Swifts Hold Strong to Defeat Mavericks in Thriller at KRA

The NSW Swifts have secured their 276th all-time win with a thrilling 68–62 victory over the Melbourne Mavericks in Round 2 of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season. Backed by a sea of red at Ken Rosewall Arena, the Swifts dug deep to hold off a fierce Mavericks fightback, delivering a composed and clinical final term to seal the win.

The Swifts started in style, opening the scoring with a pinpoint long ball into Grace Nweke, who was dominant under the post from the outset. Helen Housby and Verity Simmons were instrumental in feeding the towering shooter, while down the other end, Sarah Klau and Shimona Jok were locked in a physical battle. The Swifts’ full-court defensive pressure forced multiple resets from the Mavericks, and a composed attack saw the home side take an 18–12 lead at the first break.

The Mavericks found their feet in the second quarter, lifting their physicality and intensity. Despite continued strong feeding into Nweke, the Mavs narrowed the margin with some sharp midcourt play and improved conversion. Changes saw Teigan O’Shannassy come into defense and Grace Whyte step into wing attack, but the visitors edged the quarter to close the gap to 34–30. A well-timed ‘whoop towel’ moment lifted the home crowd as tensions rose.

The game tightened in a fiery third quarter. The Swifts rotated their lineup with Allie Smith bringing pressure in wing defense, but the Mavericks maintained their momentum. A series of offensive fouls saw the Swifts under pressure, and by the Super Shot period, the scores were locked at 46-all. The Mavs edged ahead 48–46 before Helen Housby delivered in the clutch—draining back-to-back two-point shots to send the Swifts into the final break with a 51–48 lead.

The final term was a tense tussle filled with loose balls, brave plays and big moments. Grace Whyte pulled in a gutsy overhead take and landed in the splits, Lambden bounced up from another fall, and Housby kept her cool under pressure. O’Shannassy produced critical intercepts in the dying minutes, and when Housby landed yet another two-point bomb, the Swifts stretched the lead to 66–60. From there, patience, experience and poise saw the Swifts close out a well-earned 68–62 victory.

NSW Swifts