Star recruit Grace Nweke has stamped herself as the best in the business as she took on the world’s best defender and dominated to help the Swifts to a 65-57 win over reigning champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
But MVP honours belonged to teammate Teigan O’Shannassy who played a breakout game to rack up a whopping six intercepts in just 35 minutes on court – eclipsing her previous career best of two.
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Remarkably, the Swifts managed a total of seven intercepts for the entire match as the young O’Shannassy refused to be overawed by her match up on Jamaican international Romelda Aiken-George.
“We wanted to come out here, we had nothing to lose. Wanted to show we were not afraid,” the defender told Fox Netball after the win.
Emotions were running high post-game as the league paid tribute to Aiken-George as she broke netball great Geva Mentor’s record for most games played across the combined ANZ Premiership/Super Netball competitions.
The star goaler and her teammate, defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, were both openly crying as celebrations were made courtside for Aiken-George’s incredible milestone.
Despite a hot start by the Thunderbirds, it was the third quarter that turned the match back into the Swifts favour as they piled on 21 goals to just 12 following the introduction of O’Shannassy.
And the side refused to wilt from there, as they managed an incredible 100% gains to goal ratio – compared to the Tbirds’ 40% for the match.
“That is incredible – we have not seen many teams do that,” Fox Netball’s Em Beaton said of that stat.
“They’ve sent a message to the competition – they are here to play and they are contenders in 2025.”
Nweke finished the game with 48 goals at 96% accuracy while teammate Helen Housby added 13 goals – including an outstanding 9/9 supershots.
The result breaks Adelaide’s run of 11 straight wins at home.
In Sunday’s other clash, it’s deja vu for the Giants as they remain winless after three rounds – just as they did in 2024.
Skipper Jamie-Lee Price couldn’t hide her disappointment in the side’s 15-goal loss to the previously winless Melbourne Mavericks who went into the clash with just one fit contracted shooter.
“Going into this game I was so excited because it was such a huge opportunity for us,” Price said.
“It’s just that consistency.
“I just feel like we have so much potential but we’re just not showing it.
“It’s just like learning to win; having or knowing the confidence in ourselves that we can win and we are good enough.”
Price conceded it was “probably a good thing” the team now had a bye before taking on back-to-back reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
While it was disappointment for the Giants, it was elevation for the Mavericks who were forced to take in a new-look attack end with duo Sasha Glasgow and Nyah Allen ruled out on Friday, joining contracted shooter Eleanor Cardwell on the sidelines.
That left training partner Uneeq Palavi (9/11 goals) to partner the only contracted attack end squad member Shimona Jok – who dominated with 60 goals in game 100.
Defenders Kim Brown and Liv Lewis impressed with three intercepts each while for the Giants, it was Matisse Letherbarrow (21/25 goals – including 5/8 supershots) who top scored in just a half on court.
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