘Are you working hard enough? When you come off that court, are you actually tired?’ … and when she asked me that, I saw a huge shift in my mindset and the way that I wanted to play.”

Karaka ended the match with 10 gains including three intercepts, seven deflections, and three rebounds.

The Steel, playing in their first Grand Final in eight years, refused to go away. The young side stayed within reach for much of the match and matched the Mystics through the opening three quarters.

But when the game was there to be won, the Mystics’ composure and experience made the difference. They controlled possession, shut down the Steel’s momentum and pulled away in the closing stages.

The victory delivered the Mystics' fourth ANZ Premiership crown and completed a redemption story that started with last year’s painful defeat to the Tactix.

For Vui and her teammates, it was the perfect response and proof that they had learned from the heartbreak that fuelled their title run.