On the back of two standout domestic seasons, rangy defender Kelly Jury will attend her first World Cup in South Africa in 2023.

After a stellar 2022 season, Jury attended her second Commonwealth Games while going on to play a key role as the last line of defence in helping her team secure the bronze medal.

The towering 1.92m defender gained her first cap in 2017 ahead of playing an instrumental role in the NZ U21 team’s unbeaten run to the World Youth Cup title the same year.

Major Achilles and shoulder injuries curtailed the early part of Jury’s promising career but injury-free in recent seasons has added confidence and a new lease of life. 2022 proved a breakout year for the willowy Jury, who thrived in her new leadership role at the Pulse while improved fitness and conditioning helping deliver a standout season.

As one of the tallest defenders in the New Zealand game, Jury has added to her skillset with quick hand and foot movement and attacking thrust from the back court while remaining a constant threat with her disruptive lean and rebounding ability. Improved positional awareness and tactical nous at the defensive end add another dimension to Jury’s all-round abilities.