Super Netball 2026: Finals Preview & League Developments
Final Round Results
The 2026 Super Netball regular season concluded with a dramatic final round, setting the stage for an exciting finals series.
Adelaide Thunderbirds defeated Sunshine Coast Lightning 67-49, marking their eighth consecutive win.
- Melbourne Mavericks defeated Queensland Firebirds 60-57, extending their winning streak to four games.
- West Coast Fever defeated Melbourne Vixens 64-55, securing third place and the right to host the minor semi-final.
- GWS Giants defeated NSW Swifts 66-65, achieving their first win of the 2026 season.
Earlier Season Highlights
- Queensland Firebirds defeated the Giants 78–55
- Melbourne Mavericks challenged the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who secured a 55–48 win
- West Coast Fever overcame a seven-goal deficit to defeat the NSW Swifts 77–57
- Melbourne Vixens maintained an undefeated record with a 70–59 victory over the Sunshine Coast Lightning
Finals Preview
The top four teams for the 2026 finals are:
- Adelaide Thunderbirds (minor premiers)
- Melbourne Mavericks
- West Coast Fever
- Melbourne Vixens
Notable: The Melbourne Vixens have lost four of their last five matches heading into finals.
GWS Giants: Performance & Ownership
The GWS Giants secured their first win of the season in the final round, closing a difficult campaign. The club has undergone significant personnel changes, including the departure of former coach Julie Fitzgerald and co-captains Jo Harten and Jamie-Lee Price. The current roster is composed predominantly of younger players.
Ownership Situation
Netball NSW is actively seeking new ownership for the Giants licence. Prospective bidders include:
- The Wests Group (Newcastle Knights)
- SEN (Craig Hutchison)
The decision on the licence is expected before the player signing window opens after the grand final on July 4. An alternative report states a 12-month extension is also possible.
Earlier reports indicated that Mounties Group had expressed interest. This process was halted when AUSTRAC initiated federal court proceedings against Mounties Group in July for alleged "serious and systemic" non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing laws. Netball Australia has reportedly postponed consideration of the Mounties Group proposal pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Netball's Position on Gambling
Netball has historically maintained a position of not engaging with sports gambling sponsorships, a stance that contrasts with other major Australian sports.
Former Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan, who resigned in December 2023, stated that considering gambling sponsorships was "not out of the realms of possibility" due to the sport's financial needs.
The organization reported a $4 million debt during her tenure. Proposals for partnerships with wagering companies did not proceed due to opposition from the netball community and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
Federal Government Reforms
The federal government has announced new rules to reform betting in sport, scheduled to take effect in January 2027. These changes include:
- A ban on gambling branding on uniforms and venues
- Prohibiting celebrities and sports personalities from appearing in promotions
- Restricting betting advertisements on live sports television broadcasts between 6 am and 8:30 pm
Netball is expected to be less affected by these regulations due to its existing commercial approach.
Other League Developments
Collective Player Agreement (CPA)
Negotiations are ongoing. The player signing window is expected to begin after the grand final.
Men's Netball
Reports indicate that support for men's netball from Netball Australia has declined since 2024.
- No double headers between the Australian Diamonds and the Kelpies (men's team) are planned for 2025
- The 2025-2035 strategic plan "Made in Netball" does not mention the Kelpies
- World Netball announced an inaugural Men's World Cup for 2028 in June 2025
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games team is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday.