Netball Superleague

Professional netball league

For other uses, see Netball Super League.

Netball Super LeagueFirst season| 2005–06

|

No. of teams| 8[1]
Country| United Kingdom
Most recent
champion(s)| Loughborough Lightning (2nd title)
Most titles| Team Bath (5 titles)
TV partner(s)| Sky Sports
Related
competitions| British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship
Super Cup
Official website| www.netballsl.com

The Netball Super League is a top level netball league featuring teams from the United Kingdom. The league is organised by England Netball but features teams based in England, Wales and Scotland. The league was commenced playing at the 2005–06 season, replacing the Super Cup as the elite netball competition in England. From 2016-21 the league was sponsored by VitalityHealth and, as a result, it was known as the Vitality Netball Superleague. Since 2022 it has been known as the Netball Super League.

Historically the league's most successful teams are Team Bath, who have won five titles, and Saracens Mavericks, who have played in seven grand finals. In more recent times, Surrey Storm won successive titles in 2015 and 2016 and Wasps have played in three successive finals, winning two titles, between 2017 and 2019. In 2019 Manchester Thunder won their third title. Umpire Gary Burgess made history in 2018 by umpiring his 10th consecutive Netball Superleague final between Manchester Thunder and Surrey Storm. Loughborough Lightning won their first title in 2021, beating Team Bath, following this up with their second title in 2023.

## Teams

[edit]

### Current teams (2025 onwards)

[edit]

Team  | Coach  | Home venue/base  | City  | Debut season

|
|
|
|

Birmingham Panthers  | Jo Trip  |  | Birmingham | 2025
Cardiff Dragons | Reinga Bloxham | Cardiff City House of Sport | Cardiff | 2005–06
Leeds Rhinos | Lauren Palmer  | Leeds Beckett University | Leeds | 2021
London Mavericks | Camilla Buchanan  | Wembley Arena | London | 2005–06
London Pulse | Sam Bird  | Copper Box Arena | London | 2019
Loughborough Lightning | Vic Burgess  | Loughborough University | Loughborough | 2005–06
Manchester Thunder | Karen Greig  | National Basketball Performance Centre | Manchester | 2005–06
Nottingham Forest Netball | Chelsea Pitman[2] | Motorpoint Arena | Nottingham | 2025

Notes

* ^1 Between 2001 and 2012, Manchester Thunder played as Northern Thunder.
* ^2 London Mavericks previously played as Saracens Mavericks, Galleria Mavericks, Hertfordshire Mavericks and benecosMavericks.
* ^3 Surrey Storm originally played as Brunel Hurricanes.
* ^4 Cardiff Dragons previously played as Celtic Dragons.

### Former teams

[edit]

Team  | Region  | Debut season  | Final season

|
|
|

Glasgow Wildcats | Scotland | 2008–09 | 2011
Leeds Carnegie/Yorkshire Jets | Yorkshire | 2005–06 | 2016
Team Northumbria | North East England | 2005–06 | 2018
Wasps Netball | Coventry, West Midlands | 2017 | 2022
Surrey Storm | Guildford | 2005–06 | 2024
Team Bath | Bath, South West  | 2005–06 | 2024
Severn Stars | Worcester | 2017 | 2024
Strathclyde Sirens | Glasgow (Scotland)  | 2017 | 2024

Notes

* ^1 Between 2005–06 and 2011, Yorkshire Jets played as Leeds Carnegie.

## History

[edit]

