Netball Super League | The five biggest transfers from the 2022 Signing Window

Catherine Tuivaiti of Severn Stars during the match between Severn Stars and Manchester Thunder at Resorts World, Birmingham, England on 6th February 2022

The Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) Signing Window officially opened today and promises to be a spell of exciting transfers.

Each Signing Window brings its own memorable moments with some providing shock moves between VNSL clubs or jaw-dropping imports from abroad.

To give you a taste of what you can look forward to, we’ve compiled a list of five of the biggest transfers from the previous window.

Natalie Metclaf – NSW Swifts to Manchester Thunder:

Vitality Rose captain. Commonwealth Games winner. Two-time Superleague winner. Two-time Super Netball winner.

That’s exactly what Manchester Thunder received when they signed world class wing attack Natalie Metcalf from NSW Swifts for the 2022 campaign.

Formerly of the likes of Yorkshire Jets and Wasps, Metcalf was already a face well known to the VNSL and her qualities had only improved with a successful stint in Australia.

Metcalf doing the MOST! 💥

A top performance earns @nataliesymone a @GilbertNetball Player of the Match trophy 🏆

She scored 10 and provided 20 feeds this evening 👏 pic.twitter.com/943fBlFlNN

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) February 28, 2022

One of the best in the world in her position, the 29-year-old added creativity and leadership to an already talented Thunder squad.

Her feeds and assists to the likes of Eleanor Cardwell and Joyce Mvula – as well as donning the goal attack bib herself – paid dividends as Thunder went onto win the 2022 title, going unbeaten in the process.

Metcalf provided 386 feeds in 21 games last season; only three players could boast more.

Cat Tuivaiti – Severn Stars

Arguably the most exciting transfer of the 2022 window was that of Cat Tuivaiti to Severn Stars.

Tuivaiti had been out of the game for a while and her return, therefore, was highly-anticipated by those in the UK who had seen her flare and skill in full effect at Strathclyde Sirens.

The former New Zealand international joined up with fellow Kiwis in Head Coach Melissa Bessell and highly-regarded wing attack Liana Leota, a mouth-watering prospect for Stars fans.

Cat is back at it again 🔙@SevernStars | @CatTuivaiti pic.twitter.com/00ZrZqh6vM

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) April 29, 2022

Tuivaiti missed the opening rounds to the campaign but made a huge impression when she finally stepped onto court, providing many of the season’s most memorable moments due to her shooting skills and famous no-look passes.

Now Head Coach at Wasps, her time with Stars was only brief but fans certainly won’t forget her spell in Worcester.

Proscovia Peace – Sunshine Coast Lightning to Surrey Storm

Proscovia Peace has been one of the world’s most prolific scorers for the best part of half a decade.

The Uganda international was exceptional when she first joined the Superleague with Loughborough Lightning, guiding them to back-to-back Grand Finals in 2017 and 2018.

While neither of those campaigns ended in a league title, Peace did claim individual honours in both seasons as she finished top of the Gilbert Top Scorer charts.

This brought her VNSL tally up to a ground-breaking 2,654 before she decided to move to Australia with Sunshine Coast Lightning for the 2019 season.

There are no words! 😱@peace_proscovia is just on another level 🤯

Watch @SurreyStorm vs @LboroLightning live on @SkySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/BowJTMEZ2K

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) April 16, 2022

Then, after conversations with Surrey Storm’s Director of Netball Mikki Austin, Peace made her return to the VNSL much to the delight of fans at Surrey Sports Park.

The signing proved to be a tremendous success as the 32-year-old once again finished top scorer with 853 goals. This helped Storm vastly improve on their 2021 finish and saw them finish as high as seventh for the first time since 2018.

Fran Williams – Wasps to Loughborough Lightning

Fran Williams was the youngest player in the Vitality Roses’ 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup squad and for good reason.

The defender – still only just 24 – is one of the brightest defensive prospects in the VNSL and already has a number of Superleague titles under her belt.

Williams with a worldie! 🌍

New for 2022, @fwills11 looks like she's been part of this @LboroLightning defence for YEARS! 🟣

Watch the final minutes of the season across @SkySports 🎥 pic.twitter.com/HxpqYTbqRh

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) June 5, 2022

Formerly of Surrey Storm and Wasps, Williams joined 2021 champions and Midlands rivals Loughborough Lightning in one of the biggest shocks of the last signing window.

Williams added much-needed solidity to the Lightning defensive circle following the retirement of Sam May and formed a strong partnership with fellow England youngster Alice Harvey.

Phumza Maweni – Sunshine Coast Lightning to Team Bath

With Eboni Usoro-Brown joining Adelaide Thunderbirds at Super Netball late in the window, Team Bath needed a replacement and certainly signed one of serious quality.

South Africa international Phumza Maweni joined the 2021 Grand Finalists in December and added to an already stacked defense featuring Layla Guscoth and Tash Pavelin.

In fact, all three finished in the top seven for most intercepts last term with their latest addition finishing in sixth with 45.

What. A. Start! 🤯

Just @PhumzaMaweni with possibly the quickest intercept of the season so far 🌬️

Watch @TeamBathNetball–@thundernetball live on @SkySports YouTube 📺 pic.twitter.com/Zuf37l7Nrm

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) March 4, 2022

The former Severn Stars and Loughborough Lightning defender also finished seventh for turnovers (86) and fifth for deflections (85).

As well as serious quality, the 37-year-old also brought vast experience to a squad full of young stars and helped them finish fourth following a slow start to the campaign.

For news on all of the latest signings during the window, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter.

On Twitter, you’ll be able to keep across the ins and outs with our 2023 Signing Window Twitter Moment. For specific club news, be sure to be across all eleven of our teams on their respective social media accounts and subscribe to our List.

On Instagram, stay tuned to our 2023 Signing Window Guide to keep up to date.

We will also be covering each signing in full on our website, offering weekly round-ups and are offering a comprehensive overview of 2023 squads on our Transfers page. Don’t miss out!