Australian netball team
Sunshine Coast Lightning are a professionalAustralian netball team based at theUniversity of the Sunshine Coast . The team was formed in2016 as a joint venture between the university andMelbourne Storm . Since2017 they have played inSuncorp Super Netball . Lightning have played in three grand finals, winningpremierships in 2017 and2018 .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
12 May 2017; Sunshine Coast Lightning vWest Coast Fever in a2017 Suncorp Super Netball Round 12 match atUSC Stadium In May 2016,Netball Australia andNetball New Zealand announced that theANZ Championship would be discontinued after the2016 season . InAustralia it was replaced by Suncorp Super Netball. The founding members of Suncorp Super Netball included the five former Australian ANZ Championship teams –Adelaide Thunderbirds ,Melbourne Vixens ,New South Wales Swifts ,Queensland Firebirds andWest Coast Fever ; plus three brand new franchises:Collingwood Magpies ,Giants Netball and Sunshine Coast Lightning.[ 1] [ 2] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
In August 2016, Sunshine Coast Lightning was officially launched. The team was formed as a joint venture byMelbourne Storm and theUniversity of the Sunshine Coast with the support ofSunshine Coast Council . The colours of the team - navy blue, purple and yellow - are the same as the Storm's. The logo features a bolt of lightning.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
Noeline Taurua guided Sunshine Coast Lightning to the2017 and2018 Suncorp Super Netball titlesBefore the official launch of Sunshine Coast Lightning,Noeline Taurua had already been announced as the inaugural head coach of the new franchise.[ 9] [ 11] [ 12] Caitlin Bassett andStephanie Wood became the first two Lightning players.[ 2] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Geva Mentor also subsequently signed for Lightning.[ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] 2017 , Lightning finished the season as inaugural champions after defeatingGiants Netball 65–48 in the grand final.[ 1] [ 2] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] 2018 they retained the title after defeatingWest Coast Fever 62–59 in the grand final.[ 1] [ 2] [ 23] [ 24] [ 25] 2019 , Lightning finished the regular season as minor premiers.[ 1] [ 2] [ 26] [ 27] New South Wales Swifts .[ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33]
Regular season statistics [ edit ] Premierships Minor Premierships
Lightning play the majority of their home matches atUSC Stadium .[ 3] [ 9] [ 39] Brisbane Entertainment Centre .[ 40] [ 41]
2025 Sunshine Coast Lightning roster
Players Coaching staff Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height Reilley Batcheldor GA, GS (2002-04-15 ) 15 April 2002 (age 23) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Ava Black C, WD (2003-06-12 ) 12 June 2003 (age 21) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Courtney Bruce GK, GD (1993-12-08 ) 8 December 1993 (age 31) 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Mahalia Cassidy C, WA, WD (1995-10-09 ) 9 October 1995 (age 29) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Ash Ervin GK, GD (2003-05-15 ) 15 May 2003 (age 21) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Steph Fretwell (c) GA, WA, GS (1991-11-28 ) 28 November 1991 (age 33) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Maddie Hinchliffe WD, C (1998-05-25 ) 25 May 1998 (age 26) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) Tara Hinchliffe (vc) GD, GK (1998-05-25 ) 25 May 1998 (age 26) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Cara Koenen GS, GA (1996-02-27 ) 27 February 1996 (age 29) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Kristiana Manu'a WD (1995-09-03 ) 3 September 1995 (age 29) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Leesa Mi Mi WA, C (2001-05-18 ) 18 May 2001 (age 23) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Liz Watson WA, C (1994-03-30 ) 30 March 1994 (age 31) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Head coach Assistant coaches
Notes (c) – Captain(cc) – Co-captain(vc) – Vice-captain(TRP) – Temporary Replacement PlayerPlayer profiles :Team website Last updated : 6 April 2025
Australia England Jamaica New Zealand South Africa Uganda Suncorp Super Netball [ edit ] Shooting statistics [ edit ] (as at end of2024 Suncorp Super Netball season ) Super Shot Seasons Player Goals Attempts % Goals Attempts % 2017–18 Caitlin Bassett 1357 1454 93.33 – 2017– Cara Koenen 2803 3090 90.71 13 38 34.21 2017– Steph Fretwell 1714 2081 82.36 246 432 56.94 2019–21 Peace Proscovia 670 733 91.41 0 4 0.00 2020–21 Binnian Hunt 9 18 50.00 2 4 50.00 2020, 2022 Annabelle Lawrie 3 3 100.00 0 5 0.00 2022, 2024– Reilley Batcheldor 166 196 84.69 61 112 54.46 2022 Annika Lee-Jones 2 4 50.00 – 2023–2024 Charlie Bell 29 34 85.29 0 2 0.00
Territory Storm Between 2017 and 2019 Sunshine Coast Lightning formed a partnership withTerritory Storm of theAustralian Netball League . Storm were effectively Lightning'sreserve team . In 2019, with a team featuring Lightning playersCara Koenen ,Annika Lee-Jones ,Peace Proscovia , andJacqui Russell , Storm enjoyed one of their best seasons in the ANL, winning six matches and finishing fifth.[ 65] [ 66] [ 67] [ 68] [ 69] [ 70]
USC Thunder Since 2019, USC Thunder have played in theHART Sapphire Series . They were formed as a partnership between Sunshine Coast Lightning and theUniversity of the Sunshine Coast . They play home games at theUSC Stadium .[ 71] [ 72] [ 73]
Capital Darters In 2019 it was announced that Sunshine Coast Lightning had formed a partnership withCapital Darters . Darters were due to play in the 2020Australian Netball League season. However the season was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic .[ 74] [ 75] [ 76] [ 77] [ 78] [ 79]
Australian Netball Championships In September 2021, Sunshine Coast Lightning were due to enter a reserve team in the inauguralAustralian Netball Championships tournament.[ 80] [ 81] COVID-19 pandemic . Lightning's ANC team subsequently played in a four team series, playing againstQueensland Sapphires , the Queensland Sunsmen's netball team and PacificAus Sports, aPacific Islander select.[ 73] [ 82] [ 83] [ 84]
Club Premierships (2) Home courts Seasons (8) Captains Coaches Competition Affiliations
The club Home grounds Culture Important figures League Titles Seasons Other competitions Affiliations
Organising body Teams
Seasons Awards Related Competitions
Governing bodies National team Competitions
SSN teams History Other
Netball in Queensland
Governing bodies Teams
Venues See also
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