The indigenous star at the centre of netball’s sponsorship drama has been reduced to tears after scoring the match-winner on debut.
Australia downed England 55-54 in a thrilling match in Newcastle, with Donnell Wallam scoring with all of her eight attempts after coming on in the closing stages.
The 28-year-old found herself at the centre of a storm prior to the match, with Hancock Prospecting withdrawing a $15 million sponsorship, after Wallam expressed reservations about 1984 comments from the company’s founder, Lang Hancock.
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“I was kind of relieved to get my chance on court,” Wallam told Fox Sports.
“It’s been the toughest few weeks of my life so to finally get out there and play in this dress was really special. It kind of makes the last couple of weeks feel like a bit of a blur.”
Asked what specifically had been the toughest moment, Wallam choked back tears as she replied.
“I think just the outside noise.”
“It’s really special and I just hope that I’m a role model to the young girls and boys coming through for their turn,” she added.
“It’s been a long time coming, so I hope I make everyone proud out there.”
Wallam said the support she’d received from the team had helped her through the turbulent week leading up to her debut.
“Every single one of the team members, the staff, has just been amazing,” she said.
“We were just trying to let the outside noise not impact us and they’ve just wrapped their arms around me and really embraced me and that’s just so special.
“Thanks so much to everybody for their support. All the kind messages I’ve been getting, it hasn’t gone unnoticed and it’s really helped in the last couple of weeks.”
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