Season  | Key events

|

2005 | Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Galleria Mavericks, Leeds Carnegie, Loughborough Lightning, Northern Thunder, Team Bath and Team Northumbria become founder members of the new Netball Superleague.[3]
2005–06 | With a squad that included Pamela Cookey, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Jess Garland, Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor, Team Bath win the inaugural Netball Superleague title.[4][5][6] Team Bath subsequently dominate the early seasons of the league, winning further Superleague titles in 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2013.[7][8][9][10]
2007–08 | After playing and losing in the first two grand finals, the Mavericks win their first Superleague title.[11][12]
2008–09 | Glasgow Wildcats become the first team from Scotland to join the league.[13][14] However they only play in the league for three seasons and withdraw following the 2011 season.[15]
2009–10 | Brunel Hurricanes end their partnership with Brunel University and relocate to the University of Surrey to become Surrey Storm.[16][17]
2012 | Northern Thunder win their first Superleague title.[18] They subsequently change their name to Manchester Thunder before the 2013 season.[19]
2015 | After making four grand final appearances in five years, Surrey Storm win their first Superleague title.[17][20][21]
2016 | Surrey Storm retain the Superleague title.[22][23] Yorkshire Jets, formerly Leeds Carnegie, play their final Superleague season.[24]
2017 | Three new franchises Severn Stars, Scottish Sirens and Wasps make their Superleague debuts.[24][25][26] Wasps go on to win the Grand Final in their debut season.[27]
2018 | Wasps retain the Superleague title [28] Team Northumbria play their final Superleague season.[29]
2019 | London Pulse make their Superleague debut.[29][30][31] Manchester Thunder win their third Superleague title.[32][33] Leeds Rhinos are announced as a new franchise team for 2021.[34]
2020/2021 | Following disruptions to the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, England Netball took the "difficult decision" to suspend the league until 2021. This followed consultation with the league's board as well as all 10 teams and stakeholders.[35] The 2021 season was staged over a shortened period and behind closed doors at select venues. Loughborough Lightning win their first Superleague title.
2022 | Manchester Thunder win their fourth title. Wasps Netball play their final Superleague season.
2024 | Surrey Storm, Team Bath Netball, Severn Stars and Strathclyde Sirens play their final Superleague season

## Grand Finals

[edit]

Season  | Winners  | Score  | Runners Up  | Venue

|
|
|
|

2005–06[4] | Team Bath | 43–35 | Galleria Mavericks | Guildford Spectrum
2006–07[7] | Team Bath (2) | 53–45 | Galleria Mavericks | Guildford Spectrum
2007–08[11][12] | Galleria Mavericks | 43–39 | Loughborough Lightning | K2 Leisure Centre
2008–09[36][8] | Team Bath (3) | 54–46 | Galleria Mavericks | Coventry Skydome
2009–10[9] | Team Bath (4) | 51–44 | Hertfordshire Mavericks | Trent FM Arena
2011[37][38] | Hertfordshire Mavericks (2) | 57–46 | Surrey Storm | Herts Sports Village
2012[18][17] | Northern Thunder | 57–55 | Surrey Storm | SportHouse
2013[10][39][40] | Team Bath (5) | 62–56 | Celtic Dragons | University of Worcester Arena
2014[41] | Manchester Thunder (2) | 49–48 | Surrey Storm | University of Worcester Arena
2015[42][21] | Surrey Storm | 56–39 | Hertfordshire Mavericks | Copper Box Arena
2016[22][23] | Surrey Storm (2) | 55–53 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena
2017[27][43] | Wasps | 55–51 | Loughborough Lightning | Barclaycard Arena
2018[28][44][45] | Wasps (2) | 55–51 | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena
2019[32][33] | Manchester Thunder (3) | 57–52 | Wasps | Copper Box Arena
2021[46] | Loughborough Lightning | 49–32 | Team Bath | Copper Box Arena
2022 | Manchester Thunder (4) | 60–53  | Loughborough Lightning | Copper Box Arena
2023 | Loughborough Lightning (2) | 57–48  | London Pulse | Copper Box Arena
2024  | Loughborough Lightning (3) | 70-54  | Manchester Thunder | Resorts World Arena
2025  |  |  |  | O2 Arena

Source:[47]

## Winners

[edit]

Winners  | Seasons  | Titles

|
|

Team Bath | 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013 | 5
Manchester Thunder | 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022 | 4
Loughborough Lightning | 2021, 2023, 2024 | 3
Mavericks | 2007–08, 2011 | 2
Surrey Storm | 2015, 2016 | 2
Wasps | 2017, 2018 | 2

## Sponsorship

[edit]

Sponsors  | Seasons

|

Figleaves[3] | 2005–06
The Co-operative Group[11][48][49] | 2007–2010
Fiat Group Automobiles[38][50] | 2011–2012
Zeo [51] | 2014
VitalityHealth[22][52] | 2016–2021

