3 mins
Roll on 2025
It was a big day on Wednesday 4 September when all eight teams in the new-look Netball Super League announced their squads for the forthcoming season live on Sky Sports News. Here are those squads, plus comment from the clubs.
“I’m delighted with the squad we have recruited. In a difficult recruitment window, we had to ensure we have flexibility across the court with numerous combinations available to us.
“I’m also delighted that we were able to secure the signing of Nicola Smith, who impressed across the league with Loughborough last season.”
Head Coach Karen Greig
“We’re incredibly proud of the Lightning squad that we’ve assembled. As back-to-back defending champions we’re aware that there will be a target on our back. With this in mind, we’ve recruited exciting players across the court to ensure that we’re in a position to battle for silverware once again.
“Our focus is now on ensuring that the squad is ready for the opening game as we continue to push boundaries as a high-performing franchise.”
Head Coach Vic Burgess
“I have had my eye on Tyler for a while, she’s played for Australia at junior level and is a real hard worker. She has been used to feeding Romelda Aiken-George at her club and she was really what we were looking for in a centre with an attacking ability to feed a really tall shooter. On reflection from last season while we were strong defensively we just needed a bit more attacking power and lots of our statistics showed that.
“Sophie has been selected for England Futures, she is a good long-range shooter and completely different to Nicholé which is what we want – we want different styles of players. I think she will really shine in our attack end, playing alongside Alicia and Nicholé with that speed around a dominant shooter in Liv to sight and find. I’ve had lots of really good positive conversations with her, she is another player who is ready to push on to the next level.”
Head Coach Sam Bird
“Having been Head Coach [with the Southern Steel in New Zealand, guiding them to the title in 2017 and 2018] for eight seasons, I was ready for a new challenge.
“I was part of the Welsh Feathers set-up last year and made some really good relationships. I think we can use a bit of the Welsh and Kiwi netball flavours, and hopefully we can make a really cool brand of netball! I like the Welsh style and I’ll be looking to use their assets along with my coaching strengths.”
Head Coach Reinga Bloxham
“We had to power up in terms of having the best support, the best leaders, the best strategic minds in the game.
“We’re buzzing that we’ve managed to keep five of our existing squad – we want that continuity and believe in those players. With our two new internationals, Emily Andrews has been a Vixens training partner and she has got it all – height, power, accuracy – and with Chelsea Blackman we needed something different in that defence end. She’s a really exciting defender and will bring a different flavour.”
Head Coach Camilla Buchanan
“I am under no illusion about the challenges ahead but that is what excites me the most. There are lots of moving parts to get a team together and I have a clear vision of what we want here at Nottingham Forest Netball – good culture!
“I want players that want to invest in their netball, invest in helping our sport grow, are open to challenges and tap into their netball brain. But it’s more than that, I want players that want to be better, well rounded, holistic athletes and good people.”
Head Coach Chelsea Pitman
“In defence I wanted rangy players that can win ball and are excited to learn.
“We have a very versatile midcourt and we were looking for some youth so welcome Ruth Hughes and Aliyah Zaranyika. The attributes I was looking for at the shooting end were confident shooters that can go to post and can mix up a variety of options for us.”
Head Coach Jo Trip
“I think we have got a great squad for 2025, with two of the most respected and experienced players in Geva Mentor and Joyce Mvula returning, along with some very talented young players.
“What I am very excited about is our midcourt players. We have real versatility and depth between all four. They are the engine room and are the ones that are going to go and go, and it’s good that all four can transition between two positions now we are down to ten players.”
Head Coach Liana Leota
If you want to hear more about the squads, listen to the special episode of Courtside podcast with Lindsey Chapman, featuring interviews with all eight Head Coaches and brilliant insight from NSL legend Serena Kersten (née Guthrie).