Netball Super League squad signings and departures ahead of the 2026 season as London Pulse look to defend their title
Take a look at how the eight Netball Super League sides have changed ahead of the upcoming season with some changing nearly their whole squad; the NSL Super Cup takes place on February 21 while the regular season commences on February 27
Friday 2 January 2026 18:39, UK
The first season of the rejuvenated Netball Super League saw a big shake up as the league went from 12 teams to just eight, and the super shot was introduced.
Now as the teams are more familiar with the NSL 2.0, particularly the game changing super shot, they were able to take advantage of the signing window to strengthen their squads.
Treble-winners London Pulse, unsurprisingly, have remained near unchanged while near bottom of the table Leeds Rhinos will be fielding almost an entirely new team, keeping just three players from last season.
- Latest netball news, reports and highlights
- Recap: How Pulse claimed Super League glory
- Stream netball and more without a contract
- When is netball next live on Sky Sports?
Birmingham Panthers:
2026 squad: Gabby Coffey, Betsy Creak, Tami Fapohunda, Charli Fidler, Ruth Hughes, Izzy Kaye, Michelle Magee, Tiana Metuarau, Alanna Pullen, Kira Rothwell
Birmingham Panthers finished the 2025 season in sixth with five wins, however they did earn the most bonus points, five, which were earnt by the loser for finishing within five points of their opponent.
The West Midlands team lost their captain, Gabby Marshall, who retired mid-season due to experiencing two concussions in one month, in addition to some earlier on in her career too.
They also lost Aliyah Zaranyika due to retirement and Sigi Burger, who missed out of the back end of the season due to injury.
Recent England debutant Jaz Brown has moved to Leeds Rhinos, Jess Shaw moved to Loughborough Lightning and Gabrielle Sinclair to Sunshine Coast, in the Suncorp Super Netball league.
Incoming players: Tiana Metuaru from Central Pulse in ANZP (New Zealand's top domestic league), Kira Rothwell from London Mavericks, Izzy Kaye from Loughborough Lightning NXT Gen, Alanna Pullen from Team Bath NXT Gen, Charli Fidler from Mainland Tactix ANZP, and Tami Fapohunda (defence) from Manchester Thunder
Cardiff Dragons (formerly Lexis Nexis Dragons):
2026 squad: Victoria Booth, Ella Bowen, Khanyisa Chawane, Bethan Dyke, Alex Johnson, Niamh McCall, Leah Middleton, Jacqui Newton, Georgia Rowe, Philippa Yarranton
Despite winning just two games and finishing the regular season last in 2025, Cardiff Dragons have kept confidence in their squad and kept majority of their players, with just four moving elsewhere.
Celena Appleby-Prince, who stepped in after Leah Middleton's injury, will be returning to the midlands to play for Loughborough Lightning's senior squad after originally playing on their NXT Gen squad.
Elle McDonald has returned to Australia though it's unclear whether she has found a team yet down under, while Chelsea Beard has retired, and Beth Ecuyer-Dale has also left but it is also unclear what her next steps are.
Incoming players: Ella Bowen from Leeds Rhinos, Niamh McCall who formerly played for Strathclyde Sirens and Loughborough Lightning prior to the 2025 season, and Wales' Victoria Booth
Leeds Rhinos:
2026 Squad: Bella Bayliss, Jas Brown, Cassie Howard, Harriet Jones, Niamh Kilgallen, Indya Masser, Joyce Mvula, Paige Reed, Sanmarie Visser, Yomi Wilson
After finishing second-from-bottom last year, Leeds Rhinos have done a near complete shake up of their squad bringing in some high profile talent.
Both Ashleigh Dekker and Geva Mentor retired after the 2025 season, taking a bundle of experience along with them.
Former captain Bethany Brittain, Rosie Harris, Ella Bowen, who suffered a knee injury in June, and Future Rose Sophie Egbaran have also left, although it is unclear where they will play next.
While Jess Haynes will be playing down under in the Victorian Netball League for Casey Demons.
