The win means the Swifts, led by Romelda Aiken-George, who scored 28 of 34, leapfrogged the Fever into second place in the standings going into round 10 of the competition.
Jhaniele Fowler, the league’s leading scorer, scored a game-high 53 goals from 55 shots, and Natalie Butler three of four for the Fever, who were without their vice-captain Jess Anstiss and goal attack Sasha Glasgow, who were ruled out due to Covid-19 Health and Safety Protocols.
The Swifts led 32-20 at half-time and despite a late rally from the Fever, they came up a goal short in the end.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide Thunderbirds maintained their position at the top of the standings after crushing the Queensland Firebirds 63-46.
Eleanor Cardwell led the scoring for the Thunderbirds with 27 from 32 and Lucy Austin, who supported with 19 from 21, while Shamera Sterling had six interceptions in what was a close match heading into the final quarter.
However, the Thunderbirds dominated the final stanza 24-9 to claim victory.
Shimona Nelson’s perfect night, scoring 46 goals from as many attempts, was unable to prevent the Collingwood Magpies from going down 69-56 to GIANTS.
The towering Jamaican goal shooter scored 60 of 61 shots as the defending champions outscored their opponents 25-15 and 18-15 over the first two quarters to take a 13-goal lead into the half-time break. Sasha Glasgow who was a perfect five for five and scored three of six super shots was also key to the victory as the Firebirds provided the champions with a genuine scare.
Whereas the Fever were dominant in the first half, the Firebirds showed that they too could play that game in the second.
Donnell Wallan, who scored 48 goals from 53 attempts and sunk seven of 10 super shots in the game, helped the Firebirds storm back to outscore the Fever 21-15 in the third and 25-20 in the final stanza. She got support from Emily Moore who was perfect inside the circle and who hit one of two super shots and Mia Mayer (2/2) and scored one of two super shots to come within two goals of the champions.
However, that was as close as they would get as the Fever desperately held on for the win.
Fowler has missed only four attempts on goal in five matches this season, scoring 280 goals from 284 attempts.
Meanwhile, Romelda Aiken-George scored 43 goals from 49 attempts to lead the New South Wales Swifts to a close 64-63 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning at the UniSC Arena.
Over at the Ken Rosewall Arena, Shimona Nelson scored 36 goals from 38 attempts but her Collingwood Magies lost 59-55 to GIANTS for whom Jo Harten scored 33 from 35 and Sophie Dwyer 20 from 22.
Wallace’s 43 goals came from 45 attempts as the Swifts outscored the Magpies 19-15 in the second quarter to take a four-goal lead into half-time. The first quarter ended 14-14.
Led by Nelson, who had 43 attempts at goal and Gabrielle Sinclair, who was perfect from the field for her six goals, the Magpies closed the gap when they outscored the Swifts 15-12 in the third quarter to keep things close.
However, the third-place Swifts rallied to score 17 goals to the Magpies’ nine to close out the match and seal their third victory of the season.
In the other match played today, Shamera Sterling pulled in two rebounds but had 17 penalties as the Adelaide Thunderbirds lost 58-59 to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. It was their fifth loss on the trot and remain anchored to the bottom of the table.
Lenise Potgieter led the scoring for the Thunderbirds with 34 goals and Georgie Horjus had 20 but Cara Koenen’s 26 goals and Steph Wood’s 16 enough to emerge one-point victors.
On Saturday, the Melbourne Vixens ran out 66-64 winners over Queensland Firebirds, their first win of the season.
The Vixens were near-perfect shooting as Mwai Kumwenda scored 27 goals from just 28 attempts and Rahni Samason scored 19 from 19.
Meanwhile, Romelda Aiken scored 39 goals and Gretel Bueta 16, as the Firebirds lost their fourth match in five games.
Three-time champion Romelda Aiken-George who led the Swifts’ scoring with 27 goals had to settle for the position of runner-up in a match-up that will be remembered for ages.
