Pre-season
The first pre-season tournament was held in Queenstown in New Zealand from 20–22 February at the Queenstown Events Centre. Several ANZ Championship teams participated, including the Steel, Mystics, Swifts and Pulse, and the Australian Institute of Sport also sent a team. The Tactix were scheduled to attend as well, but pulled out due to lack of player availability. The Mystics went through the tournament undefeated, beating defending ANZ Championship winners the Swifts 58–53 on the final day.
The official pre-season tournament is the Sydney Olympic Park Netball Cup (SOPA Cup), held in Sydney from 6–8 March. Seven ANZ Championship franchises participated in the tournament, including the Firebirds, Swifts, Vixens, Thunderbirds, Fever, Magic and Steel, along with a representative team from the Australian Institute of Sport. In a replay of last year's grand final, the Swifts and Magic fought out a close draw. By the end of the tournament, the Swifts emerged as champions, receiving a winner's prize of $10,000.
The Waipa Pre-Season Tournament was the third and last in the 2009 pre-season, held from 20–22 March at the Te AwamutuEvents Centre. This tournament featured the Magic, Mystics and Pulse from the ANZ Championship, as well as the New Zealand U21 team. Hosted by the Magic, the home team took out the tournament.
Read more about this topic: 2009 ANZ Championship Season