Incoming player: Bella Baylis from Loughborough Lightning, Jaz Brown from Birmingham Panthers, Niamh Kilgallen from Birmingham Panthers, Indiya Masser from Manchester Thunder, Paige Reed from Manchester Thunder, Sanmarie Viser from Adelaide Thunderbirds, and Yomi Wilson from Manchester Thunder NXT Gen
London Mavericks:
2026 Squad: Emily Andrew, Jemma Donoghue, Amelia Hall, George Inger, Suzie Liverseidge, Isabella Phillips, Razia Quashie, Ellie Rattu, Emma Thacker, Jamie van Wyk
London Mavericks finished fourth last year and are confident their squad can succeed again this year, only having one change to their line up.
Kira Rothwell is the sole Maverick to have left as she moves further north to play for a refreshed Birmingham Panthers side.
Incoming players: Jamie Van Wyk from Gauteng Jaguars in the Telkom Netball League, South Africa's premier domestic competition, and George Inger (GS/A) from Mavericks' NXT Gen
London Pulse:
2026 Squad: Halimat Adio, Darcie Everitt, Zara Everitt, Funmi Fadoju, Sophie Kelly, Kamogelo Maseko, Tyler Orr, Alicia Scholes, Gracie Smith, Liv Tchine
Unsurprisingly, London Pulse have remained mostly unchanged after dominating the NSL last season, losing just two games in the regular season.
Nichole Breedt, who stood strong in WA, has left the squad but it is unclear where she will play next.
Incoming players: Kamogelo Maseko from Gauteng Jaguars in the TNL
Loughborough Lightning:
2026 Squad: Celena Appleby-Prince, Ella Clark, Beth Cobden, Alice Harvey, Hannah Joseph, Berri Neil, Nat Panagarry, Jess Shaw, Shadine van der Merwe, Sam Wallace-Joseph
The 2025 runners up, Loughborough Lightning, also seem confident in keeping a mostly unchanged squad as they make just two changes heading into this season where they hope to take back the title.
England's 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Jodie Gibson, retired at the end of last season having been a consistent face in the NSL since 2011.
Bella Baylis also left the East Midlands side after winning the league with Lightning in 2023 and 2024, she will now play up north for Leeds Rhinos.
Incoming players: Jess Shaw from Birmingham Panthers and Celina Appleby-Prince who was part of Lightning's NXT Gen squad before stepping in for Cardiff Dragons mid season
Manchester Thunder:
2026 Squad: Eleanor Cardwell, Amy Carter, Sophie Fawns, Josie Huckle, Elia McCormick, Taylor McKevitt, Nat Metcalf, Lois Pearson, Emma Rayner, Nicola Smith
The 2022 champions finished third last season, and dominated their games over many of the teams but struggled to keep up with Pulse and Lightning.
South Africa's Ane Retief, who was an injury replacement, and the league's top goal shooter Elmere van der Berg both depart Thunder, with the former going to Nottingham Forest and the latter to Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Indiya Masser will also not return as she was maternity cover for Natalie Metcalf, while Anya Williams will also move down to play for Nottingham Forest, as Paige Reed moves to Leeds Rhinos.
Incoming players: Eleanor Cardwell from Melbourne Mavericks and Sophie Fawns from New South Wales Swifts, while Metcalf returns from maternity leave
Nottingham Forest:
2026 squad: Iona Christian, Niamh Cooper, Rhea Dixon, Brie Grierson, Hannah Leighton, Tasha Pavelin, Jayda Pechova, Ane Retief, Rolene Streutker, Anya Williams
Following their incredible debut season which saw them narrowly miss out on a spot in the top four, Nottingham Forest have also made minimal changes to their squad.
Freya Henshall who played as a goal shooter will move to represent Forest's NXT Gen squad for the upcoming season, while Uganda's Falidah Kadondi leaves the club with her next opportunity not yet known.
Incoming players: Ane Retief and Anya Williams both from Manchester Thunder