Sterling was the first to make her mark on the match battling Aiken-George for the ball and drawing the offensive contact to put the Thunderbirds ahead.
Following suite, her teammate Wilson controlled the ball for another gain and the Thunderbirds then blitzed out to a five-goal lead.
Swift Helen Housby had her eyes firmly locked on the goal when she entered the Suncorp Super Shot zone during the Power Five to confidently narrow the Thunderbirds’ lead.
However, Sterling prevented the Swifts from getting too close with an intercept before the end of the quarter allowing the Thunderbirds to head into the break in front 16-12.
Eleanor Cardwell led the scoring for Adelaide with 31 goals and Lucy Austin had nine goals as Adelaide extended their advantage to eight points at half time after outscoring their opponents 19-15 in the second stanza to take a 35-27 led into the break.
The break proved to be a welcome one for New South Wales, who had eliminated last year’s champions West Coast Fever in last week’s preliminary final.
They emerged from the break with renewed focus and cut decisively into Adelaide’s lead after outscoring them 13-8 in the third quarter and was only down by three heading into the final stanza.
They used that momentum to outscore Adelaide 14-11 in the final quarter as the final whistle sounded with the scores locked at 54-54.
Overtime proved just as intense both Helen Housby and Cardwell stepping up to the challenge early slotting Super Shots for their respective teams.
However, the Thunderbirds’ defensive pressure forced the Swifts into a held ball and Cardwell capitalized again but then an offensive contact had the Swifts charging.
Fawns levelled the scores for the Swifts but Sterling showed why she’s the best interceptor in the league burying the Swifts dreams as her teammates made the intercept count.
The Swifts tried their hardest, however, were unable to halt the pink tide with the Thunderbirds winning by one goal.
Led by the league’s leading scorer Jhaniele Fowler, who scored 51 goals from 53 attempts, the Fever outscored the Thunderbirds 20-17 and 15-14 over the first two quarters, respectively, to take a 35-31 lead into the half-time break.
Fowler has now scored 331 goals this season.
However, despite winning the third quarter 15-14, the Fever were unable to hold off the Thunderbirds, who stormed back to outscore the champions 19-13 in the final stanza to snatch victory. Eleanor Cardwell led the Thunderbirds scoring with 33 goals from 34 attempts but key to their victory was that she hit eight of her 14 super shots.
Wing Defence Latanya Wilson and Goal Keeper Shamera Sterling played key roles on the defensive side with nine intercepts between them. The much-anticipated battle between Jamaican teammates Fowler and Shamera Sterling proved decisive as the Goal Keeper, who had six deflections, made it difficult for Fever to connect into the circle and suffered their first loss of the season on home court.
The accolade comes on the heels of a poignant revelation by Sterling-Humphrey about her challenging journey in the Suncorp Super Netball League. In a recent interview with Fox Netball's Off the Court, the 28-year-old Jamaican star disclosed her initial struggles with homesickness upon moving to Australia in 2019.
"When I just moved here, I struggled a lot. Leaving Jamaica, coming into this environment, the hard training – I wanted to go back home," Sterling-Humphrey candidly shared. "I remember texting my friend back home like 'I can’t do this. This is too hard for me'. I remember crying that I wanted to go home. But I said to myself, this is something I always wanted as a netball player … You just have to embrace it."
Despite these early challenges, Sterling-Humphrey has emerged as one of the league's standout players, leading the Adelaide Thunderbirds to their inaugural Super Netball crown in 2023 and continuing to excel in subsequent seasons.
Reflecting on her journey, which began amidst personal hardship in Jamaica, Sterling-Humphrey expressed how netball became her lifeline during difficult times. "Netball was my only escape to make it better for me and my family," she revealed. "It was that or nothing, and you know you’re going to choose that because you want better for your family."
