More questions than answers as silly season leaves stars in limbo
One week into the Super Netball signing period, and there are more questions than answers for fans about who is going to be playing where in 2027.
The rules that govern Super Netball’s transfer period ensure that in the first week, which ended on Sunday, teams can only re-sign players from their 2026 squad.
Helen Housby of the Swifts nna\mdinjaski
From August 17-28, they can sign up players from other teams, or from outside the league.
So, what have we seen so far?
The Swifts have a new coach for 2027, Dylan Nexhip. With a squad that now has anumber of players who have passed the 100 Super Netball match milestone, the new coach may have been a signal for generational change in the squad. So far, that is not the case.
The Swifts have re-signed two long-term players in Helen Housby (who missed 10 of the 14 matches in 2026 due to injury) and Paige Hadley, as well as Tayla Fraser and Grace Whyte.
They have also announced that Grace Newke, Teigan O’Shannassy and Sharni Lambden will not be returning – three strong younger players.
The two teams who battled for the title in 2026, the champion Adelaide Thunderbirds and runners-up Melbourne Vixens, have not yet re-signed any of their players.
The Thunderbirds have announced that Matilda Garrett and Tayla Williams will be leaving the club. Given the strength of the Thunderbirds in 2026, it’s surprising that they did not move quickly to sign up key players such as Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Georgie Horjus and Elmere van den Berg.
The Vixens’ bench strength was on show in the Commonwealth Games, withthe super attacking combination of Kate Moloney, Keira Austin and Sophie Garbin,and the defensive power of Jo Weston – all still unattached for 2027.
The Lightning and Mavericks have each secured three returning players, including, for the Lightning, Donnell Wallam. Fever has two contracted players, including the return of Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard from parental leave in 2026. The sharpshooter has been key to success in past seasons and is a big coup, although the Fever will be without former captain Jess Anstiss as the Fever did not renew her contract.
The Firebirds and the yet to be renamed Giants have not signed any players yet.
While they only managed one win in 2026, the team formerly known as the Giantswill not want to lose the strong players they have such as Diamond Sophie Dwyer.
The dejected Diamonds after losing their Commonwealth Games semi-final against Jamaica. Getty Images
So the big questions for the rest of the signing period remain. Will there be any shift to prioritise local players over the star imports, to ensure that the Diamonds, and aspiring Diamonds, maximise their court time in the lead up to the World Cup in August 2027?
Who will take the place of star shooter Grace Newke and provide some youth to their defensive squad for the Swifts?
Will the Thunderbirds try to keep the team which absolutely dominated the competition in 2026 together as much as possible? What strategy will the former Giants adopt for 2027, given the challenges of 2026 and new ownership?
It’s a big next week of announcements for netball fans.