## Television

[edit]

Sky Sports are the Netball Superleague's official broadcast partner and they broadcast live matches throughout the season.[53][54][55] In November 2016 England Netball and Sky Sports signed a four-year deal which saw every live match made available to all Sky TV customers on Sky Sports Mix.[56][57] A "multi-year deal" was reached in 2021, which expanded Sky's coverage to allow for all matches to be either televised on Sky Sports or streamed via YouTube.[58]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ "Nottingham Forest FC". Retrieved 3 July 2024.
3. ^ a b Dr. Louise Mansfield & Dr. Lara Killick (1 January 2012). "The UK Netball Superleague: A Case Study of Franchising in Elite Women's Sport" (PDF). Brunel University, School of Sport and Education, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK; and University of the Pacific, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Science, Stockton, CA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
4. ^ a b "TeamBath take Superleague title". news.bbc.co.uk. 4 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
5. ^ "2005–06 Team Bath squad". www.teambath.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
6. ^ "2006–07 Team Bath squad". www.teambath.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
7. ^ a b "Team Bath defend their Super League Title". womensportreport.com. 9 June 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
8. ^ a b "Gallery: Full Report: Mavericks lose out in grand final to Team Bath". www.whtimes.co.uk. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
9. ^ a b "Team Bath beat off Mavericks to win Superleague Grand Final". www.express.co.uk. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
10. ^ a b "Team Bath are champions". www.itv.com. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
11. ^ a b c "Third time lucky for magnificent Mavericks". www.whtimes.co.uk. 6 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
12. ^ a b "Mavericks win Netball Superleague final". www.sportsister.com. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
13. ^ "Glasgow Wildcats on the road to netball Superleague". www.womensportreport.com. 4 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
14. ^ "Wildcats proving netball coming of age in Scotland". www.heraldscotland.com. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
15. ^ "Coach Holland confident of Wildcats striking back". www.bbc.co.uk. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
16. ^ "Brunel Hurricanes become Surrey Storm". www.express.co.uk. 4 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
17. ^ a b c "History". www.surreystormnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
18. ^ a b "Northern Thunder win first Superleague title". www.bbc.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
19. ^ "Manchester Thunder: Superleague winners in name change". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
20. ^ "Surrey Storm beat Hertfordshire Mavericks to win 2015 Netball Superleague title". www.skysports.com. 26 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
21. ^ a b "Storm crowned Netball Superleague Champions!". www.surreystormnetball.co.uk. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
22. ^ a b c "Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to win Netball Superleague". www.skysports.com. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
23. ^ a b "Netball Superleague 2016: Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to retain title". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
24. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: Three new teams added, but Yorkshire Jets left out". www.bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
25. ^ "Netball Superleague: How Wasps and Severn Stars came into existence". www.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
26. ^ "Wasps Netball win historic Superleague victory over Sirens". www.coventrytelegraph.net. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
27. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: Wasps beat Loughborough Lightning in Grand Final". www.bbc.co.uk. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
28. ^ a b "Wasps beat Loughborough Lightning to claim back-to-back Netball Superleague titles". www.skysports.com. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
29. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: London Pulse to replace Team Northumbria in 2019". www.bbc.com. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
30. ^ "London Pulse join Netball Superleague". www.skysports.com. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
31. ^ "Netball Superleague: Wasps beat Lightning to begin title defence - round-up". www.bbc.com. 5 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
32. ^ a b "Manchester Thunder crowned Superleague Champions after epic showdown with Wasps". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
33. ^ a b "Netball Superleague Grand Final: Manchester Thunder win 57-52 against Wasps". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
34. ^ "Netball Superleague: Leeds Rhinos to join league from 2021". www.bbc.co.uk. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
35. ^ "Netball Superleague squads for the 2021 season". news.bbc.co.uk. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
36. ^ "Galleria Mavericks lose to Bath in Superleague Grand Final". www.whtimes.co.uk. 5 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
37. ^ "Mavericks crowned Superleague champions". www.sportsister.com. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
38. ^ a b "Mavericks crowned champions". www.skysports.com. 10 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
39. ^ "Pride for beaten Celtic Dragons". www.southwalesargus.co.uk. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
40. ^ "Super show by Celtic Dragons recognised by Team Bath conquerors". www.walesonline.co.uk. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
41. ^ "Netball Superleague: Manchester Thunder 49-48 Surrey Storm". www.bbc.co.uk. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
42. ^ "Surrey Storm beat Hertfordshire Mavericks to Superleague title". www.bbc.co.uk. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
43. ^ "Wasps Netball beat Loughborough Lightning in Netball Superleague Grand Final". www.skysports.com. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
44. ^ "Wasps Netball are Superleague champions 2018". www.waspsnetball.co.uk. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
45. ^ "Superleague Grand Final: Wasps 55-51 Loughborough". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
46. ^ "Netball Superleague 2021: Loughborough Lightning beat Team Bath in final". www.bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
47. ^ "About Us". www.netballsl.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
48. ^ "England Netball enters Co-operative partnership for Superleague". www.sportbusiness.com. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
49. ^ "The Co-operative signs up for more netball". www.sportbusiness.com. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
50. ^ "Fiat agrees netball partnership". www.sportspromedia.com. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
51. ^ "Zeo scores England Netball deal". www.sportbusiness.com. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
52. ^ "Vitality confirms continued commitment to England Netball as England Roses become 'Vitality Roses'". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
53. ^ "Netball". www.skysports.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
54. ^ "Sky Sports". www.netballsl.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
55. ^ "Sky Sports". www.englandnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
56. ^ "Sky Sports sign four-year deal with England Netball". www.englandnetball.co.uk. 27 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
57. ^ "Sky Sports agree new four-year Netball deal". www.skysports.com. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
58. ^ "England Netball signs multi-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports". England Netball. 2 February 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Netball Superleague

