SSN 2026 Round 01

Your guuide to the first round of the SSN Season taking place this weekend.

A new trophy was unveiled at the season launch in Brisbane this week, marking the opening of the milestone 10th season of Suncorp Super Netball.

Fans will see an enhanced in-venue scoreboard at matches, with goals (1 point), Super Shots (2 points), total score and tactical timeout details on the big screen. Those watching from home will also see greater score detail via the Netball Live app and during the Power 5 on Foxtel, Kayo and BINGE. International viewers can watch the games for free on Pluto TV app (AWSN) of via Netball Live

MELBOURNE MAVERICKS vs GIANTS NETBALL (Saturday 14 March – 5:00pm AEDT)
Red Energy Arena, Bendigo (Dja Dja Wurrung)
UMPIRES: Justin Barnes & Tim Marshall

• Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter is set to play her 100th Suncorp Super Netball match.
• New Maverick Jamie-Lee Price will face her old team for the first time.
• New GIANT Whitney Souness will play her first match as captain, and her first in SSN alongside Silver Ferns teammate Jane Watson.
• The match will mark the SSN head coaching debut of Nerida Stewart (GIANTS) and Gerard Murphy (Mavericks).
• Potential club debuts:
MAVERICKS: Reilley Batcheldor, Maddie Hay, Tara Hinchliffe, Sacha McDonald*, Jamie-Lee Price
GIANTS: Casey Adamson, Lucy Austin, Whitney Souness*, Jane Watson*

*Will also mark Suncorp Super Netball debut

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS vs NSW SWIFTS (Saturday 14 March – 7:00pm AEDT)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (Kaurna)
UMPIRES: Jemma Cook & Rachael Stebbings

• The Thunderbirds and Swifts are celebrating their 30th national league seasons in 2026, having competed since the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Trophy season in 1997.
• Internationals Elmeré van der Berg (South Africa) and Kate Heffernan (New Zealand) will make their SSN debuts for the Thunderbirds.
• Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (Thunderbirds) and Maddy Proud (Swifts) return from parental leave.
• Swifts captain Maddy Turner is set to play her 150th national league match.
• Gina Crampton joins the Swifts as a replacement player for Paige Hadley (parental leave).
• Potential club debuts:
THUNDERBIRDS: Kate Heffernan*, Elmeré van der Berg*
SWIFTS: Gina Crampton

*Will also mark Suncorp Super Netball debut

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS vs MELBOURNE VIXENS (Sunday 15 March – 2:00pm AEDT)
Nissan Arena, Brisbane (Turrbal & Yuggera)
UMPIRES: Bronwen Adams & Jordan Kiss

• Reigning champions the Vixens begin their title defence under new head coach Di Honey.
• The Firebirds are celebrating their 30th national league season in 2026, having competed since the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Trophy season in 1997.
• Silver Ferns Maddy Gordon, Kelly Jackson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit will make their SSN debuts for the Firebirds.
• Emily Mannix returns to the Vixens from parental leave.
• Potential club debuts:
FIREBIRDS: Maddy Gordon*, Kelly Jackson*, Te Paea Selby-Rickit*
VIXENS: N/A
*Will also mark Suncorp Super Netball debut

WEST COAST FEVER vs SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING (Sunday 15 March – 4:00pm AEDT)
RAC Arena, Perth (Whadjuk Noongar)
UMPIRES: Nicole Wingrave & Georgina Sulley-Beales

• Silver Fern Karin Burger will make her SSN debut for the Lightning.
• Romelda Aiken-George comes out of retirement to join Fever as a replacement player for Jamaican teammate Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (parental leave).
• Donnell Wallam and Gabby Sinclair return to SSN following stints in New Zealand and the UK respectively.
• Potential club debuts:
FEVER: Romelda Aiken-George, Sloan Burton*
LIGHTNING: Karin Burger*, Gabby Sinclair, Donnell Wallam

*Will also mark Suncorp Super Netball debut