Netball Super League | Netball Super League Stars set to take the World Stage

Taken during the Netball Super League Grand Final at the Copper Box Arena, London, England on 11th June 2023.

43 Netball Super League (NSL) stars, representing 9 nations, are ready and raring to go for the 2023 Netball World Cup.

With the tournament only three days away, here’s everything you need to know and who to look out for during the competition!

England:

London Pulse lead the way with four players named in the squad. For double-centurion, Jade Clarke, this will be an international record-equalling sixth World Cup, matching Trinidad & Tobago’s Rhonda John-Davis. Clarke has also been named as Vice Captain for the tournament. Her teammate, Chelsea Pitman returns to the Roses squad for her first major tournament since the 2019 Netball World Cup held in Liverpool.

Funmi Fadoju and Olivia Tchine will also be joining their Pulse teammates, making their Netball World Cup debuts. Both players made their senior debuts for the Roses back in October in the Uganda test series and have been prominent players in Sam Bird’s Pulse side this season. Halimat Adio is also on her way to the World Cup as a travelling reserve.

Team Bath also hosts a Netball World Cup debutant, that of Imogen Allison. The 25-year-old centre featured in her first major tournament for the Roses last summer in the Commonwealth Games.

After being the youngest player in the squad in 2019, Fran Williams returns to the Roses for her second consecutive World Cup. The Loughborough Lightning defender had a standout 2023 NSL season, being voted as Fans’ Player of the Season and as GD in the All Star line up.

Manchester Thunder captain Natalie Metcalf and Surrey Storm defender Layla Guscoth have also received call ups. In the 2023 NSL season, Metcalf topped the feeders’ leaderboard, with 453 feeds at the end of the regular rounds, whilst Layla is in the top 10 for deflections, turnovers and intercepts after an impressive stint with her side. The two prolific players have also been named as Co-Captains for the tournament.

Another representative from Surrey Storm and a travelling reserve is Sophie Drakeford-Lewis. Meanwhile, Manchester Thunder will also be cheering on the final travelling reserve Amy Carter.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 7pm GMT vs Barbados

Player to watch: Fran Williams

Molweni Mzansi 👋
Hello, South Africa 👋

Meet your Vitality Roses squad for the Vitality @NetballWorldCup 2023 💪🌹#RoadToCapeTown | #NWC2023

— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) May 16, 2023

South Africa:

Manchester Thunder’s star shooter, Lenize Potgieter has been selected for her third Netball World Cup. Alongside her will be Thunder teammate Shadine van der Merwe.

Both athletes had a super NSL 2023 season, with Lenize coming second in the Top Scorer leaderboard whilst Shadine made some sensational turnovers for her team when they needed them most.

Saracens Mavericks’ shooter Ine-Mari Venter has been called up for her second Netball World Cup. Her standout shooting landed her the eighth spot on the Top Scorer leaderboard and the connections she has built within the NSL and her Mavericks side didn’t go unnoticed.

The SPAR Proteas will be captained by former Surrey Storm and Wasps midcourter Bongiwe Msomi. Former Team Bath players Khanyisa Chawane and Phumza Maweni have also been selected along with former London Pulse and Celtic Dragons’ attacker Lefabre Rademan who returns to the court after tearing her ACL 10 months ago.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 5pm GMT vs Wales

Player to watch: Ine-Mari Venter

👋 Meet your SPAR Proteas squad for the 2023 Vitality @NetballWorldCup 🇿🇦🏆#SPARProteas | #NWC2023 @TelkomZA @My_SPAR @Vitality_SA @WorldNetball_ pic.twitter.com/N8mlCk6urK

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) May 19, 2023

Scotland:

Out of the 12 players selected to represent Scotland at this year’s tournament, five come from the Strathclyde Sirens.

For Scotland Captain, Claire Maxwell, this means she will become the country’s most-capped player when she takes to court in July.

She said: “I have changed a lot as a player, teammate and person since my first World Cup and I’m ready to embrace the challenge and use all my previous learnings to get the best out of myself and the team in South Africa.”

