Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard made a triumphant return to Suncorp Super Netball action on Saturday, delivering a dominant 59-goal performance to lead the West Coast Fever to their first win of the 2025 season with a 67-57 victory over the Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena.

After opening their campaign with back-to-back losses, the Fever found their spark with Fowler-Nembhard back in the goal circle, producing a clinical display that earned her MVP honours. The Jamaican superstar shot at an incredible 97 per cent accuracy, re-establishing her formidable connection with fellow Jamaican Shanice Beckford, who contributed 20 goal assists and seven goals, including one supershot.

Despite trailing by one goal at the first change, the Fever turned the tide with an outstanding second-quarter performance, built on ferocious defensive pressure. Fran Williams set the tone with three Gains for the quarter, while Jordan Cransberg’s pace through Centre proved a constant threat, helping to seamlessly convert defensive stops into scoring opportunities.

The Fever scored 21 goals in the second quarter, while the Vixens struggled to keep pace despite Lily Graham’s three supershots, which helped cut the Fever’s lead to six at halftime.

After the break, the Fever’s defensive stranglehold only tightened. They tallied six Gains, five deflections and three rebounds in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 10 heading into the final period. Fever built their lead to 13 during the final quarter’s Power Five, and while Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin landed supershots to try and rally the Vixens, the Fever’s dominance in one-point netball secured the result.

Defenders Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, another Jamaican star, were outstanding throughout the contest, combining for 14 Gains, 11 Deflections, and 10 Rebounds, putting relentless pressure on the Vixens' goal circle.

The Fever will look to build on their momentum when they return home to face the Sunshine Coast Lightning at RAC Arena next Saturday.