The search for a new White Ferns coach is already underway, with Bob Carter stepping down from the role, after the team's early exit from the World Cup.
New Zealand Cricket is hopeful of finding a strong candidate and believe the side can get back to competing at the top.
But former assistant coach Matthew Bell warns things may get worse, before they get better.
Bell was an assistant with the side until two years ago, and is familiar with the chasm between New Zealand's domestic competition and international cricket.
"I think the more cricket they can get in, whether that's starting to look at an 'A' programme or some more Winter programmes that the men have, just to bridge that gap," Bells tells Newshub.
The lack of domestic players knocking on the international selectors' door isn't helped by the imminent retirement of some senior White Ferns players this year.
"It probably is," responds Bell, when asked if we may now see a short-term decline in quality.
"It's going to be big shoes to fill so you're going to have to get over that short-term pain for some long-term gain."
General manager of high performance at NZ Cricket Bryan Stronach doesn't believe that necessarily needs to be the case.
"I hope we don't start thinking of it that way," says Stronach. "The goal for us is to consistently be up there."
To do that NZC says it will need to identify young talent, hoping the next Suzie Bates will be discovered in an age-group programme.
"We find the right talent and put our limited resources into putting the right experience around fewer numbers and a better experience."
"Don't give up hope we are moving forward and we've still got a long way to go."
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