Netball Superleague
First 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
Current teams (2025 onwards)
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 | Liana Leota | Leeds Beckett University | Leeds | 2021 |
London Mavericks | 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
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
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
Source:[47]
Winners
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
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
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
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Nottingham Forest FC". Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
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- ^ "2006–07 Team Bath squad". www.teambath.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
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