Netball Super League | VNSL Weekly Recap: Week 1

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Activity during the Vitality Netball Superleague Super 10 at Arena Birmingham on January 5, 2019 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for England Netball)

With eleven teams gearing up for the 2021 season, the news comes thick and fast in the Vitality Netball Superleague.

We have compiled the biggest news and the best bits of social media over the last seven days to get you up to speed.

Signing window opens

The official 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague signing window opened this week and teams will spend the coming weeks aiming to finalise their squads ahead of the new campaign in February.

If last year’s window is anything to go buy – where the likes of Liana Leota, Jodie Gibson and Iona Christian were on the move – then we should be in for a really exciting few weeks.

The 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague signing window is now officially open ✍ pic.twitter.com/8QRsOMucQm

— Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) August 19, 2020

Fans can now start speculating about who their teams will sign, which star players will renew their contracts and who might be on their way out of the squad.

There have already been some outgoings so be sure to keep up to date on our Transfers page or via our 2021 VNSL Signing Window Twitter Moment.

Kowalewska retires

This week, we heard the news that Vitality Netball Superleague and Surrey Storm star Lorraine Kowalewska has retired from netball.

The defender has been a fixture in the league for more than a decade for Celtic Dragons and notably for Surrey Storm.

Another week, another legend hanging up the netty trainers! Congrats Lorraine on 10 years in the superleague, an amazing achievement especially alongside being super mum and all round wonderful human! We will miss you on and off the court! Enjoy retirement, well deserved! 💙💙 https://t.co/VOcErizYfZ

— Niamh Cooper (@niamhyCoop) August 18, 2020

Kowalewska was a popular figure in Surrey and was called a ‘stalwart of the VNSL’ from teammate and Director of Netball Mikki Austin.

Fans from all teams sent through their best wishes on social media. Best of luck in your retirement, Lorraine!

You share your netball pics

On World Photography Day, we asked you to send in any selfies with netballers or any significant netball photographs.

You were well up to the task and dozens of the Netball Family from across the country delivered some of your most treasured sporting photos.

We sure have @valmartin61 @Donut27 3 legends @mikki_austin @rach_dunn @PamelaCookey pic.twitter.com/uL8aX4EZo1

— lauren carter (@LaurenLo1990) August 19, 2020

We had selfies with the likes of Serena Guthrie, renowned umpire Gary Burgess, Rachel Dunn, Leeds Rhinos head coach Dan Ryan and more!

Be sure to send them in if you haven’t already and we hope you get many more cool snaps once the 2021 campaign begins.

Pulse making netball more inclusive

To ensure that the sport of netball is able to be enjoyed by everyone, London Pulse announced that they had signed an important partnership this week.

Teaming up with Metro Blind Sport, Pulse have committed to promoting access to netball for the capital’s blind and visually impaired.

We are proud to be working with @MetroVISports to promote access to netball in London for the Blind & Visually Impaired, including free access to @Pulse_Netball VNSL matches @CopperBoxArena with audio description & Netball skills sessions across London https://t.co/sDAa2cfKoK pic.twitter.com/B5cF7P3F6R

— London Pulse Netball 💗🖤 (@Pulse_Netball) August 17, 2020

As a result, blind or visually impaired fans have been granted free access to home matches with the support of audio description and trained volunteer support.

They are also providing netball skill sessions in London with Community Lead Lisa Brown.

Superleague Social with Strathclyde Sirens

In the latest edition of Superleague Social, we spoke to Strathclyde Sirens’ Gia Abernethy and Nicola McCleery.

The pair spoke about their 2020 season, being part of the Sirens’ leadership team and what they’re looking forward to in 2021.

This was so funny! Fair cheered me up on a rainy Sunday morning. 😂

— Rachel Johnston (@netballrach) August 23, 2020

With captain Abernethy now being in Glasgow for more than a year, we also quizzed her on Scotland to see just how much she has learned in her time there.

You can watch the full episode now and catch up on the previous two episode on our Video page.

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