Lightning’s Player of the Year in 2019, Karla Pretorius lifted her game to new heights last year. The Vice-Captain is widely consiered one of the world’s best players at Goal Defence and regularly leads the league for intercepts.  The recruitment of SPAR Proteas teammate Phumza Maweni has seen the pair strengthen their combination tenfold. The consistency in Pretorius’ game week in, week out is second to none, regularly shutting down the opposition’s most damaging players in attack while also being a playmaker for her Lightning teammates. Pretorius is also Vice-Captain for the South African Proteas team and was awarded Player of the Tournament in the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup.

Before Lightning, the 30-year-old spent time in the Vitality English Superleague for Team Bath.