Her dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed, with Sterling-Humphrey becoming a role model both on and off the court. As she remains committed to her career, she credits her father, her "biggest fan," for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey.
Led by Eleanor Cardwell near perfect 26 goals from 27 attempts and Lucy Austin’s 13 from 15, Thunderbirds led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter. However, Jo Harten who scored 23 goals from 25 shots and Sophie Dwyer (17/20) closed the gap to three by half-time as GIANTS outscored Thunderbirds 15-13 in the second stanza.
GIANTS dominated the third quarter 13-9 and take a slim lead into the final quarter of the game but Thunderbirds rallied to win the quarter 14-9 and take the game 54-50 for their sixth win of the season.
Fever, meanwhile, went down 74-73 in a thriller to Melbourne Vixens despite a game-high 48 goals of 49 attempts from the league top scorer Jhaniele Fowler, who now has 446 goals on the season.
However, after both teams traded goals for the entire match, it was Kiera Austin’s super shot at the buzzer than kept the Vixens unbeaten at home this season and handed the defending champions their second loss of the season.
Mwai Kumwenda led the Vixens with 45 goals from 50 attempts while Austin scored 23 from 29 for her side that outscored Fever 18-16 in the first quarter before sharing honours 19-19 in the second to take a two goal lead into the break.
Fever rallied to take the third quarter 19-16 but thanks to Austin’s super shot, Vixens edged the final quarter 21-19 to secure their fifth win of the season.
In the battle between the teams at the foot of the table, Donnell Wallam scored a game high 64 goals from 65 attempts to lead the Queensland Firebirds to their second win of the season, a 73-67 win over Collingwood Magpies.
Shimona Nelson scored 56 goals from 58 attempts for the Magpies who were losing their sixth game of the season.
During the 2024 season, Beckford played in every game, showcasing her skills on the international stage and seamlessly transferring her chemistry with Fowler-Nembhard onto the SSN court. She finished the season with 94 goals, including 26 Super Shots, highlighting her impact as a dynamic and reliable Goal Attack.
Fever General Manager Sue Gaudion expressed her excitement about Beckford's return, emphasizing the significant role she plays within the team. “We are really excited to have Shanice Beckford back in Green for 2025 and we cannot wait to see her take her game to the next level as she becomes more familiar with the Fever environment and system," Gaudion said. "Shanice has shown she has what it takes to compete, and her blistering start to her SSN career in 2024 is a prime example of what she can deliver."
Gaudion also highlighted Beckford's transition into a full-time, professional environment for the first time in her career, noting the positive impact it has had on her development. "This year saw Shanice step into a full-time, professional environment for the first time in her career, and we know she will continue to thrive as she benefits from the experiences she has at West Coast Fever. Her team-first attitude, drive to improve, and her strong connection with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard make her a vital component of our contracted 10 for 2025.”
Beckford, equally thrilled to be returning to the Fever, reflected on her incredible debut experience and her eagerness for the upcoming season. “I had the most incredible debut experience in the Suncorp Super Netball League with West Coast Fever," Beckford said. "Being part of the West Coast Fever environment was truly amazing. I had a fantastic time building long-lasting relationships with my teammates and the coaching staff, while simultaneously learning and growing in my netball skills."
She added, "The whole experience of being in Western Australia has been absolutely extraordinary. I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming 2025 season and can't wait to see what it has in store, especially playing alongside my teammates in front of the passionate and supportive Green Army. I am genuinely thrilled to be back and looking forward to the exciting journey ahead.”
Beckford's re-signing completes West Coast Fever’s contracted 10 for the 2025 season, which includes key players such as Jess Anstiss (Captain), Ruth Aryang, Sunday Aryang, Jordan Cransberg, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Alice Teague-Neeld, Olivia Wilkinson, and Fran Williams.
As Beckford prepares to take her game to new heights in 2025, fans of West Coast Fever and the Green Army can look forward to another thrilling season with their star Goal Attack leading the charge.
