South African netballers had varied experiences in England’s newly revamped Netball Super League (NSL2.0), which aims to professionalize the sport. The league introduced significant changes, reducing squads from 15 to 10 players and teams from 10 to 8, making room for more competitive matchups. Notably, eight South African players were featured this season.
League Restructure
The 2025 NSL welcomed two new teams, Birmingham Panthers and Nottingham Forest, while saying goodbye to Strathclyde Sirens, Severn Stars, Surrey Storm, and Team Bath. This shake-up saw some South Africans without clubs, including Sigi Burger, Owethu Ngubane, and Lefebre Rademan.
Notable South African Performances
Nicholé Breedt – London Pulse
Breedt’s team won their maiden NSL title after defeating Loughborough Lightning 53–45. She featured in 13 matches and scored 97 goals. Pulse had a strong season, topping the table and also winning the Netball Super Cup.
Khanyisa Chawane – Cardiff Dragons
Despite finishing last, Chawane played in all of the Dragons’ matches. She remains optimistic about building on this season’s foundation with team continuity.
Shadine van der Merwe – Loughborough Lightning
Van der Merwe helped Lightning reach their fifth consecutive Grand Final. Although they lost, the defender brought valuable experience after joining from Manchester Thunder.
Rolene Streutker – Nottingham Forest
In a standout debut season, Streutker netted 598 goals and scooped multiple awards: Players’ Player of the Season, Top Scorer, and Super Shooter. Her team, however, finished fifth, narrowly missing the playoffs.
Elmere van der Berg – Manchester Thunder
Van der Berg enjoyed a consistent season, scoring 496 goals in 14 matches and finishing as one of the top scorers.
Nicola Smith – Manchester Thunder
Returning mid-season from injury, Smith made her presence felt in Thunder’s defensive lineup. Her team reached the preliminary finals but fell short of a Grand Final berth.
Sigi Burger – Birmingham Panthers
Burger’s season was cut short due to an MCL injury, but she maintained a 93% shooting accuracy. She was replaced by Antonia Mitchell for the remainder of the season.
Looking Ahead
The NSL transfer window for the 2026 season is open from 7 July to 29 August 2025. Teams are required to confirm and register their 10-player squads before the deadline, with official announcements due by 5 September.
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