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; Loughborough Lightning were crowned the NSL Super Cup winners on February 21 while the regular season begins on February 27, live on Sky Sports+
Monday 23 February 2026 12:16, 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.
But 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 try and 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?
We got a preview as to how the teams are shaping up as they all gathered in Sheffield for the Super Cup, which the final saw a repeat of last year's Grand Final but this time with Loughborough Lightning coming out on top.
Birmingham Panthers:
2026 squad: Gabby Coffey, Betsy Creak, Tami Fapohunda, Charli Fidler, Ruth Hughes, Izzy Kaye, Shelly 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 and will play in the Malaysian Netball Super League this season.
Recent England debutant Jaz Brown has moved to Leeds Rhinos, while Jess Shaw moved away to Loughborough Lightning and Gabrielle Sinclair to Sunshine Coast, in the Suncorp Super Netball league.
Incoming players: Tiana Metuaru (Central Pulse in ANZP - New Zealand's top domestic league), Kira Rothwell (London Mavericks), Izzy Kaye (Loughborough Lightning NXT Gen), Alanna Pullen (Team Bath NXT Gen), Charli Fidler (Mainland Tactix ANZP), Tami Fapohunda (Manchester Thunder).
Cardiff Dragons (formerly Lexis Nexis Dragons):
2026 squad: Victoria Booth, Ellen Withington, 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 the 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 (Leeds Rhinos), Niamh McCall (formerly Strathclyde Sirens and Loughborough Lightning), Victoria Booth (Cardiff NXT Gen).
Leeds Rhinos:
2026 Squad: Bella Bayliss, Jaz 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 before impressing in the Super Cup on Saturday.
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 players: Bella Baylis (Loughborough Lightning), Jaz Brown (Birmingham Panthers), Niamh Kilgallen (Birmingham Panthers), Indiya Masser (Manchester Thunder), Paige Reed (Manchester Thunder), Sanmarie Viser (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Yomi Wilson (Manchester Thunder NXT Gen).
London Mavericks:
2026 Squad: Emily Andrew, Jemma Donoghue, Amelia Hall, George Inger, Suzie Liverseidge, Izzi Phillips, Razia Quashie, Ellie Rattu, Emma Thacker, Jamie Golob (formerly van Wyk).
London Mavericks finished fourth last year and are confident their squad can succeed in making it into the top four again this year, as they make just two changes to their line up for the 2026 season.
Kira Rothwell left to move further north to play for a refreshed Birmingham Panthers side, while Chelsea Blackman also departs from Mavericks but it's unclear where she will play next.
Incoming players: Jamie Golob (Gauteng Jaguars in the Telkom Netball League, South Africa's premier domestic competition), George Inger (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 almost unchanged after dominating the NSL last season, losing just two games in the regular season and winning the treble.
Nichole Breedt, who stood strong in WA, has left the squad but it is unclear what her next plans are.
Incoming players: Kamogelo Maseko (Gauteng Jaguars - South Africa).
Loughborough Lightning:
2026 Squad: Celena Appleby-Prince, Ella Clark, Beth Durant (formerly Cobden), Alice Harvey, Hannah Joseph, Berri Neil, Nat Panagarry, Jess Shaw, Shadine van der Merwe, Samantha 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.
That decision has already paid off after they went on to defeat London Pulse 18-17 at the Super Cup in what was a rematch of last year's Grand Final.
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 (Birmingham Panthers) and Celina Appleby-Prince (ex-Lightning NXT Gen squad before stepping in for Cardiff Dragons mid-season).
AO 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 on a temporary maternity cover contract 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 (Melbourne Mavericks) and Sophie Fawns (New South Wales Swifts, while Metcalf returns from maternity leave).
Nottingham Forest:
2026 squad: Iona Christian, Niamh Cooper, Rhea Dixon, Brie Grierson, Hannah Leighton, Tash 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 Manchester Thunder).
Watch the Netball Super League live on Sky Sports this season, starting with champions London Pulse vs Manchester Thunder, live on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports+ from 7.25pm on Friday, February 27.
