Sunshine Coast Lightning
Founded2016
Based inUniversity of the Sunshine Coast
RegionsSunshine Coast, Queensland
Home venueUSC Stadium
ChairpersonMatt Tripp
Head coachBelinda Reynolds
CaptainStephanie Wood
Vice-captainTara Hinchliffe, Laura Scherian
Premierships2 (2017, 2018)
LeagueSuncorp Super Netball
2023 placing5th
Websitesunshinecoastlightning.com.au

Sunshine Coast Lightning are a professional Australian netball team based at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The team was formed in 2016 as a joint venture between the university and Melbourne Storm. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Lightning have played in three grand finals, winning premierships in 2017 and 2018. [1][2][3]

History

New franchise

12 May 2017; Sunshine Coast Lightning v West Coast Fever in a 2017 Suncorp Super Netball Round 12 match at USC Stadium

In May 2016, Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season. In Australia 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 and West 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 by Melbourne Storm and the University of the Sunshine Coast with the support of Sunshine 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 era

Noeline Taurua guided Sunshine Coast Lightning to the 2017 and 2018 Suncorp Super Netball titles

Before 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] In September 2016, Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood became the first two Lightning players.[2][13][14][15] Geva Mentor also subsequently signed for Lightning.[16][17] In February 2017, Mentor was named captain of the new franchise.[18][19] In 2017, Lightning finished the season as inaugural champions after defeating Giants Netball 65–48 in the grand final.[1][2][20][21][22] In 2018 they retained the title after defeating West Coast Fever 62–59 in the grand final.[1][2][23][24][25] In 2019, Lightning finished the regular season as minor premiers. [1][2][26][27] They also played in their third successive grand final but this time, they were defeated by New South Wales Swifts.[28][29] After three seasons as head coach at Lightning, Taurua resigned and was replaced by her assistant at the club, Kylee Byrne.[30][31][32][33]

Regular season statistics

Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2017[34]2nd1112
20184th815
20191st1202
2020[35]2nd905
2021[36]4th806
2022[37]8th4010
20235th608

  Premierships
  Minor Premierships

Grand finals

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue Attendance Ref
2017Sunshine Coast Lightning65–48Giants NetballBrisbane Entertainment Centre8,999[20][21][22]
2018Sunshine Coast Lightning62–59West Coast FeverPerth Arena13,722[23][24][25][38]
2019New South Wales Swifts64–47Sunshine Coast LightningBrisbane Entertainment Centre[28][29]

Home venues

Lightning play the majority of their home matches at USC Stadium. [3][9][39] They have also occasionally played home matches at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. [40][41]

Notable players

2024 squad

2024 Sunshine Coast Lightning roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
Australia Reilley Batcheldor GA, GS (2002-04-15) 15 April 2002 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Australia Ava Black C, WD (2003-06-12) 12 June 2003 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Australia Courtney Bruce GK, GD (1993-12-08) 8 December 1993 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Australia Mahalia Cassidy C, WA, WD (1995-10-09) 9 October 1995 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Australia Ash Ervin GK, GD (2003-05-15) 15 May 2003 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Australia Steph Fretwell (c) GA, WA, GS (1991-11-28) 28 November 1991 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Australia Tara Hinchliffe (vc) GD, GK (1998-05-25) 25 May 1998 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Australia Cara Koenen GS, GA (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Australia Leesa Mi Mi WA, C (2001-05-18) 18 May 2001 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Australia Liz Watson WA, C (1994-03-30) 30 March 1994 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Head coach
  • Belinda Reynolds[42]
Assistant coaches


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 20 December 2023

Internationals

 Australia
 Australia Fast5
 England
 Jamaica
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 Uganda

Captains

Years Ref
Geva Mentor2017–2018[19][22][44]
Laura Langman2019–2020[45][46]
Karla Pretorius2021[47][48]
Stephanie Wood2022–[49]

Award winners

Suncorp Super Netball

SSN Player of the Year
Season Player Ref
2017Geva Mentor[50][51]
SSN Grand Final MVP
Season Player Ref
2017Karla Pretorius[20]
2018Caitlin Bassett[23]
SSN Team of the Year
Season Players Ref
2017C: Laura Langman, GK: Geva Mentor[52][34]
2018GD: Karla Pretorius, GK: Geva Mentor[53]
2019GD: Karla Pretorius[54]
2020GD: Karla Pretorius Reserve: Cara Koenen[55]

Lightning awards

Player of the Year
Season Players Ref
2017Geva Mentor[56]
2018Stephanie Wood
Karla Pretorius		[57]
2019Karla Pretorius[58]
2020Karla Pretorius[59]
2021Stephanie Wood[60]
2022Mahalia Cassidy[61]
2023Stephanie Wood[62]
Players' Player of the Year
Season Players Ref
2017Geva Mentor[56]
2018Karla Pretorius[57]
2019Karla Pretorius[58]
2020Karla Pretorius[59]
2021Cara Koenen[60]
2022Mahalia Cassidy[61]
2023Stephanie Wood[62]
Team Spirit Award
Season Players Ref
2017Laura Scherian[56]
2018Jacqui Russell[57]
2019Jacqui Russell[58]
2020Madeline McAuliffe[59]
2021Kate Shimmin[60]
2023Karla Pretorius[62]
Members' Player of the Year
Season Players Ref
2017Laura Langman[56]
2018Stephanie Wood[57]
2019Karla Pretorius[58]
2020Cara Koenen[59]
2021Cara Koenen[60]
2022Laura Scherian[61]
2023Stephanie Wood[62]

