England-born Sunshine Girl Rhea Dixon is optimistic that 2025 will be another unforgettable year in her career, as she is determined to build on the positives of a transformative 2024 outing that saw her rise to prominence both domestically and on the international stage.
From winning back-to-back Netball Super League (NSL) titles to making her debut for the Sunshine Girls in a 2-1 Horizon Netball series victory against England, Dixon has much to celebrate, and given her infectious drive and unwavering focus, she could possibly have even more to look forward to in the year ahead.
“Honestly, 2024 has been a great year on court for me. Winning the NSL for a second year in a row and making my international debut in a winning series versus England were two huge highlights. It couldn’t have gone better, really,” Dixon told SportsMax.Tv.
“It might sound cliché, but I think the journey is just beginning. I know nothing I want to achieve will come easy, but I am up for the challenge. Once I remain focused and healthy and continue to learn from each experience, then the future looks brighter than ever,” she added.
For Dixon, the standout moment of her year came in the final game of the four-match Horizon series, where she was named Most Valuable Player, as that performance not only boosted her confidence but also solidified her place among Jamaica’s elite netballers.
“My biggest accomplishment was getting MVP in the final game of the Horizon Series. It proved to me that I am good enough to be on the international stage and hopefully showed my team and Jamaican netball fans that I mean business. I’m building on that by working hard with Nottingham Forest back in the NSL and ensuring I am ready if I get another opportunity with the Sunshine Girls,” she shared.
Though the transition from playing in England’s youth team to representing Jamaica on the global stage could have been daunting, Dixon embraced it wholeheartedly.
In fact, the 27-year-old has no doubt that her entry into the Sunshine Girls squad marked a significant chapter in her career as she reflected on the challenges and lessons of the past year.
“I’ve not been disappointed with anything as yet, as I know that everything happens for a reason. And I honestly didn't come into the Sunshine Girls team thinking it would be easy... I came out here to be challenged, culturally as well as on the court,” Dixon declared.
“I came here to be uncomfortable, and I have to remind myself during and after sessions that this is what I came for. So, as long as we are applying ourselves 100% towards success, we are going in the right direction,” she noted.
With an eye on continued improvement, Dixon pointed out that she has been dedicating herself to intense training sessions under the guidance of her new coach, Chelsea Pitman, who will lead Nottingham Forest in their debut NSL season.
“I’m working closely with my coach on individual and team improvements before we start the season. And if I come back to Jamaica, I will ensure to take as much information from coach Sasher-Gaye [Henry] as possible, as I am still working on being a confident player,” Dixon shared.
That possible return to Jamaica, which Dixon refers to, is for the now number three-ranked Sunshine Girls upcoming three-match series against fifth-ranked South Africa in January.
With that in mind, the ever-smiling attacking player has set ambitious goals as she’s eager to solidify her place in the Sunshine Girls lineup and also to make an even greater impact in the NSL.
“I would love to gain more experience with Jamaica. It is an absolute honour to be considered to be part of the environment, and I have enjoyed every part of it so far. Outside of that, we are also aiming to have a good start to the season and to bring some silverware to Nottingham for the first time in the NSL,” she ended.