Wikipedia - Suncorp Super Netball
The Super Netball League (known predominantly by its sponsored name Suncorp Super Netball (SSN)) is a professional netball league featuring teams from across Australia. It superseded the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship, which also included teams from New Zealand, as the top-level netball league in Australia in 2017. Since 2019, the league has been governed on behalf of Netball Australia by an independent commission. Its main sponsor is Suncorp Group. Sunshine Coast Lightning were the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball winners.
History
In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season. In Australia, its replacement league – initially known as simply the National Netball League before an official name was decided upon – included the five former Australian ANZ Championship teams (Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, New South Wales Swifts, Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever) plus three brand new franchises: Collingwood Magpies, Giants Netball and Sunshine Coast Lightning.
With a team coached by Noeline Taurua, captained by Geva Mentor and also featuring Caitlin Bassett, Karla Pretorius and Stephanie Wood, Sunshine Coast Lightning finished the 2017 season as inaugural champions after defeating Giants Netball 65–48 in the grand final. In 2018 they retained the title after defeating West Coast Fever 62–59 in the grand final.
In 2019, Briony Akle guided New South Wales Swifts to their first Suncorp Super Netball title. Despite losing their new captain, Maddy Proud, to injury early in the season, Swifts finished the regular season in second place. In the major semi-final, they lost to Sunshine Coast Lightning. However, they then defeated Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final. In the grand final they faced Lightning again but this time defeated them 64–47 to emerge as champions.
In 2020, with a team coached again by Simone McKinnis and co-captained by Kate Moloney and Liz Watson, Melbourne Vixens finished the season as both minor premiers and overall champions. In the grand final they defeated West Coast Fever 66–64. In 2021, with a team coached by Briony Akle and co-captained by Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley, New South Wales Swifts won their second Suncorp Super Netball title. In the grand final they defeated Giants Netball 63–59.
In 2022, head coach Dan Ryan and captain Courtney Bruce led West Coast Fever to their first premiership. In the grand final they defeated Melbourne Vixens 70-59. In May 2023, news reports disclosed that the Collingwood Magpies were in financial distress, and later that month the Collingwood Football Club announced it would withdraw its netball team at the conclusion of the 2023 season. The 2023 premiership was won by the Adelaide Thunderbirds, defeating the Swifts 60–59 after extra time was required in the grand final. It was the Thunderbirds' first national league premiership in a decade, and came off the back of years of lowly finishes in Super Netball.
Following the demise of the Magpies, speculation circled as to who would be awarded the eighth license for the 2024 season and beyond. Submissions for the new license closed on 20 June 2023, with as many as six initial bids being whittled down to two by the closing date, according to media reports. On 21 July 2023, the league announced that the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN), led by chief executive Craig Hutchison, was awarded the license for a team to be based in south-east Melbourne. As part of the licensing agreement, Netball Australia will operate the team for the rest of 2023 before transitioning to SEN for 2024 and beyond. ABC News reported that the SEN bid was preferred by broadcasters Fox Netball over the alternate bid put forward by Netball Victoria, which suggested a regional team 'floating' between Geelong, Bendigo or Ballarat.
The tournament features eight teams, each representing different cities or regions, who battle it out over several weeks to claim the coveted title of Super Netball champions. These teams consist of elite netball players, including national team representatives and rising stars, who showcase their exceptional skills and teamwork on the court.
Super Netball matches are fast-paced and action-packed, with players demonstrating their agility, speed, and precision as they pass, shoot, and defend. The tournament follows the traditional netball rules, with teams aiming to outscore their opponents by shooting the ball into the opposing team's net while preventing them from doing the same.
The tournament format includes a round-robin stage, where each team competes against one another, followed by a knockout stage, where the top-ranked teams battle it out in thrilling semi-finals and a grand final. The matches are held in state-of-the-art netball stadiums, creating an electric atmosphere as passionate fans cheer on their favorite teams.
Super Netball not only showcases the highest level of netball talent but also promotes inclusivity and diversity within the sport. The tournament celebrates the achievements of female athletes and provides a platform for aspiring netball players to be inspired and motivated.
Super Netball is not just a sporting event; it is a celebration of the netball community, bringing together players, coaches, officials, and fans who share a love for the game. It is a chance for netball enthusiasts to witness the best of the best in action and experience the thrill and excitement that only a high-level tournament can provide.
Whether you are a die-hard netball fan or new to the sport, Super Netball promises to deliver an unforgettable experience filled with skill, passion, and fierce competition. Don't miss the opportunity to witness the pinnacle of netball excellence at this thrilling tournament.