Friday 17 February 2017 08:25, UK
Three new teams to go with a host of new of new players and coaches ensure the 2017 Vitality Superleague season promises to be more exciting and competitive than ever.
In total, ten teams will battle it out to reach finals weekend when, for the first time, the semi-finals and Grand Final will take place over one weekend in June.
Sky Sports Mix will be the place to get your regular fix of netball action as Di Dougherty and the team keep you across the live action, including the Super 10 round where all ten teams are in action on one day at Birmingham's Genting Arena.
The season starts on Friday with Team Northumbria travelling to last year's semi-finalist Hertfordshire Mavericks with Sirens against Wasps on February 14 the opening live game on Sky Sports.
But the build-up to the new season has been more dramatic than ever.
When England Netball announced in July that there were to be three new franchises added to the excitement was tinged with disappointment as Yorkshire Jets would not be returning.
The addition of Severn Stars, Sirens and Wasps mean the competition is likely to be fierce as all three have underlined their intentions with a string of noteworthy additions likely to see them challenge the usual contenders at the top of the table.
But the familiar names who are returning will be out to show the new franchises that there is no substitute for experience and Superleague know-how.
Surrey Storm are chasing a third successive title and have a new head coach in Tania Hoffman to go with a new-look outfit after several of the title winners opted for a move to pastures new.
In the case of most of them, it is to link up with former Storm player Tamsin Greenway who has taken up the position of director of netball at Wasps and believes the changes will only benefit netball on these shores.
I was really pleased, I pushed for us to have more teams in the league, I think that is important. I also like that we have gone down to 12 players in a squad and that has made players have to make a decision about where there were going to go and play.
Joining her at the Ricoh Arena from the defending champions are Sophia Candappa, Rachel Dunn and Amy Flanagan and they have been supplemented by Natalie Haythornthwaite (Manchester Thunder) and Sam May (Hertfordshire Mavericks).
Wasps are likely to be contenders given the proven names they have recruited, but Storm are not out to make up the number with Mikki Austin telling Sky Sports that a third title is very much on their radar.
"We have definitely set out a game plan to go out there and challenge for the title again," she said
"At the start of the season we will aim for the top four because anything can happen once you hit that marker, but we definitely know what we are capable of and we know what we can achieve."
Changing the game north of the border are the Sirens, Scotland's first representatives in the competition and they are determined to make their mark.
National coach Gail Parata leads an impressive squad that includes Jamaican shooter Carla Borrego, Nicole Aiken Pinnock and New Zealand's Ellen Halpenny is led by captain Claire Brownie, a role voted for by her teammates.
Pulling together a franchise to represent the nation is hard enough but hopes are high for Sirens CEO Claire Nelson.
"We want to launch the team onto the Superleague with a significant impact," Nelson told Sky Sports.
"We have built expectation. I want us to challenge and our athletes to be leading role models in Scotland for women's sport
"These things are also exciting but ultimately we have to be able to deliver on the court."
Last year's runners-up Manchester Thunder will be led by Karen Greig, the former England international stepping up to replace Dan Ryan who returned to Australia and despite some high-profile departures, they will look to challenge for the top four again.
Helen Housby and Sara Bayman have headed for Australia but New Zealand international Liana Leota returns and after 6ft 11in shooter Marvadene Anderson saw her move fall through, Thunder swooped for Malawi's Joyce Mvula to fill the void.
Youngsters Amy Clinton and England U21 captain Gabriella Marshall are also likely to see more game-time and hopes are high for the talented pair.
Loughborough Lightning were disappointed to miss out on the play-off places last season but have strengthened significantly with England international Beth Cobden joining Karen Atkinson's squad.
"I missed it when I was away but it has done me the world of good to have a little break and come back fresh and this year has been great for me," Cobden told Sky Sports.
"We have got a team that if we have a good game we can beat anyone. We are definitely targeting the play-offs and for me you have to be in it to win it.
Natalie Panagarry and Hannah Joseph are also back while Ugandan shooter Peace Proscovia is also on board after signing a two-year deal
Severn Stars are the third of the new franchises and their all-star off-court line-up has seen former England international Pamela Cookey take up a director of netball role after retiring following a starring role in Surrey's last two title-winning campaigns.
She is joined by former Aussie Diamond Mo'onia Gerrard who takes up her first head coach role and has one of England's most talented youngsters on display in the shape of shooter Eleanor Cardwell.
Joining her is the vastly experienced Josie Janz-Dawson who is welcoming a new challenge after playing the ANZ for all of her career.
"It's an exciting time for the Superleague in the UK and we really want to be competitive," she told Sky Sports.
"When I was back at home, I was playing for a club that were my home team and you do get to a point where seasons just blend.
"I was in a bit of a rut and going through the motions. To come over here and play in a Superleague franchise gave me an opportunity. So I gave up my job, I am here for netball, and it has given me a new lease of life."
Perennial contenders Hertfordshire Mavericks have never finished outside the top four and will be in the mix again although they will have to do without last year's Superleague Player of the Year Samantha Wallace and impressive defender Sam May.
The squad remains strong and under the guidance of Kiwi Robyn Broughton and Kat Ratnapala, the coach of last season's champions Surrey, they will look to former Storm shooter Ashleigh Neal to lead the way alongside the impressive defensive talents.
With the considerable nous of Jess Thirlby and Anna Stembridge overseeing matters Team Bath will not be underestimated and they will again boast a mixture of youth and experience.
The five-time national champions will be led by Eboni Beckford-Chambers as they look to go one better than last season's semi-final where they were beaten by Manchester Thunder.
Layla Guscoth joins from Herts to add Superleague experience while Imogen Allison and Page Reed step up from the NSL programme to join the squad.
Jamaican pair Vangelee Williams and Shantal Slater add plenty of pedigree with shooter Slater in particular one to watch over the season.
Team Northumbria and Celtic Dragons will look to improve on last season having finished in sixth and seventh place last season, above only the Yorkshire Jets.
Both have strengthen their squad, the Dragons winning the race for Stacey Peeters from ANZ franchise Southern Steel and adding Trinidad shooter Kalifa McCollin to their usual batch of exciting Welsh talent.
Silver Fern mid-couter Katarina Cooper headlines Northumbria's arrivals while another Kiwi, Tuaine Keenan, will look to build on an impressive debut season in 2016.
You can follow all the Vitality Superleague action on Sky Sports Mix through the season and across our Sky Sports platforms. Follow us @SkyNetball
