Early years McKinnis began playing
netball with
Geelong-based Herne Hill. She later played for the Melbourne Club at
Royal Park. She started in Melbourne Green, alongside
Roselee Jencke, before progressing through Reds and Golds and eventually Melbourne Blues.
Esso/Mobil Superleague During the
Esso/Mobil Superleague era, McKinnis played for several teams. In 1990 she played for Melbourne City, a composite team coached by
Norma Plummer that also featured
Roselee Jencke and
Shelley O'Donnell. Melbourne City finished as champions after defeating
Adelaide Contax 52–42 in the grand final. In 1993 she was vice-captain of a Melbourne Pumas captained by Jencke and coached by Norma Plummer. In 1994 she played for
Adelaide Garville as an "import player" and helped them reach the grand final. In 1995 and 1996, McKinnis played for Melbourne Pumas in two successive grand finals, finishing as winners in 1996. Her later Pumas team mates included
Janine Ilitch,
Eloise Southby and
Ingrid Dick.
Melbourne Phoenix In 1997 and 1998 McKinnis captained and played for
Melbourne Phoenix in the
Commonwealth Bank Trophy. In 1997 she was the league's MVP as Phoenix won the premiership.
Australia Between 1986 and 1998 McKinnis made 63 test appearances for
Australia. She was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the
1991 and
1995 World Netball Championships, the
1993 World Games and the
1998 Commonwealth Games. ==Coaching career==