Sirens’ co-captain Emily Nicholl has been named as vice-captain and will be appearing at her second World Cup alongside club teammates Emma Barrie, Bethan Goodwin and Niamh McCall.

For the remaining seven this will be their first Netball World Cup, including Celtic Dragons’ Hannah Leighton and Manchester Thunder’s Iona Christian.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 7pm GMT, vs Malawi

Player to watch: Iona Christian

Tamsin Greenway confirms Scottish Thistles selected to compete in Netball World Cup this summer in Cape Town.

Full article is live on the website now.
https://t.co/7es8OWxhg4 #PowerofScotland #Netball #ScottishThistles #NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/yGP4JsZfHl

— Netball Scotland (@NetballScotland) June 5, 2023

Wales:

There are nine athletes who feature in the NSL who will set foot in Cape Town to represent Wales at this year’s Netball World Cup.

Six of these players come from Celtic Dragons – five of whom will make their Netball World Cup debuts. For Georgia Rowe this will be her second World Cup alongside Team Bath’s Bethan Dyke.

Christina Shaw of Saracens Mavericks will also be taking to court over this tournament. After a fantastic season with Mavericks, she is hoping to make an impact.

Leeds Rhinos’ Nia Jones, who will captain Wales at the tournament in Cape Town, will also make her World Cup debut.

For Wales, this is their first World Cup since 2015.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 5pm GMT vs South Africa

Player to watch: Ella Powell-Davies

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ➡️ 🇿🇦

Your Welsh Feathers Squad heading to the Vitality Netball World Cup 🏆

Find out what Head Coach @Emily_Handyside had to say, and what exciting announcement we have coming soon👇https://t.co/WHRO6FqwgP #FollowtheFeathers pic.twitter.com/2hR2jcKMml

— Wales Netball | Pêl-Rwyd Cymru (@WalesNetball_) June 14, 2023

Uganda:

Mary Cholhok of Loughborough Lightning has been selected for her Ugandan side for a second successive World Cup.

Cholhok had a stellar 2023 NSL season: winning the league with Loughborough Lightning, being the 2023 Gilbert Top Scorer and finally winning the Fast5 All Star tournament with Manchester Thunder.

Cholhok scored a whopping 808 goals over the season, finishing comfortably in first place as Top Goal Scorer with a 58 goal advantage over second place Lenize Potgieter of Manchester Thunder. Mary also won this award in 2021 and 2019.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 10am GMT vs Singapore

The 15 to Cape Town#ShecranesZaabike | #PlasconTwaake | #NWC2023 @PlasconUganda @UG_Airlines @GOtvUganda @Educ_SportsUg @thecreedsport @kayiirajackson pic.twitter.com/TjSNxGuM8o

— Uganda Netball Federation (@shecranes256) June 24, 2023

Barbados:

Amongst the selected athletes are two Netball Super League icons who have been chosen to fly to Cape Town.

Sasha and Kadeen Corbin have both had standout England Roses’ and Netball Super League (NSL) careers, with Sasha playing for Saracens Mavericks, (her tenth year in the captaincy role) and Kadeen representing Team Bath this season.

This will be Sasha and Kadeen’s first Netball World Cups, switching nationalities to play for this Barbados side.

Throughout the 2023 NSL season, Sasha and Kadeen have both worked tirelessly for their teams, with Saracens Mavericks finishing in 5th place and Team Bath in 9th.

Last month, Sasha announced her retirement, and this World Cup will be her last time stepping out onto court.

Kadeen had another stellar season with Team Bath in the GA position and finished second with her side at the Fast5 All Stars tournament.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 7pm GMT vs England

Player to watch: Sasha Corbin

📣We’re past the half way mark!

🥁Next squad to be announced is BARBADOS! 🤩
Congratulations to all the players selected! 🥳

More👇https://t.co/BURZrfFILe

🇧🇧 vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
📅28/07/2023
⏰20h00

🎫👉https://t.co/RB5lFoImOn #NWC2023 | #RoadToCapeTown | #NetballFamily | #PutYourHandsUp pic.twitter.com/Ts88SRaGJh

— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) June 26, 2023

Malawi:

Amongst the Malawi Queens is NSL superstar, Towera Vinkhumbo from Strathclyde Sirens.

