The Diamonds have reportedly taken a stand against Netball Australia's new sponsor, mining giant Hancock Prospecting, after being addressed by former skipper Sharni Norder.
The team, in New Zealand for the Constellation Cup series with game two in Tauranga on Sunday, are said to be concerned about the sponsor being branded across their uniforms.
Late last month the cash-strapped organisation trumpeted a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
The sponsorship, continuing until the end of 2025, was set to go towards the sport's high-performance program.
It comes at a key time for the national team as they prepare for the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town and the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Hancock Prospecting was set to feature on their uniforms as part of the deal, however the Diamonds wore an old strip in their opening loss to the Silver Ferns on Wednesday.
Norder (nee Layton), who played 46 times for Australia and skippered the team in 2017, called on the governing body to "do better" than accept money from Rinehart, whom she called a "climate denier".
At the time of the announcement Norder, who switched to AFLW in 2018 and is a Sports Environment Alliance ambassador, said netball should not associate itself with Rinehart.
"As a proud @SEA_theChange ambassador, it's unacceptable to put our brand alongside an open climate denier," Norder tweeted.
"We have put too much into our sport to give social licence to a company who's (sic) profit-at-all-cost attitude puts our future in danger. Be better".
The stand-off also reportedly surrounds the origins of the business, founded by Rinehart's father the late Lang Hancock, who espoused strong right-wing views about Australia's Indigenous community.
The Diamonds have Indigenous player Donnell Wallam in their squad.
Norder told Fox Sports she held an online meeting with the players to "educate" them on the sponsor.
"I did a Zoom with the players just to educate them on doing right by the sport but also doing right by yourself and honouring your own values," Norder said.
"I just wanted to have a conversation - is that money worth your reputation and what you stand for as a person?
"Just so they are making good decisions for themselves, because they represent the clubs and our country but also themselves."
Earlier this year the extent of netball's cash crisis was revealed, with the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to losses of more than $7 million over the past two years.
Hancock Prospecting is one of the most significant private investors in Australian sport, partnering with elite level swimming, synchronised swimming, rowing and women's volleyball, as well as making a multi-million dollar commitment to the Australian Olympic Committee.
Netball Australia have been approached for comment by AAP.
