The Australian Diamonds are falling behind the rest of the nation’s women’s sporting codes

Some of Australia’s best netballers are working on a 12 month cycle, yet they earn a fraction compared to the nation’s other women’s codes. So, how much is a Diamond worth?

How much is a Diamond worth? The short answer is far less than you think.

And the truth of the matter is Australia’s Diamonds players are undervalued in the national sporting landscape.

When you look at the growth of income for women’s sports with the likes of the Matildas and the Australian women’s cricket teams earning enormous payments for representing their country, you can’t help but feel netball is being left behind.

The commercial value of the Diamonds - one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams - as not been fully realised and with news there will now be a World Cup every two years from 2027 the sport must find a way to maximise the value of this brand.

The Australian Diamonds have fallen behind their counterparts in terms of pay. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

REALITY OF LIFE AS A DIAMOND

As the Super Netball regular season ends this weekend, up to 40 players will finish their 2025 campaigns when the final whistle blows.

Some of those 40 players will earn selection for international duties, with a Diamonds squad of up to 18 players to be named in the next week.

Further players may be invited into the Diamonds set up, which will mean at least three more months of training, camps, practice matches, injury rehabilitation or management, plus ongoing performance analysis and team building for the two upcoming Test series which end in late October.

The disjointed Super Netball and International calendar means those players will only get approximately four weeks off after the Constellation Cup in October and then it is back to preparation with their SSN clubs and preparing for the next Diamonds Camp in January.

Netball is now a tough year-round gig. You are required to compete at a world class level with full-time training, matches and other club or country commercial commitments.

With two big events coming up, next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the World Cup in Sydney in 2027, the Diamonds will be under pressure to perform and retain their No.1 status.

The commitment and preparation required to be the elite of the elite is unrelenting.

HOW ARE DIAMONDS PAID? 

You will be surprised to know that the very best netballers in Australia only earn around 160,000 a year in a busy year.

But our best netballers’ total is a combination of their SSN playing contract and Diamonds playing payments (but excludes ambassadorships and commercial arrangements).

And a busy year means more Test matches, because the Diamonds are all paid a daily rate, not a tiered retainer.

That is a very important point because all players in the Diamonds squad are paid equally, regardless of performance, experience or longevity.

While cricket or football might have tiered arrangements or separate deals for star players, the only difference at Diamonds level is the captain and vice-captain get a leadership bonus.

New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, for example, usually give 16 players yearly contracts but these are tiered based on experience levels and performance. So, the rookie earns less than the veteran.

Australian Diamonds are all paid the same daily rate. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

But equality has traditionally been part of the Diamonds set up since player payments started in the late 1990s. It is seen as a very egalitarian arrangement and fitting of the “Sisters in Arms” trademark for the team to be treated as equals.

From about 2018, squad members all receive a retainer and a squad daily rate for camps or a team daily rate for any Test series which will mean all 15 travelling Diamonds will be paid equally.

There is also the complicated DAIS athlete support system, which is paid through the AIS, that goes to athletes who earn under a certain taxable income per year.

This can see some of the rookie squad members boost their overall income (including SSN payments) to levels of experienced Diamonds.

Not only does that reward emerging talent but helps support the team philosophy and may be the reason the Diamonds continue to be world No.1.

IS IT ENOUGH?

Well, the top netballer in Australia is probably earning just below the average salary ($163,000) of a women’s domestic cricketer in Australia - so you tell me? 

The top paid women’s cricketer earns $800,000 from Cricket Australia.

The top Matildas players earn up to $200,000 a year from Football Australia, while the lower-level Tillies earn about $120,000.

Australia’s women’s crickets are among the highest paid. Picture: William WEST / AFP

Yes, those sports play more international matches, but the time and effort required to make the Diamonds the world No.1 team is just as physically and mentally demanding across the 12-month calendar.

Does this mean that the Diamonds are fairly compensated for their time and effort for their

country? Probably not.

It all goes back to the players needing to be paid what they’re worth from Netball Australia and being part of the revenue share of Diamonds’ sponsorship dollars and international ticket sales is important for the growth of the sport and for rewarding our best players.

The sport, as most people understand, is stretched to the limit. However, the Diamonds are the pinnacle and deserve to be paid more for their performances on the world stage and the pride they bring to Australia.

Originally published as The Australian Diamonds are falling behind the rest of the nation’s women’s sporting codes