Silver Ferns star Maria Folau's netball future hangs in the balance, after confirmation that she won't return to Australia's Adelaide Thunderbirds next season.
Folau's decision to reject the Super League netball side's offers means she'll be without a professional team for 2020.
With all of New Zealand's ANZ Premiership rosters also completely full, that leaves her without a home in a domestic competition and, therefore, unlikely to be selected to play test netball, suggesting she may instead choose to slip into retirement.
Netball NZ's exemption to allow her to play for the Silver Ferns while playing solely in Australia extends as far as January's Quad Series in England, meaning Wednesday night's Constellation Cup test against Australia could be the last time she wears the black dress on New Zealand soil.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua refused to speculate on Folau's potential retirement and insisted the ball was in her star shooter's court.
"I know that she's really enjoyed her time here," Folau told Newshub. "And the environment is something that has been successful. and obviously her contribution to netball has been amazing.
"We'll take it one step at a time and then she'll make that decision right for her."
The 32-year-old is one of the all-time greats of New Zealand netball. She's achieved essentially every accolade the game offers, including a Commonwealth Games gold, World Championships gold, and multiple domestic titles in both NZ and Australia.
Folau now lives in Sydney with husband Israel Folau, which makes joining a New Zealand-based side unlikely.
The 32-year-old Folau's season in Adelaide - where she was named the club's Player of the Year - was marred by the furore surrounding her husband's religious social media posts.
Israel Folau's contract with Rugby Australia was terminated after his posts. He is now embroiled in an unfair dismissal case against rugby's governing body.
Maria Folau was drawn into the controversy in June when, on her social media accounts, she shared Israel's crowd-funding campaign for his legal fight. The campaign was later shutdown.
Australian netball hierarchy investigated Maria's actions but ruled she didn't breach any of the competition's rules.
The Silver Ferns will have a chance to record three-straight wins over Australia for the first time since 2006 in the second test of the Constellation Cup series in Auckland on Wednesday night.
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