Swifts rookies Grace Whyte and Freddie Schneideman are international champions after Australia beat New Zealand to claim the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar overnight.
The Swifts pair were part of the Australian 21U Team which went undefeated at the global tournament.
Whyte played a starring role in the early stages but missed the Grand Final due to concussion protocols, meanwhile Schneideman was one of the standout defenders on display throughout.
The Aussies were looking to bounce back from previous heartache and deny the Kiwis a third consecutive Youth World Cup title.
And they didn’t disappoint, building on their comprehensive semi-final win over South Africa (67-36) to be equally dominant in the decider (63-48).
New Zealand opened with the first centre pass and showed composure, patiently working the ball into their shooters under the post to establish an early six-goal lead.
But, Australia quickly found their rhythm, settling their circle and striking back with sharp turnovers and fast ball movement.
By the end of the quarter, they had flipped the momentum, leading 15–14.
The second quarter brought even more intensity, with both sides producing turnovers, and while the play was physical, the umpires kept control.
Australia began to dictate the tempo, using clever rotations in their shooting circle and finding space with speed and precision.
The third quarter was decisive, as Australia pulled away.
New Zealand continued to fight hard, displaying resilience and determination, but Australia’s grit, composure, and attacking strength carried them through to a 62–48 victory, securing the Gold Medal and the title of 2025 Champions.
Australia Youth World Cup results:
- Australia 79, Northern Ireland 15
- Australia 92, Singapore 25
- Australia 69, Scotland 42
- Australia 65, Samoa 36
- Australia 85, Jamaica 33
- Australia 67, South Africa 36
- Australia 63, New Zealand 48