Organising bodies|

* England Netball

Current teams|

* Birmingham Panthers
* Cardiff Dragons
* Leeds Rhinos
* London Mavericks
* London Pulse
* Loughborough Lightning
* Manchester Thunder
* Nottingham Forest Netball

Former teams|

* Glasgow Wildcats
* Severn Stars
* Strathclyde Sirens
* Surrey Storm
* Team Bath
* Team Northumbria
* Wasps Netball
* Yorkshire Jets

Seasons|

* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Grand Finals|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022

Related competitions|

* British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship

See also|

* Player of the Season

* v
* t
* e

Netball leagues

Australia|

| National|

* Suncorp Super Netball
* Australian Netball Championships

|

State|

* New South Wales
* Queensland
* South Australia
* Victoria
* Western Australia

Defunct|

* ANZ Championship
* Australian State Netball League
* Commonwealth Bank Trophy
* Mobil Superleague

England|

| Current|

* Netball Superleague
* National Premier League

|

Defunct|

* National Clubs League
* Super Cup

New Zealand|

| Current|

* ANZ Premiership
* National Netball League

|

Defunct|

* ANZ Championship
* National Bank Cup

South Africa|

| Current|

* Telkom Netball League
* Varsity Netball

|

Others|

* Jamaica
* Malawi
* Malaysia
* Scotland
* Singapore
* Uganda

* v
* t
* e

Netball in the United Kingdom

Governing bodies|

* England
* Wales

Competitions|

* Netball Superleague
* British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship
* European Netball Championship
* Super Cup

National teams|

* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

Superleague teams|

* Birmingham Panthers
* Cardiff Dragons
* Leeds Rhinos
* London Mavericks
* London Pulse
* Loughborough Lightning
* Manchester Thunder
* Nottingham Forest Netball

By country|

* England
* Scotland
* Wales

* v
* t
* e

Netball in Europe

Governing bodies|

* Netball Europe
* England
* Switzerland
* Wales

National teams|

* Catalonia
* England
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Israel
* Republic of Ireland
* Jersey
* Malta
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Switzerland
* Wales

Competitions|

* European Netball Championship
* Netball Superleague

By country|

* England
* Scotland
* Sweden
* Wales

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