Vinkhumbo had a standout season for her Sirens side, finishing top of the leaderboard for the most intercepts, with a staggering 75 being taken.

She also recorded the most number of turnovers in the 2023 season; a huge 115 to her name. Just one more than Celtic Dragons Goal Keeper, Shaquanda Greene-Noel.

She will line up alongside former Manchester Thunder shooter Joyce Mvula who left the 2022 champions after six years with the franchise.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 7pm GMT vs Scotland

📣We’re happy to announce the MALAWI squad this morning! 🤩 🇲🇼

Congratulations to all the @Netball_Malawi players selected! 🥳

Read more👇https://t.co/LUBFpSdvBY

🇲🇼 vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
📅 28/07/23
⏰20h00
📍CTICC 2

🎫👉 https://t.co/RB5lFoImOn #NWC2023 | #RoadToCapeTown | #PutYourHandsUp pic.twitter.com/MBFpm1DhsQ

— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) June 27, 2023

Trinidad and Tobago:

Trinidad and Tobago are one of just three teams to have lifted the Netball World Cup and representing the Calypso Girls from the NSL this summer is Celtic Dragons star, Shaquanda Greene-Noel.

Greene-Noel had a fantastic 2023 NSL season, coming second on the intercepts leaderboard, taking a total of 63 this season.

The defender also managed to turnover 114 balls across 20 rounds, just one less than Strathclyde Sirens’ and Malawi athlete, Towera Vinkhumbo who finishing top of the standings. Greene-Noel also made 75 deflections in total.

The NSL dancing queen is definitely one to watch in this competition!

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 8am GMT vs New Zealand

📣We’re happy to announce the TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO squad today! 🇹🇹🤩

Congratulations to all the players selected! 🥳

🇹🇹 vs 🇳🇿
📅 28 July 2023
⏰09h00
📍CTICC 1

For more info👉https://t.co/t3oBZ6kPxF

Or to purchase🎫👉 https://t.co/RB5lFoImOn #NWC2023 | #RoadToCapeTown pic.twitter.com/VbB6usmWqH

— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) June 29, 2023

Zimbabwe:

Finally, amongst the Zimbabwe team is Surrey Storm star Felistus Kwangwa.

During the 2023 Netball Super League season, Kwangwa played a key role in getting her Storm side into the 3rd and 4th play off at Grand Final weekend.

During Round 17 of the NSL, Kwangwa proved to be a pivotal change for her team as she helped Storm get a one goal victory over Celtic Dragons in the last seconds of the match.

First fixture: Friday 28 July, 10am GMT vs Australia

📣Excitement keeps building as we announce the second last squad of the tournament! Well done ZIMBABWE! 🙌🥳

🇿🇼 vs 🇦🇺

📅 28.07.2023
⏰11h00
📍CTICC 1

More team info👉https://t.co/t1vv73Zsb6

Purchase🎫👉https://t.co/wns9hG3j2m #NWC2023 | #RoadToCapeTown | #PutYourHandsUp pic.twitter.com/VjEUVouc1i

— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) July 4, 2023

How can I watch?

Sky Sports will be showing every game of the Netball World Cup 2023 live from Cape Town, South Africa.

All of the games will be shown live across Sky Sports channels, with one match per day available to all on the Sky Sports YouTube channel. Highlights will be available on the Sky Sports App every day allowing the Netball Family to catch up on any action they may have missed.

The BBC will also have live coverage of matches from Monday 31 July up to and including the final across BBC Television, iPlayer, Sounds and the BBC Sport website.

BBC Radio 5 Live will have coverage of key matches, with commentary of selected games on 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra, including opening weekend fixtures, England vs. Malawi and England vs. Scotland.

Keeping up to date:

Make sure to follow all NSL social media channels for updates: @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

There will also be a live blog on the NSL website for the duration of the tournament, highlighting the key performances made by our athletes, so make sure to give it a read!