Jamaican netballer Abigale Sutherland is no stranger to the highs and lows of the sport she loves. But as she gears up for a return to international action with the Sunshine Girls in the upcoming four-match Vitality Horizon series against England, her passion and hunger for the game have never been stronger.
Sutherland, whose career has seen its fair share of triumphs and challenges, has been using the recent international break to her advantage. For the dynamic centre, the pause in the competitive schedule was anything but a rest. Instead, it’s been a period of growth and self-reflection—a time to hone her skills and recharge her energy.
With the prestigious series against now number-two England scheduled for November 16 and 17 in Manchester, and November 25 and 26 in Jamaica, Sutherland can barely contain her excitement for the challenge to come.
“I’m extremely excited and proud to have been selected for the senior Sunshine Girls team again. During the break, I’ve focused on my personal growth and training, and I truly feel like I’m possibly in the best shape of my career. I’m eager to bring that energy and improvement onto the court and push myself to the limit, particularly with the added excitement of playing on home soil,” Sutherland told SportsMax.Tv.
“It’s a privilege to play at home, and I’m ready to show what I’ve been working on and give my all for the team and our supporters. Every match is an opportunity to not just play, but to show the world how much I’ve grown because playing against England is always a tough test, but that’s the kind of challenge I thrive on,” she added.
Sutherland’s career has been defined by resilience, as there have been moments of brilliance, but also times when injuries or off-form performances have threatened to slow her momentum. However, each setback has only made her stronger, deepening her resolve to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way.
"Netball quickly became my passion when I attended St Patrick’s Primary and then I went to The Queens School, where I got the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Under 16 level, eventually becoming the captain. Once I got a foot in the national program, I steadily transitioned upward. But you know in sports, you have your ups and downs, so the journey hasn’t been without challenges. I’ve faced many disappointments, including being left off teams at times, but looking back, it was all worth it," Sutherland admitted.
Sutherland's opportunities came in 2022 when she made her senior team debut in the Taini Jamison Cup, and then the Americas Qualifiers that same year. Since them, the now 23-year-old has become a staple centre-court player for the Sunshine Girls, and was even a part of the team that copped bronze at the previous Netball World Cup.
"I’ve learned from every experience. The key is to stay focused and hungry. Going through the highs and lows taught me to be patient with myself and really embrace the journey," Sutherland shared.
"I’ve learned that when you’re given an opportunity, it’s important to make the most of it. These experiences have shown me that I’m stronger than I sometimes give myself credit for, and that hard work truly does pay off in the end. Every setback and success has shaped me, both as a player and as a person," she noted.
That said, Sutherland, who is set to graduate the UWI with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in November, pointed out that the upcoming games are not just about playing another international series—it’s about seizing the moment.
As such, her focus now is on delivering consistently and being a key contributor to Jamaica’s continued rise in the sport.
"This series won’t be easy, but I’m confident we’ll come out on the winning end. We have a well-rounded team that includes legends who I am grateful and privileged to be playing alongside, and we have a strong balance of experience and depth across every position. Everyone has been putting in the work, and I believe that with the quality we have, we’re in a great position to top the series," Sutherland reasoned.
"Mentally, I’ve been encouraging and speaking to myself daily, setting goals, and pushing myself to meet them. I’ve been working hard in the gym and on the court, and playing in local leagues to stay sharp. The feedback from my coaches and teammates has also been really positive, which boosts my confidence and helps me stay focused," she explained.
Armed with fresh determination and a drive to succeed, the jovial player, is optimistic that a positive showing in the series will open the doors for a possible contract in one of the top leagues in Australia, New Zealand or England.
“My overall goal is to compete at the highest level of netball, both for my country and in a top league. I want to be part of a World Cup-winning team with Jamaica because I truly believe that will happen. But, beyond that, I want to enjoy my years as a professional athlete, making the most of every opportunity and achieving everything I possibly can," Sutherland ended.
Expectations high as Sunshine Girls, England eye victory on Jamaican leg of Horizon Netball Series
After two exciting encounters at the AO Arena in Manchester, Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls and England’s Vitality Roses are now in Kingston for the second leg of the four-match Horizon Series.
With England leading the series 1-0, after topping game two 56-47, while the game one ended in a draw, the decisive third and fourth games scheduled for November 25 and 26 at the National Indoor Sports Centre promises to keep spectators at the edge of their seats.
In fact, with the games set to be the Sunshine Girls’ first encounter at home in a long time, Head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry is optimistic that they can deliver two top performances to treat local fans.
“I think we did great as a team and we should be proud of our achievements, maybe the last result was not we what we wanted but it’s something that we have to work through and try to come the last two games and improve on our performance” Henry said shortly after arriving at the Norman Manley International Airport on Monday.
Henry believes her number four-ranked Sunshine Girls possesses enough quality to top their number two-ranked opponents, but in the same breath, pointed out that it is easier said than done.
“It is going to be two keenly contested games. It’s going to be competitive. We have to respect England and their second place in the world and we are number four. It all comes down to being disciplined, being precise in our movements and to improve on our weaknesses that we had. We have to limit our turn overs and capitalize on their strengths so it’s something that we have to work on,” Henry noted.
