She now has 5 international test caps, always playing as goal shooter and is a member of the current Australian Team.
After Hughes was selected in the Australian 21U Squad in 1999 while playing with the Adelaide Ravens, her sporting career stagnated as the Ravens were wooden spooners, then were forced to leave the national league, making way for the Australian Institute of Sport team, the AIS Canberra Darters.
Star coach of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Marg Angove, saw her potential and recruited her.
Her strengths include accurate shooting, energy, movement, and a tricky use of "the roll" to avoid defenders and open the shooting circle for an effective threading of the ball.