In Australia, netball team wins final after player's death
The Navarre Grasshoppers netball team in Victoria, Australia, defeated Carisbrook 58:51 in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Netball League grand final after the death of 23-year-old player Zanaya Bergen. As reported by ABC News Australia, the athlete died on Thursday evening when her car collided with a tree after training.
Decision to play in the final
Bergen's sudden death cast doubt on Navarre's participation in Saturday's match. League netball coordinator Katrina Turner said that for most of Friday, organisers discussed with the club whether the finals would go ahead. According to her, the league was prepared to support any decision made by the team.
After the club said it wanted to play, Turner contacted Navarre's opponents in the A-grade and C-grade matches. Before the grand final in Maryborough began, Bergen was honoured with a minute's silence. Her name remained on the match sheet, while purple ribbons and black armbands were worn during the game.
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Zanaya Bergen's season
For Bergen, whom those close to her called Zee, this was her debut season in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Netball League. She played 18 matches for her new club and scored 664 goals during the 2026 season. Bergen, who played as a goal shooter, was also named in the league's team of the year alongside four other Navarre players.
She had previously played A-grade matches for Stawell in the Wimmera Football Netball League and for Rupanyup in the Horsham District Football Netball League. After the final whistle, some Navarre players could not hold back their tears. Club members were offered counselling, and the championship medal will be presented to Bergen's family.
Outside sport, Bergen worked as an aged-care worker at Eventide Homes in Stawell for five and a half years. In a social media post, her employer recalled the athlete's kindness, patience and smile.
