Resilience was the word for the NSW Swifts in 2026. Hit by injuries early, the group kept swinging, finishing fifth with five wins and plenty of moments worth remembering along the way.
It wasn't an easy start. Injuries to Helen Housby (back) and Sarah Klau (quad) left the Swifts with just one win from their first six games, but the squad found a way to keep competing. Young talent stepped into bigger roles, Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke led the circle, and Tayla Fraser returned home after two seasons with the Mavericks.
Round 2 brought a 70–69 buzzer-beater win over the Melbourne Mavericks in front of a record regular-season crowd of more than 13,400. The Swifts then took out the Anzac Day derby 72–59 over the GIANTS at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Then came Round 9, and the return of Paige Hadley. Just ten and a half weeks after welcoming her son, Tully, she was back on court, and the Swifts celebrated with a 70–56 win over the Sunshine Coast Lightning. A week later the group flew to Perth, beaten by 20 goals by the Fever earlier in the year, and won by six, with Maddy Turner and Klau combining for nine gains and Nweke shooting 53 goals. The season closed with a one-goal loss to the GIANTS, 66–65.
At the Club's awards, Grace Whyte took out the QBE Most Valuable Player and Members' Player of the Year awards after a standout first full-time season, and Fraser was named Players' Player. Whyte was also invited into the Australian Diamonds' 2026/27 program and later won Netball NSW's Marilyn Melhuish Medal. Turner captained the group, with Housby as vice-captain.
It's also the end of an era. Turner leaves after 11 seasons and 163 games, and Briony Akle finishes nine seasons as head coach with premierships in 2019 and 2021. Dylan Nexhip, an assistant for the last two seasons, takes over as head coach in 2027, with Jo Harten joining him as assistant coach.
The NSW Swifts thank their members and supporters for another season in red.
2026 NSW Swifts roster
Tayla Fraser, Paige Hadley, Helen Housby, Sarah Klau, Sharni Lambden, Grace Nweke, Teigan O'Shannassy, Maddy Proud, Maddy Turner (captain), Grace Whyte. 11th Player: Nicola Barge. Temporary replacement player: Gina Crampton.
2026 Training Partners:
Jess Conlan, Courtney Castle, Nicola Barge, Freddie Schneideman, Eliza Burton, Brianna Martyn
Season at a glance:
Finish: 5th
Record: 5 wins, 9 losses
Head Coach: Briony Akle (assistant coach: Dylan Nexhip)
Co-captains: Maddy Turner
QBE MVP: Grace Whyte
Members Player of the year: Grace Whyte
Players Player: Tayla Fraser
