The NSW Swifts have wrapped up a strong 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, finishing second on the ladder with ten wins and reaching the Preliminary Final, where they fell to the Melbourne Vixens by a single point.
After a four-win 2024, the Swifts opened the season with eight straight victories, beginning with an 18-goal win over the West Coast Fever on Grace Nweke's debut in Round 1. The run included a Round 8 comeback against the Adelaide Thunderbirds, where the Swifts trailed 36-28 at half-time and scored the last seven goals of the match. The Swifts also regained the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup and retained the Carole Sykes Memorial Trophy.
Nweke finished her first Super Netball season as both the QBE Most Valuable Player and Players' Player, while Teigan O'Shannassy and Sophie Fawns shared the Coaches Award. Sarah Klau finished second in the league for intercepts with 24.
Form dipped late in the year, with the Swifts winning two of their final eight games including finals. They lost the Major Semi Final to the Fever 77-45 in Perth, then led the Vixens 51-41 at the last change of the Preliminary Final before going down 66–65. Co-captain Paige Hadley played all 60 minutes despite carrying an injury, and the Vixens went on to win the premiership by one point.
Maddy Turner and Hadley co-captained the group, Teigan O'Shannassy missed the finals with a back injury, and Maddy Proud welcomed her daughter, Lily, in May.
The Swifts farewell Fawns, Allie Smith and Verity Simmons. Tayla Fraser returns for 2026, along with Gina Crampton, who will temporarily replace Hadley after she announced she was expecting her first child. Nweke has re-signed.
The NSW Swifts thank their Members and supporters for their backing throughout 2025.
2025 NSW Swifts roster
Sophie Fawns, Paige Hadley (co-captain), Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Sharni Lambden, Grace Nweke, Teigan O'Shannassy, Maddy Proud (maternity leave), Allie Smith, Maddy Turner (co-captain). Replacement player: Verity Simmons. 11th player: Grace Whyte.
2025 Training Partners:
Lili Gorman-Brown, Jess Conlan, Freddie Schneideman, Grace Whyte, Elle Temu.
Season at a glance:
Finish: 2nd
Record: 10 wins, 4 losses
Head Coach: Briony Akle (assistant coach: Dylan Nexhip)
Co-captains: Maddy Turner & Paige Hadley
QBE MVP: Grace Nweke
Members Player of the year: Grace Nweke
Players Player: Teigan O’Shannassy & Sophie Fawns