The 2023 season was a testing period for Jok, navigating the collapse of the Collingwood Magpies, enduring financial struggles due to a CPA dispute, and experiencing an 11-week period without pay. Amidst this adversity, she found solace in marrying basketball player Buay Jok.
Despite these hardships, Jok's fortune turned when she was selected by the Mavericks, albeit under controversial circumstances. The signing raised eyebrows due to the league's criteria for the 11th player, which appeared to favour emerging Australian talent eligible for the Diamonds. However, Mavericks coach Tracey Neville leveraged Jok's permanent residency to secure the seasoned international shooter.
Reflecting on the unexpected opportunity, Jok expressed gratitude and determination. "All I needed to do was just show up to training, work hard, be positive and show them that last year's hardships are not going to define me," said Jok, who will now earn the six-month league minimum of $22,000.
While Jok's eligibility sparked debate around World Netball regulations, particularly her potential representation of Australia, she remains focused on the present. "My priorities have switched because I don't want to be in this position ever again," Jok explained. "Representing the national team will not always be there; once the international games are done, it's like what's your actual job? What do you do beyond that?"
Regarding her future with Jamaica versus potential eligibility for Australia, Jok admitted to being "50-50" but emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind.
As Jok embraces this new chapter with the Mavericks, she reflects on personal growth and resilience amidst professional challenges. Her journey serves as a testament to perseverance and the unwavering support of loved ones and mentors who stood by her during difficult times.
With the possibility of making her debut for the Mavericks in upcoming matches, Jok looks ahead with confidence, underscoring her growth as a player and her readiness to contribute to her new team's success.
The Melbourne Mavericks eagerly anticipate integrating Jok into their roster, recognizing her potential to bolster their attack and make a significant impact on the court.
As Jok prepares for the next phase of her netball career, she embodies resilience and determination, poised to seize the opportunities that lie ahead with the Mavericks.
"I feel like defenders aren't going to know what to expect if I do get the chance to play Super Netball, because the Shimona Nelson last year is different to the Shimona Jok this year," she said.
Shimona Nelson scored 44 goals and Sophie Garbin nine, in a 100 per cent shooting effort as the Magpies in their final season in the Suncorp Super Netball league overcame the defensive efforts of Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson.
Collingwood led 16-12 after the first quarter and held a 27-23 lead at half time.
Collingwood widened their lead with another 16-12 effort in the third quarter and held on for the win despite a fourth-quarter rally from Thunderbirds who outscored Collinwood 15-10.
Eleanor Cardwell scored 27 goals from 29 attempts in the loss that saw Thunderbirds’ record fall to second place in the league table with eight wins, one draw and three losses this season.
The new league leaders are the New South Wales Swifts who defeated GIANTS 68-63 thanks in part to Romelda Aikens-George’s 32 goals from 39 attempts and Helen Housby’s 100 percent shooting for 18 goals.
Matisse Leatherbarrow and Jo Harten each scored 13 goals while Sophie Dwyer had 11 from 13 in the losing cause.
The Swifts now boast a record of nine wins, one draw and two losses after 12 rounds.
In the other game on Saturday, Queensland Firebirds defeated Melboune Vixens 76-71.
In the match played at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, Nelson scored her goals from just 44 attempts but the cellar-dwellers were never in a position to claim what would have been only their second win of the season, losing 63-53 to second-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Led by Cara Koenen’s 41 goals from 45 attempts, the Lightning won each quarter 16-12, 19-15, 14-13, 14-13 for their ninth win of the season.
Nelson teammate Gabrielle Sinclair shot seven of nine in the losing effort.
Fowler, the Suncorp Super Netball League’s leading scorer, converted 42 of 43 attempts but it was not enough to prevent the reigning champions from falling to their fourth defeat of the season.
