One of the rising stars of Australian netball is locked in for 2024 with Sophie Fawns committing to the NSW Swifts for next year’s Suncorp Super Netball season.
The Wagga Wagga junior has enjoyed a meteoric rise her short career so far, including playing in the 2023 Grand Final and making the Australian Fast5 team. This new deal locks her in with the Swifts until the end of 2025.
A talented moving-circle attacker, the 20-year-old QBE Swifts Academy graduate made her Swifts debut in 2022 as an injury replacement player before earning her first full-time contract in 2023.
“I am living my dream every second I’m on court for the Swifts and there is nowhere I’d rather be,” Fawns said.
“I grew up supporting the Swifts and they have been like a family to me since I made my debut.
“There have been challenges over the past couple of years but everyone at the Club has been so encouraging and my teammates are a brilliant support network.
“I hope that I can continue to be a role model for regional athletes around NSW who share a similar dream of making it to Super Netball.
“I also believe in the vision Briony and the senior players have for the Club.
“Most of them have already won two Premierships, and just missing out in last year’s Grand Final has made me realise how hungry I am to win with them.”
Swifts head coach Briony Akle said Fawns’ personal and professional growth over the past two years had been hugely impressive.
“It’s hard to believe that Sophie is still only 20, but she displays a maturity beyond her years,” she said.
“It takes a lot of guts at any age to overcome loss and shine is the toughest of environments, but Sophie has done that and I think she is a credit to her family, as well as the junior coaches and pathway coaches who all played a huge role in her development.
“We are stoked to have Sophie continue as a Swift and believe she will continue to reach new heights and become one of the best attackers in the world.”
The Swifts will make further announcements regarding 2023 player signings in due course.
