Latanya Wilson says her on-court chemistry with Shamera Sterling-Humphrey is about more than just tactics and timing—it’s about sisterhood as the Sunshine Girls duo, hailed as one of the best defensive pairings in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, has built their dominance on a bond that runs far deeper than the game itself.

The Wilson-Sterling-Humphrey duo has been central to Adelaide Thunderbirds’ resurgence, as they assisted the franchise to back-to-back championships and reclaimed their place at the top of Australian netball. Their partnership, forged through hours of training and battle-tested on the international stage, has become one of the most feared defensive units in SSN history.

However, their dominance isn’t limited to the club level. In national colours, the Sunshine Girls pair spearheaded Jamaica’s 2-1 Horizon Series victory over England and a commanding 3-0 sweep of South Africa in the Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series.

Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey celebrate.

 “I think my relationship with her off court translates on court,” Wilson told SportsMax.Tv from her base in Adelaide as she reflected on their formidable partnership.

“We have a sister relationship off the court where we’re able to voice our opinions regardless of how we’re feeling in the moment. I feel like both of us understand each other from a place of care, so we can take constructive criticism within the moment, and that makes it a lot easier for us to work together on court,” she added.

It’s a relationship built on honesty, laughter, and mutual respect—qualities that shine through in their performances for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Jamaican national team.

“It’s very fun playing with her,” Wilson declared.

(from left) Latanya Wilson, Jodi-Ann Ward, and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.

“It’s like we quarrel about small stuff on court, but we still get the job done. Nothing too major. More like, ‘Oh, you should go.’ ‘No, it’s you.’ Those types of things. But, yeah, it’s a big sister-little sister relationship—where big sister wants to tell little sister what to do, but little sister also wants to tell big sister what to do!” she shared.

Sterling-Humphrey, a defensive titan since her SSN debut in 2019, boasts over 300 intercepts and nearly 600 deflections in the league—numbers that underscore her ability to disrupt even the most clinical attacking plays.

Wilson, 24, who joined the Thunderbirds in 2021, has proven equally versatile, effortlessly shifting across goal defence, wing defence, and even goalkeeper when needed.

Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey in action for the Thunderbirds.

In fact, the accolades speak for themselves—eight combined Team of the Year (TOTY) selections, multiple Thunderbirds MVP awards, an SSN Player of the Year title, and two league championships.

But for Wilson, it’s the trust and understanding she shares with Sterling-Humphrey off court that has fueled their seamless connection and success on the court.

“We’re always communicating—on the court and off it. Even when we’re frustrated with each other, it’s easy to move past it because we know it’s all from a place of love and a shared goal to win. We trust each other, and that’s priceless on the court,” Wilson noted.

(from left) Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson, and Romelda Aiken-George.

Sterling-Humphrey, who often plays the ‘big sister’ role, values their ability to push each other to be better.

“I know how much Latanya cares about the game and the team. We’re both passionate, and sometimes that means heated moments, but it also means we hold each other accountable. And that’s why we win,” Sterling-Humphrey said.

Now back in Australia, the Sunshine Girls defensive duo, along with ace shooter Romelda Aiken-George, have hit the ground running as they prepare for the upcoming SSN season—which gets under way in April—with hopes of guiding the Tania Obst-coached Thunderbirds to a three-peat.

“We’re ready. We’ve celebrated, but we’re hungry for more. Winning back-to-back titles was special, but three in a row? That’s history. And we want that,” Wilson ended.