By Stephanie Smarrelli
Netball is the ultimate team sport, but even so, there are individual players who have the ability to turn a game on its head.
From captains who lead the charge to defenders who lift the team and unstoppable goalers the competition is rife with talent, but which players from each club have the X Factor heading into 2025?
Adelaide Thunderbirds – Shamera Sterling-Humphrey
If there’s one player who oozes X Factor, it’s Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.
Her innate ability to read every play from the opposition is unmatched.
The defender topped the league for intercepts and deflections throughout 2024 and each season continues to look more menacing.
When the Thunderbirds need a spark, it comes from down back in the form of a screaming intercept from the 28-year-old.
Sterling-Humphrey's work in defence lights up the court.Sterling-Humphrey's work in defence alongside Latanya Wilson and Matilda Garrett could be the X Factor that catapults the side to their third premiership in a row come 2025.
GIANTS – Matisse Letherbarrow
Despite not getting a lot of court time Letherbarrow has proved she has what it takes to deliver when the heat is on.
She was outstanding against the Lightning in Round 5 in extraordinary circumstances coming on after a score review which thrust the match into extra time.
It was a risky move to bring on Letherbarrow who hadn’t taken to the court throughout the game, but it proved to be a masterstroke by head coach Julie Fitzgerald.
Letherbarrow absorbed the pressure and stole the show slotting nine out of eleven goals including three Suncorp Super Shots.
She’s got the potential to turn into a real weapon for the GIANTS if she’s given more time on court.
Letherbarrow has shown glimpses of brilliance when she's hit the court.Melbourne Mavericks – Amy Parmenter
Parmy’s will to win is evident every time she steps onto the court.
The Mavericks’ captain leads by example, whether shutting down an opponent, charging into free space or stealing the ball, she keeps the opposition on their toes.
The midcourter was one of the best for the Mavericks throughout 2024, tallying up 19 intercepts and 40 deflections while keeping some of the world’s best midcourters at bay.
In a side that spent a lot of the season building their connections, Parmy stood tall and with the Mavs having just missed out on finals she’s primed to take her game up a notch in 2025.
Melbourne Vixens – Kiera Austin
The barometer for the Melbourne Vixens, when she’s on the Vixens are too.
Kiera Austin’s shooting prowess has her regarded as one of the best in the league. Her ability to confidently slot long bomb, after long bomb has at times helped the Vixens wrangle victory from their opponents and other times given the side the best chance to win matches, they’re being otherwise outplayed in.
Austin's game smarts and Super Shot skills are crucial to the Vixens.Austin shot at 79 per cent throughout the season and slotted 55 Super Shots, including seven during this year’s Grand Final.
It’s more than her work in the goal circle that gives her the X Factor though, it’s her work to turn over the ball in defence.
She finished the season with 11 intercepts, more than any other goaler in the league and 22 deflections.
NSW Swifts – Grace Nweke
Calling it early here, Grace Nweke will bring the X Factor to the Swifts they missed throughout 2024.
Still in the infancy of her career at 22-years-old, Nweke is a stronghold for New Zealand’s Silver Ferns and has dominated at domestic-level for the Northern Mystics.
Nweke, is set to bring her skillset to the Swifts in 2025.Throughout Nweke’s 2024 season she shot 448 goals at 88 per cent accuracy.
Set to pair with Helen Housby in the goal circle with the likes of Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud in the midcourt, Nweke has the right people around her to dominate the competition in 2025.
Queensland Firebirds – Mary Cholhok
A shooting powerhouse over in the UK Super League, Cholhok is set to bring her X Factor to Aussie shores next year.
The 201cm goaler will present a new challenge for the world’s best defenders, having led the way in the Super League with 975 goals at 87 per cent accuracy throughout the year.
Joining the Firebirds, Cholhok is set to take her game to the next level and bring Firebirds fans along for the ride.
The sharp shooter is more than ready to take on the world’s best with experience draining long-range shots having scored 14 for Uganda at the 2022 Fast5 Netball World Series.
Sunshine Coast Lightning – Courtney Bruce
Lightning defender Courtney Bruce can turn a game in a matter of seconds.
A world-class athlete, Bruce's 2024 was hampered by injury but at full strength she can dismantle any opposition’s attack.
Bruce is set to unleash in 2025.She has the X Factor in spades and will be aiming to bring it to the Sunny Coast in 2025.
Bruce finished the season with 14 intercepts and 36 deflections highlighting her limited court time but in 2023 she finished with 35 intercepts and 103 deflections.
When matches get tough, look to Bruce to provide the ember the Lightning needs to ignite.
West Coast Fever – Alice Teague-Neeld
Teague-Neeld is a workhorse for the green machine.
Having spent the last few seasons making the wing attack bib her own, Teague-Neeld presents a challenge for defenders to halt week in, week out.
Her speed and connection to Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is key to Fever’s goal scoring, shut her down and it goes a long way in shutting down Fever’s attack.
The midcourter can also swing into the goal attack bib when the side needs to switch things up and while she didn’t put up many goals throughout 2024 Teague-Neeld's ability in the goal circle gives Fever an edge over the competition.
The 27-year-old was second in the league for goal assists and feeds throughout the 2024 season and will continue to be a playmaker in the Fever attack next year.
