Karla Pretorius retires after 125 caps and 2026 Crinums title

Karla Pretorius has retired from netball after 125 appearances for the Spar Proteas and leading the Free State Crinums to their fifth Telkom Netball League title. The 36-year-old said she now hopes her career can encourage the next generation of players.

Pretorius said stepping away was a carefully considered decision, but that she is comfortable with the choice. She believes she completed a full career and wants her experiences on the court to give young netballers something to follow.

Her international career began with her Proteas debut in 2011. She went on to play at three Netball World Cups and three Commonwealth Games, while earning the Player of the Tournament award at the 2019 World Cup in England.

Pretorius also broke new ground in 2017 when she became the first South African to secure a contract in the Australian league. Another significant moment came in 2023, when she reached 100 tests in front of a home crowd with her family present.

Her final campaign brought a fifth Telkom Netball League championship with the Free State Crinums in 2026. Pretorius said returning to represent the province was important to her and praised the group she led, adding that she learned from the players and hoped to have contributed to their development.

The Crinums title gives Pretorius a winning finish to a career that included major international tournaments, a landmark Australian opportunity and more than a century of Proteas appearances. Her stated focus now is the influence that journey can have beyond her own playing career.