Playing in the successful 1959 Manawatu team which won the second grade division at the New Zealand Tournament, Betty Steffensen was invited to trial for the Silver Ferns' team to tour Australia in 1960.

In a rare occurrence for a second grade player, the diminutive Steffensen completed a successful trial, the goal attack being named in the 1960 Silver Ferns team as the vice-captain.

Originally a centre, Steffensen was a clever player with speed to burn, agility and adaptability, first making the move to the shooting role at club level after her team’s three shooters all left when the game went from nine-a-side to seven-a-side.

With the 1960 team being the first picked in the new era, Steffensen’s days were numbered. From the tour to Australia, the selectors’ deemed that being small – Steffensen was just 1.54m (a shade over 5ft) – wasn’t very beneficial for a shooter.

After finishing as a player, Steffensen retained a lifelong involvement in the game where she held a number of administrative roles at provincial and national level, including being the Silver Ferns manager from 1980-84.

A Life Member of Netball New Zealand, Steffensen’s contribution to Netball has been significant. She was awarded the NZ Service Medal from the national body to recognise 20 years of service to the game, the Queen's Service Medal in 1990 which recognises an individual's voluntary service to the community, and the Women's Suffrage Medal in 1993 awarded to 500 women and men who had, by their virtues and talents, made a recognised contribution to the rights of women in New Zealand.

In another capacity, she was the first New Zealand player to achieve the International Umpires Badge and continued on to become an examiner.