But for former Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown - Kiana's mother - the decision to put family first and make herself unavailable for the national side this year involved a lot of heartache.
"There were a lot of tears and it is still a sore point, really," Brown said.
"But I kind of knew it was time. Markham [Brown's husband] and all his family and all our extended family have given up so much so I can compete with the Magic. But we just decided another four months with the Silver Ferns might be pushing it a bit."
Brown, who lives in Dunedin and plays provincial netball for Otago, has unfinished business. Every athlete dreams of having a Commonwealth Games gold medal draped over their neck and choking back the emotion during the national anthem. Few get as close as Brown did in Melbourne four years ago.
She was the first-choice goal attack and set to star alongside shooter Irene van Dyk. The team won gold, beating Australia 60-55 in the final - but Brown had to watch the celebrations from the sideline.
The day before the tournament she ruptured a ligament in her knee and her dream was over.
"My goal was to make it back to the Commonwealth Games after what had happened," she said.
"But it has got a lot harder with the age Kiana has reached. She knows that mum goes away now and stuff like that.
"For the Silver Ferns you are away for a longer period, whereas in the ANZ champs you are just away for the weekend or the night and it is a bit easier to handle."
Brown made her decision before the Magic was due to play the Adelaide Thunder-birds in the final of the ANZ Championship on Sunday and phoned Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken with the news.
"Ruth said the selectors had been impressed with my form over the last few weeks ... from that I got the vibe that I would have got a trial and, hopefully, with a good performance, a spot in the team."
Brown has not given up on competing at the Games.
At 29, she considers herself young enough to still be around in another four years' time.