Wilson earned 74.5 Nissan Net Points and Sterling 63 for defensive play that held off the defending champions who led 20-12 after the first quarter. However, the league leaders managed to close the gap by the half-time interval after outscoring Fever 14-11 in the second.
The low-scoring encounter saw the Thunderbirds win the third and fourth quarters, 13-10 and 15-12, respectively to snatch another close win. Eleanor Cardwell converted 26 of her 30 shots and Lucy Austin scored six from six in the hard-fought victory.
Adelaide Thunderbirds now have eight wins and just two losses from their 11 games this season while Fever dropped to seven wins and four losses and are only third on goal difference over Melbourne Vixens who also have a record of seven wins and four losses.
The Vixens suffered their fourth loss of the season going down 70-62 to New South Wales Swifts, who got 29 goals from Romelda Aiken-George from 34 attempts and a perfect 16 from 16 from Helen Housby.
Mwai Kumwenda scored 33 of her 35 attempts for the Vixens.
Meanwhile, Shimona Nelson scored 53 goals from 56 attempts for the Collingwood Magpies, whose miserable season will be their last in the Suncorp Super Netball League, as they suffered yet another defeat.
The Magpies were outscored 66-62 by the Sunshine Coast Lightning in what was their ninth loss of the season.
Cara Koenen scored 34 from 35 and Steph Wood 20/24 for the Lightning who were picking up their fourth win of the season and are current fifth in the league standings.
Fowler, 32, joined the West Coast Fever in 2018 and dominated winning the leading goal scorer award with 783 goals, which was then a record. She was also awarded the competition's player of the year title.
She won the leading goalscorer award for a second consecutive season in 2019 and capped off the year by becoming the first player in the league's history to win multiple Player of the Year awards.
Fowler would win her third consecutive Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year Award after an outstanding 2020 season during a special online version of the Australian Netball Awards.
The 1.96m tall shooter, who had three games in which she shot 100 per cent from the field, was also named to the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year.
The team also included Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace who made the team as Attack Reserve while Jamaica’s Shamera Sterling was a Defence Reserve.
She shared the news on social media early on Friday.
“Welcome to this crazy world our beautiful baby Gianna George. We’re so in love with you,” she posted on Instagram.
The post drew reactions from a number of former players including now retired Jamaican player Vangelee Williams, who posted “She’s adorable Diddy. Congratulations to you both.”
Australian player Nat Medhurst, herself a mother said, “A massive congratulations Diddy and Dan. Welcome to the world, Gianna. Lots of love to you all.”
England player Helen Housby was also among those who offered congratulatory messages to the new mom. “Congratulations guys. She’s gorgeous!”
Romelda and Dan, a former basketball player turned businessman, were married in September 2021 at the conclusion of the Suncorp Super Netball Season and have now started to build a family.
Aiken has been playing professional netball in Australia since 2008 when she was signed by the Queensland Firebirds and has won three titles with them. She became an Australian citizen in January 2020.
The decision to bring the Jamaican into the 11th player position, a tactical addition introduced this season, reflects the team's confidence in her abilities. Shae Bolton-Brown, Mavericks' head coach, expressed enthusiasm about the development, emphasizing the value that Jok brings to the team's attacking strategy.
"Elevating a player of Shimona's class into our 11th player is huge for us," said Bolton-Brown. "Shimona offers a whole new style of play in our attack end, creating a layer of depth that is critical to our game plan."
Jok joined the Mavericks as a training partner following the conclusion of the 2023 season after Collingwood's netball operations ceased. The Mavericks, under the new ownership of SEN, welcomed Jok and other former Magpies players into their ranks.
After winning a maiden title with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and taking the club’s champion award, Sterling became just the second Jamaican player in the tournament’s history to win the coveted Player of the Year accolade, at Netball Australia’s Award ceremony on Saturday.
The ever-impressive goalkeeper joined ace shooter Jhaniele Fowler, who won the award for the last five years consecutively from 2018 to 2022, and in the process, ensured that it became six on the trot for Jamaican players.
