Kayla Johnson (netball)
Kayla Malvina Johnson (née Cullen, born 13 February 1992) is a New Zealand netball player. As a high school student, Cullen played representative netball and basketball, and competed at a national level in athletics. In 2008, she was selected in the New Zealand U21 netball team, and was a member of the side that finished second at the 2009 World Youth Netball Championships, behind Australia.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kayla Malvina Johnson (née Cullen) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
13 February 1992 Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Auckland Girls' Grammar School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Shaun Johnson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Married | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position(s): GD, WD, C, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Club team(s) | Apps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–16 | Northern Mystics | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–present | Northern Stars | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | New South Wales Swifts | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Correct as of 30 July 2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | NZ Secondary Schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–13 | NZ U21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–present | Fastnet Ferns | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–present | Silver Ferns | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Correct as of 24 May 2016) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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At the end of 2009, Cullen was signed to play with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship, starting from 2010. Cullen played five matches in her debut season, and was nominated for the competition's Best Young Player award. She was selected for the Fastnet Ferns to represent New Zealand at the 2010 World Netball Series in England, where the team finished first.
Cullen spent much of her early career playing in almost every position on court, before settling as a defender. In 2011 the Mystics, under new head coach Debbie Fuller, qualified for their first finals series. Cullen played in every Mystics game, and earned a place in the starting lineup for the Mystic's first grand final, which they lost to the Queensland Firebirds. Nevertheless, Cullen's performance during the 2011 season earned her a place in the ANZ Championship All-Star team at wing defence. She also won the award for the ANZ Championship's Best Young Player that year.