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• No Limits: Dynamic defender Wilson targets more success with Thunderbirds; ready to lead Sunshine Girls in England series

  Jamaica’s netball star Latanya Wilson is riding high on the wave of success, both personally and professionally.

  After two stellar seasons with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, Wilson is poised for even greater accomplishments, with two more years to go on her three-year contract, which concludes in 2026.

  Wilson’s journey since joining the Thunderbirds in 2021 has so far been nothing short of remarkable, and she remains laser-focused on her goals—both for her club and country.

  “My time with Adelaide has been a dream. When I first joined the Thunderbirds, I knew it was going to be a challenge, but the team has embraced me, and together we’ve achieved so much in a short space of time. We’ve been able to build a winning culture, and I’ve grown a lot as a player and as a person,” Wilson told SportsMax.Tv as she reflected.

  “Winning two titles in the best league in the world is a massive achievement in my career, and I'm immensely proud of my team and myself for our hard work and dedication. But there’s still more to accomplish, more titles to chase, and more growth to be had,” she added, while flashing her infectious smile.

  

  The dynamic defender’s powerful performances have earned her a reputation as one of the league’s premier players, and her contributions, in tandem with Sunshine Girls teammate Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, have helped the Thunderbirds emerge as perennial title contenders.

  Speed, confidence, and good timing are key to Wilson's defensive prowess, and that, coupled with her ability to read the game, disrupt opponents, and rally her team during critical moments, has made her a fan favorite.

  The 23-year-old tallied 46 intercepts, 89 deflections, 19 general turnovers, and 11 rebounds last season, and that has left her excited about what the next two years will bring with the Thunderbirds.

  “While there's always pressure to perform, our focus is on continuous improvement as a team. If we achieve that, defending the title will come naturally for us, so I’m excited for what’s to come, and I know that with the talent and determination we have in this team, we can achieve even greater things,” Wilson declared.

  

  While club success remains at the forefront of her mind, Wilson is also gearing up for an exciting chapter in her international career, as Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls are set to engage England in a four-match series against England, and her expectations are high.

  With both teams tied on 187 rating points, a series win for the fourth-ranked Sunshine Girls would see them leap above their third-ranked opponents.

  The series will see the Jamaicans travelling to England for the first two matches, scheduled for November 16 and 17, while the return games will take place at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica on November 25 and 26.

  “The series against England is a big one for us. England is a tough opponent, but we’ve been working hard, and we’re ready for the challenge. Every game is an opportunity to get better, and we’re focused on building on our performances from the Netball World Cup to continue representing Jamaica at the highest level,” she shared.

  Though the task of balancing university and a professional career can be an arduous journey, the soft-spoken Wilson is committed to pushing the barriers to achieve what she set out to. 

  “I stay motivated by the desire to provide for my family and my love for the game. Physically, I'm constantly pushing myself to improve through training and being accountable, and I approach each game with respect and determination,” Wilson reasoned.

  

  “I'm mentally prepared for the challenge, and I am working on getting back into our unique style of playing, as our playing styles differ. I expect us to evolve together as a team, push ourselves to the limits, and achieve great things, starting with the upcoming series,” she noted.

  Wilson’s presence in the defensive unit has no doubt been a vital component of the Sunshine Girls’ success on the global stage. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the next Netball World Cup on the horizon, she has her sights set on adding to her accolades and, more importantly, elevating Jamaica’s standing in international netball.

  “I want to leave a legacy for the next generation,” Wilson said with determination.

  “I want young girls to see that with hard work, dedication, and the right mindset, they can achieve anything they set their minds to—whether that’s playing professionally or representing Jamaica on the world stage. So my aim is to share my knowledge, complete my university studies, and, of course, make my family and country proud,” she ended.

• Wallabies will get things right before Lions tour, promises Rugby Australia chief

  Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh is confident the Wallabies will be ready to compete with the British and Irish Lions next year, despite suffering the heaviest defeat in their Test history last time out.

  Australia were crushed 67-27 by Argentina in the Rugby Championship last time out, their third defeat in four games in this year's tournament.

  They were also dumped out of last year's Rugby World Cup in the pool stage following losses to Fiji and Wales, and they are down to ninth in the World Rugby Rankings.

  The British and Irish Lions will face Australia in three Tests when they tour down under between June and August next year, with many fearing Joe Schmidt's team will be blown away.

  Waugh, however, says there is plenty of time for the Wallabies to get things right before then, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: "You can see the progress is there.

  "It is not nearly where we need it to be, but if we keep progressing at the speed with which we have moved things in the last six months, then there is plenty of time.

   

  "It is a team that is, and I hate using the word 're-building', but it is a team that is re-setting, and it takes experience in big moments to get better. 

  "Obviously, the enormity of the scoreline in that second half was disappointing.

  "But there is context that is important... we are not the most experienced team in world rugby, and we are building that experience."

  Australia conclude their Rugby Championship campaign with two fixtures against New Zealand before the end of September, then face England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in their Autumn International Tests in November.

• Salt laments 'everything was good apart from the result'

  England's stand-in captain Phil Salt took plenty of positives from Wednesday's defeat to Australia, claiming "everything was good bar the result".

  Travis Head's superb knock of 59 from just 23 balls, which included plundering 30 from a single over, set Australia on their way.

  England fought back with the ball, though, and were ultimately set a target of 180.

  But big hitters Salt (20), Sam Curran (18) and Liam Livingstone (37) all went in quick succession as England failed to get going and lost by 28 runs.

  "Everything was good apart from the result," said Salt, who was standing in for the absent Jos Buttler.

  "They played well. Heady came out swinging in the powerplay and gave them a head start.

  "We were a couple of wickets too far down. Heady's done that for a couple of years, it's about how do we shut that down?

  "[But] good signs. They played well, we dragged it back, we should have chased it realistically. At times we could have taken partnerships deeper. But we've had a good look at them now."

  Australia have won back-to-back T20Is against England for the first time since February 2018, as the hosts failed to win a third straight T20I at The Rose Bowl.

  "It was a nice start. Nice to get under way," said Head.

  "To set a platform like that with the hitters we had behind us, it was nice to do the job."

  Australia captain Mitchell Marsh added: "We certainly looked on course for 200 but did our best to stuff it up, so it's nice to start the series with a win."