Sterling, 27, has been pivotal to the Thunderbirds’ defensive end ever since she burst onto the scene in 2019, becoming an instant fan favorite.
In her fifth season in the league, the Sunshine Girl standout assisted the Thunderbirds to the club’s first premiership in a decade, when they defeated the NSW Swifts in an epic grand final where she recorded seven crucial gains, three intercepts and three rebounds.
For this year, sterling led the league with 118 deflections, a substantial 15 more than the second-highest ranked player, and she also topped the league with 46 interceptions, to underline her credentials as one of, if not, the world’s best.
Sterling was also named in the team of the year at goalkeeper, alongside compatriots Latanya Wilson, who parades her skills at wing-defence, as the two form a dynamic duo in the Adelaide Thunderbirds defence, while Jodi-Ann Ward, another defender, stood out for the Collingwood Magpies.
This is Jhaniele’s second marriage. She married Andre Reid in December 2013. The couple share a daughter, Drehannah.
Fowler-Nembhard, the best shooter in the world, recently signed a two-year extension with the West Coast Fever in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League.
The 33-year-old goal shooter led all players 1668.5 total points, 929 goals and 55 offensive rebounds on her way to helping the West Coast Fever to second place in the league table with 32 points from their twelve games, eight behind champions the Melbourne Vixens.
Fowler was also named to the Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year. The team also included Fowler's Sunshine Girls teammates Shamera Sterling at Goal Keeper and Latanya Wilson at Goal Defence. Sterling and Wilson, both members of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, finished first and third in interceptions with 52 and 31, respectively. Sterling was also fourth in total points with 1177.5.
The virus has infected close to half a million people in 198 countries globally and killed more than 22,000. There are about 3000 cases in Australia, which prompted the Super Netball League Commission (SNLC) to call a halt for the season for at least the next couple of months.
“Given the rapidly-evolving landscape, the Commission has determined that the start of the season will be deferred and will not commence prior to 30 June,” a statement from the commission said on Monday.
Wallace, the shooter for the New South Wales Swifts, is among several players from Trinidad and Tobago who are in Australia and who are unlikely to be able to travel home since the country has closed its borders in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
However, Wallace said she is doing okay.
“I'm coping extremely well, to be honest. I'm safe, my health is great,” she told Sportsmax.tv.
“It's hard not being with my family and loved ones in this time but everyone back home is healthy and safe.”
However, she concedes that the league on hiatus is proving to be a bit of a challenge.
“It’s weird waking up in the morning and not have training to attend,” she said.
“Looking at the safer side, our health and well-being are way more important than a netball league at the moment. We, the athletes, have to find a way to keep fit in our backyards or wherever as possible.”
She offered words of encouragement in what will be challenging times.
“I see this as an opportunity to spend great quality time with your kids, family. Although I know it's a tough time here because some people are jobless and don't know when they will have a job again, in all I'm just grateful for life.”
Wallace, a two-time club MVP and 2019 Grand Final best-on-court recipient, joined the Swifts in 2017 and won the Suncorp Super Netball League in 2019.
Head Coach Briony Akle said having the key partnership of Wallace and Helen Housby in for next season was vital for the club’s continued success.
“Since both players joined the Swifts in 2017 they have formed a formidable partnership in the attack end,” she said.
“Sam has been a rock for us in attack and she really showed what she can do in all areas of the attack circle with her long-range shooting this year.
“Her partnership with Helen is one of the best to watch in the game. While we didn’t get the finish to 2020 we were looking for, the connections we’ve formed over the past three seasons will only continue to strengthen.”
Wallace, 26, enjoyed another outstanding season during the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball League. She was the third-best shooter scoring 522 goals from 591 attempts and scored 46 Super Shots from 85 attempts, which ranked her fifth in both categories. She also ended up fifth in the rankings for offensive rebounds with 31 for the season.
