A zippy and intelligent midcourter, Cooper is also entering the final weeks of her paramedicine degree.
She will represent ECU’s women’s netball team at UniSport Nationals for the third consecutive year.
Leading from the court
This time around, however, her role has expanded beyond playing. As President of ECU Mixed and Women’s Netball Club, Mia is helping to lead three ECU netball teams into the competition; a first for the university.
For Cooper, excitement and pride are the primary feelings a few days out from Nationals.
“I’m just excited to hit the court and to get around the club,” she said.
“I love how we’ve now got two mixed teams this year, which is really exciting, and I’m also looking forward to soaking in the ‘one team, one club, one dream’ mantra.”
With Nationals in Perth this year, she believes the advantage of being on home soil extends beyond the court.
“I think it’s really fun having family and friends be able to come and watch and support, and also being able to have as many students as possible play since they don’t have to worry about any potential financial stress.
“We’re all students living on a student wage, so travelling can definitely be a barrier.”
For Cooper, wearing the ECU colours means more than simply stepping onto a netball court.
“It’s very special and it’s a real privilege. I don’t think you really realise that until you’ve done it before.”
“It’s a really nice opportunity to be a leader of your own community and to show off the best aspects of our university, and I think ECU is pretty special.”
Two years of Nationals experience and her new leadership role has given Mia a different perspective on what to expect this time around.
“We’ve got that really big cohesive group, with three teams this year, which is exciting but definitely different.
“Also being the driving force of the club behind the scenes, I expect this week to be very rewarding, and being able to see the years’ work pay off is also quite exciting.”
A lifelong love of netball
Cooper’s netball journey began, like that of many young Australian players, with her mum.
She ended up coaching Mia throughout some of her early years in the sport, but despite that, her biggest mentors have been other coaches she’s had throughout her career.
“One of my junior coaches Rachel … I had her for a long time, and she was really important to my development.
“And that kind of came full circle as she coached me again this season, which was really nice.
“Another coach, Dan, who I also had for a really long time; he sort of rebuilt my love for netball after becoming an Open player and he reignited my passion for playing.”
After spending more than half her life spentplaying netball, Mia is ready for one final campaign at UniSport Nationals Perth 2026.
This time, she will take to the court not only as a player, but as a leader who has helped build the club and university she represents.
