The stage was set last month, in Singapore, for a fairytale ending to Aitken's remarkable 10-year tenure. She had overtaken Dame Lois Muir as New Zealand's most-capped coach and the world's most-capped coach, and developed a squad that was on the verge of becoming one of the greatest Ferns' teams in history, if it could secure the world title after winning last year's Commonwealth Games.
But the Australians stole the stage, producing a spectacular come-from-behind effort to beat the Silver Ferns by one goal in extra time.
"I wish I could press rewind on that one. It was a huge disappointment," Aitken said.
"I'd certainly felt beforehand that it probably was the right time, but I knew I didn't want to make any decisions until afterwards.
"[The loss] probably made it harder for me to make the decision ... You don't give up."
But Aitken eventually came to the same decision: it was time someone else got the opportunity to put their stamp on the team.
"I just feel that it's the right time for another tack for the Ferns to just keep growing and developing."
Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle said with one world title and back-to-back Commonwealth Games golds to her credit, Aitken had led the most successful decade in the history of the sport in New Zealand and would be greatly missed.
"I'm incredibly sad to see her go."
But Aitken will not be going far.
She will stay on as head coach until the end of the year, to guide the Silver Ferns through the two-test series against England and the Constellation Cup tests against Australia. The 55-year-old will then take up a new role as Netball NZ's coaching director.
She is excited about her new position, which will involve working with coaches from grassroots to elite level, as well as providing support to the new Silver Ferns management team.
Asked what she will miss about the job, Aitken's eyes light up immediately.
"Standing on the transverse line, singing the national anthem, and then ... that walk to the bench, where you sit down and take a deep breath and think 'here we go'," she said.
"You choose to be in an environment where you live on the edge. When you fail, it's very public, and when you do well, it's amazing. There is no nice safe in between, but it is such a buzz that you don't give it away lightly."
