Kayla Johnson has already made her comeback for the Silver Ferns after becoming a mum and last weekend returned to the ANZ Premiership, after a bout with COVID.
Johnson, 30, will have to wait to play again, after her Northern Stars team were forced to pull out of their next two matches, due to positive Omicron cases.
Getting back on court hasn't been easy for the international defender and while her return looks seamless, Johnson has had to overcome plenty of challenges.
"I'm not gonna lie, it was tough," she tells Newshub.
Johnson, 30, hadn't played in the ANZ Premiership since 2019, moving to Australia with husband and NRL star Shaun, who was playing for Cronulla Sharks.
There, they had daughter Millah, with a traumatic birth leaving her unable to walk properly for a month. Since then, Johnson is parenting back on this side of the ditch, with Shaun with the Warriors in Queensland.
On top of all this, she caught COVID.
"I've had to work extremely hard to get where I am," Johnson adds. "But I'm not where I need to be just yet."
Northern Stars coach Kiri Wills begs to differ.
"Quite often, when I watch her, I look in marvel and say 'how did she do that?'" Willis tells Newshub. "She's just got good ball handling skills and none of that is gone."
Johnson is starting to realise how many barriers she has overcome.
"I'm super proud of myself and I don't think I say that often."
