"I knew from the beginning of this year that's something that would definitely be on the cards for me, and going into a grand final like that and winning, it can't be better."
Green's World Cup campaign lifted her into the top 10 most capped Australian players of all time, in what she described as her career's biggest highlight.
Having told coach Lisa Alexander and other staff of her decision after the match, she waited until Monday to break the news to teammates.
"To be honest there's not that much shock in camp," she said.
"I've been around for a long time and accomplished so many things.
"It's just that time for me."
Green joins retiring defender Julie Corletto in exiting the national set-up, the start of a transition process as the Diamonds enter a new four-year World Cup cycle.
She hailed the depth of the Australian squad, including up-and-coming midcourter Paige Hadley, as more than capable of taking the Diamonds to a fourth straight title in 2019.
Green will continue to play with her trans-Tasman side the NSW Swifts, having signed on for another season in July.
She was looking forward to taking four months off netball before starting pre-season and then a bid to go one better than last season's ANZ Championship grand final loss to the Queensland Firebirds.
-AAP
