Aussie netball's night of nights is hit by a player BOYCOTT and legal threats after Gina Rinehart axed her $15million sponsorship deal over racism scandal

A host of stars boycotted the Netball Australia Awards on Saturday night as the sport's pay dispute went nuclear, with players from the national team only attending because they were legally forced to do so.

Governing body Netball Australia sent a letter to players hours before the ceremony threatening legal action if stars didn't attend, the ABC reported.

No players from the Super Netball competition were present for the awards, with their representatives saying they haven't been paid for nearly two months as the battle over a new pay deal drags on.

'Tonight is the Netball Australia Awards and the Diamonds are attending because they are legally obligated to be present,' the Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA) said in a statement.

'With no agreement on our Collective Player Agreement, SSN players have been unpaid for nearly 8 weeks.

'We will continue to #FightFor Fair.

'What we have requested is affordable and sustainable to the game and promotes a genuine partnership to grow the game.'

Super Netball pay deals expired on September 30, with players' futures left in limbo as they are all technically out of contract until the matter is resolved.

In October the ANPA slammed the governing body for rejecting the players' 'modest requests' and offering an 'unfair three-year deal' that 'rejected a real partnership with the players'.

The code is under financial strain after Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, axed a $15million sponsorship deal after Indigenous star Donnell Wallam refused to wear the logo of one of her companies, Hancock Prospecting, on her jersey.

That was reportedly due to comments Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock made in 1984, when he suggested Indigenous Australians should be sterilised to 'breed themselves out'.

Wallam's stance drew support from her teammates.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan gave an update on the code's financial struggles at the season launch in March, with the Covid pandemic leaving them struggling to cover a large debt.

'$4.2million is the debt that we have an need to repay,' she said.

'We still do have a considerable, sizeable debt that still does need to be repaid. So we're still very fiscally responsible and making sure that any opportunities for growth will be realised.'

Netball Australia has agreed to mediation to settle the matter, which has left overseas players worrying about their visas and all eight teams in the competition unable to announce their 2024 squads.

Courtney Bruce capped her outstanding year by winning the 2023 Liz Ellis Diamond award for the second time at the ceremony.

The 29-year-old defender received the top gong - which she also collected in 2021 - for her stellar domestic and international seasons with the West Coast Fever and the Diamonds.

She was also crowned international player of the year, becoming the sixth Diamond in the last decade to collect both awards.

West Coast Fever captain Bruce was instrumental role in helping the Diamonds re-stock their trophy cabinet over the past 12 months as defender of the series at the Netball Quad Series and in the triumphant Netball World Cup campaign.

'It is absolutely crazy to win', Bruce said. 'Not many people see the hard work that we put in behind the scenes to get to perform every day.

'This award is so special considering the bunch of athletes currently playing in Australia. I am so grateful to spend the time I do with my teams and to treasure the memories on and off the court.'