Shooting statistics

(as at end of 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season)
Super Shot
SeasonsPlayerGoalsAttempts %GoalsAttempts %
2017–18Caitlin Bassett1357145493.33–
2017–Cara Koenen2289252490.69133735.14
2017–Stephanie Wood1486181781.7818433255.42
2019–21Peace Proscovia67073391.41040.00
2020–21Binnian Hunt91850.002450.00
2020, 2022Annabelle Lawrie33100.00050.00
2022Reilley Batcheldor12314286.62376953.62
2022Annika Lee-Jones2450.00–
2023–Charlie Bell293485.29020.00

Head coaches

Coach Years Ref
Noeline Taurua2016–2019[9][11][12][30][31][32][33]
Kylee Byrne2019–2022[30][31][32][33]
Belinda Reynolds2023–[63]

Reserve teams

Territory Storm

Between 2017 and 2019 Sunshine Coast Lightning formed a partnership with Territory Storm of the Australian Netball League. Storm were effectively Lightning's reserve team. In 2019, with a team featuring Lightning players Cara Koenen, Annika Lee-Jones, Peace Proscovia, and Jacqui Russell, Storm enjoyed one of their best seasons in the ANL, winning six matches and finishing fifth.[64][65][66][67][68][69]

USC Thunder

Since 2019, USC Thunder have played in the HART Sapphire Series. They were formed as a partnership between Sunshine Coast Lightning and the University of the Sunshine Coast. They play home games at the USC Stadium.[70][71][72]

Capital Darters

In 2019 it was announced that Sunshine Coast Lightning had formed a partnership with Capital Darters. Darters were due to play in the 2020 Australian Netball League season. However the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[73][74][75][76][77][78]

Australian Netball Championships

In September 2021, Sunshine Coast Lightning were due to enter a reserve team in the inaugural Australian Netball Championships tournament.[79][80] However, this tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lightning's ANC team subsequently played in a four team series, playing against Queensland Sapphires, the Queensland Suns men's netball team and PacificAus Sports, a Pacific Islander select.[72][81][82][83]

Premierships

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sunshine Coast Lightning.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Us". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Club History". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sunshine Coast Lightning". supernetball.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Eight team Australian national league to begin in 2017". www.abc.net.au. 11 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "New netball League a breakthrough for women's sport". www.abc.net.au. 16 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal". www.abc.net.au. 19 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Netball Australia – Annual Report 2016" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Our Co-Owners: Melbourne Storm & USC". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Our new team's striking display of confidence". www.couriermail.com.au. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Lightning joins Storm family". www.melbournestorm.com.au. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  11. 1 2 "New Zealand netball coach Noeline Taurua to lead new Queensland-based team". www.abc.net.au. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Taurua appointed inaugural netball coach". www.melbournestorm.com.au. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Diamond stars Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood join Sunshine Coast Lightning". mysunshinecoast.com.au. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Diamond stars join Sunshine Coast Lightning". www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sunshine Coast Lightning unveil Diamonds stars Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood as inaugural signings". www.couriermail.com.au. 22 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Sunshine Coast Lightning star Geva Mentor says team can learn from Melbourne Storm NRL side". www.foxsports.com.au. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Star Lightning recruit Geva Mentor ready determined to help fledgling team establish themselves". www.couriermail.com.au. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Lightning has perfect Mentor for captain". www.couriermail.com.au. 11 February 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Mentor named Lightning captain". supernetball.com.au. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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  27. ↑ "Lightning Wrap-up Top Spot After Dominant Win Over Thunderbirds". supernetball.com.au. 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  28. 1 2 "NSW Swifts stun Sunshine Coast Lighting to claim dominant Super Netball grand final victory". www.abc.net.au. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  29. 1 2 "The NSW Swifts are the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Champions". supernetball.com.au. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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  31. 1 2 3 "Taurua To Step Down from Lightning At Season's End". supernetball.com.au. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  32. 1 2 3 "World Cup-winning coach Noeline Taurua to leave Super Netball". www.theguardian.com. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
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  39. ↑ "USC Stadium". www.austadiums.com. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  40. ↑ "Sunshine Shootout heads to Brisbane". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. 20 March 2019.
  41. ↑ "Lightning defeat Firebirds in riveting Queensland derby". www.couriermail.com.au. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  42. ↑ "SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING ANNOUNCE NEW HEAD COACH". Sunshine Coast Lightning. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
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  45. ↑ "New leadership team announced for season 3". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. 15 April 2019.
  46. ↑ "Netball legend Langman calls time on career". supernetball.com.au. 21 October 2020.
  47. ↑ "Lightning Name 2021 Leaders". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
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  54. ↑ "2019 Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year". supernetball.com.au. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021.
  55. ↑ "Fowler wins third Player of the Year Award". supernetball.com.au. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
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  65. ↑ "Netball Northern Territory Annual Report 2016" (PDF). nt.netball.com.au. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  66. ↑ "2019 Territory Storm Team Announced". nt.netball.com.au. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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  71. ↑ "USC Thunder". sapphireseries.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  72. 1 2 "Elite Pathways". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  73. ↑ "Netball ACT Annual Report 2019" (PDF). act.netball.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  74. ↑ "Introducing the Capital Darters". act.netball.com.au. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  75. ↑ "Inaugural Capital Darters Team Announcement". act.netball.com.au. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  76. ↑ "Lightning To Align With Netball ACT's Capital Darters in ANL". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  77. ↑ "DUANL Season Cancellation Ends Darters' Inaugural Season". act.netball.com.au. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
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  79. ↑ "Record number of teams enter ANC". netball.com.au. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  80. ↑ "Australian Netball Championships – 2021 Fixture" (PDF). netball.com.au. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  81. ↑ "Exciting talent to light up the coast in Born to Shine series". qld.netball.com.au. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  82. ↑ "Elite stars on court". www.pressreader.com. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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