First time captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was also optimistic about the team’s chances against the Vitality Roses.
“I feel like once we can fix what needs to be fixed in the three ends of our court –the mid court, the shooting and the defence –then I think Jamaica can get the two wins.” Sterling-Humphrey shared.
Her counterpart Fran Williams was happy to be in Jamaica for the first time to compete against the Sunshine Girls as she also declared high expectations for the two matches.
“We are so excited to be here and it’s amazing to get to travel and get to play in other countries and explore new places. We’ve had such a good start to the series with two really close matches including a draw so it’s going to be exciting on Monday and Tuesday next week,” Williams beamed.
Meanwhile, England’s coach Jess Thirlby echoed similar sentiments.
“We know that this is going to be a really tough ask coming out to Jamaica but we know we are on the hunt for one more win to try and take that series. Our expectations of ourselves re high but the Jamaica Sunshine Girls have got some if not a lot of world class girls in that side,” Thirlby stated.
Game time 6:30pm on Monday, and 7:00pm on Tuesday.
NB: The Horizon Netball series can be seen live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
'Playing for England is the Mecca' according to Itoje amid global breakaway talk
Maro Itoje has reaffirmed his commitment to England amid talks of a proposed global breakaway league.
Steve Borthwick’s side are looking to end their five-match losing run when they face Japan in their final match of the autumn series on Sunday.
But there is fear that Borthwick could lose many of his players to the new league that reportedly are offering 40 £1m-a-season contracts for marquee players and more periods of rests for the players.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) only select players for the national team from English clubs, meaning any player joining the breakaway league would jeopardise their Test career.
But Itoje has insisted that playing for England is the pinnacle for him and his teammates.
"I don't really know any of the details of it as yet, but wearing this rose is extremely important to me and my teammates," said Itoje.
"Playing for England is the Mecca."
Long-term view: Boyz coach Steve McClaren reflects on lessons learned in Nations League defeat
As the dust settles on Jamaica's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal exit at the hands of the United States, Head coach Steve McClaren remains resolute in his vision for the Reggae Boyz.
While their 2-4 loss in the second leg and, by extension, the 5-2 aggregate scoreline is a bitter pill to swallow, McClaren views it as an essential part of the team's growth and a stark reminder of the work needed to elevate Jamaica's football to the next level.
The Boyz failed campaign, which has now left them to contest a preliminary round to get into next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup, was a tale of two contrasting performances, as a 0-1 loss in Kingston last Thursday left them chasing the tie heading into the away leg in St Louis, Missouri.
However, the doggedness that they displayed at the National Stadium was nonexistent at the Energizer Park on Monday, particularly in the first half, as they found themselves overwhelmed by a clinical United States team that raced to a 3-0 lead by halftime.
Christian Pulisic (13th), Di’Shon Bernard’s 33rd-minute own goal, and Ricardo Pepi (42nd) set the tone for the United States win, which was capped by Timothy Weah (56th). Demarai Gray (53rd, 68th) placed some semblance of respectability on the scoreline for the Boyz.
“We concede that they were the better team. In the first half, we were passive defensively, and we didn’t deal with the ball well. They punished us in transition, caused problems in the build-ups, and three goals made it a mountain to climb,” McClaren said in his post-match assessment.
Despite the early setback, McClaren found positives in his team’s second half response, as they scored twice in what he believes was a show of resilience and determination, though the United States’ superiority proved insurmountable.
“We could have folded at halftime, but we didn't. I told the players we had to win the second half. We changed the shape, personnel, and attitude, and we were more aggressive. That gave us opportunities, and we scored, but we were always vulnerable on the transition, and then the fourth goal was a kick in the teeth. But still, we came back. I mean, that's character, that's courage, and that's what the team has got, so we have to build on that by being tactically and technically better because that's what the USA were,” McClaren reasoned.
On that note, McClaren emphasized that the team’s struggles stem from the same principles he’s determined to instill—building from the back and maintaining composure under pressure.
“We want to build a team that can deal with the ball under pressure. That’s modern football. The principles are you have to be aggressive, you have to defend properly, and you have to be able to deal with the ball,” McClaren declared.
“That is what our strength normally is; we are aggressive, we defend well, but we need to improve in being able to deal with the ball better, build from the back better, with more composure, and have more courage, which we showed in the second half. The USA pressed aggressively, and we didn’t handle it well enough, but that’s a lesson we’ll take forward,” the Englishman added.
With their main target being the 2026 Fifa World Cup, McClaren sees the loss as part of a necessary process, as their immediate future now involves navigating the Gold Cup preliminaries, a step back from their automatic qualification ambitions.
“This process is ongoing. Sometimes things work, and sometimes they don’t. But we learn, adapt, and move forward. I believe in this team and in our ability to achieve something special. The real test is against the top teams, and we’ve come up short,” the tactician noted.
“But these are the games where we learn the most about our weaknesses and what we need to improve. We’ve used 37 players across three camps, experimenting and identifying talent... it doesn’t bode well for consistency, but it’s vital for the bigger picture. We need players who can defend, press, and deal with the ball under pressure,” McClaren ended.
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