Whoopi Goldberg’s ultimate sister act to Aussie netballers

Star actress Whoopi Goldberg is set to help expose Australia’s finest talent to more than 65 new countries and more than 900 million households in her new role.

She’s played just about every character in Hollywood.

But, as far as Netball Australia is concerned, Whoopi Goldberg’s greatest role is about to begin.

In the ultimate Sister Act, the actress, comedian, and television star has struck a broadcast partnership deal with the code, that will see the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) beamed across the globe.

Goldberg, 69, an unsuspecting sport’s nut, will use her newly-launched All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN) will take Australia’s finest talent to more than 65 new countries – and more than 900 million households – over the coming three years.

“I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you,” Goldberg, whose goal is to champion the cause of female athletes, said in a video statement to Suncorp Super Netball.

Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) will be beamed across the globe thanks to Whoopi Goldberg.

Netball Australia Chair and former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis was heartened by the move.

“It’s great to see someone like Whoopi Goldberg investing in women’s sport. People like her don’t invest unless they can see the value in it,” she said.

Goldberg’s network offers live and archived coverage of women’s sports – from soccer, basketball, tennis, and cricket.

Some of the biggest leagues in the world are featured, including Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).

Melbourne Mavericks player Shimona Jok with junior Essendon Netball Club players Charlotte and Ivy, are happy with the move. Picture: David Caird

The historic deal came about after AWSN’s Programming Director Tony Parish, a former NFL player, and Chief Content Officer George Chung, an ex-NFL coach, reached out to a Netball Australia executive.

Mr Parish and Mr Chung had seen Netball Australia’s online and social content, and became interesting to know more about SSN.

Ms Ellis says the deal shows netball’s value, not only in Australia, but on a global level as well.

“We know that viewership of Suncorp Super Netball is growing in international audiences, and so to have it be able to sit alongside all of the big women’s leagues is really exciting,” Ms Ellis said.

“Netball, both in this country and internationally, has got an enormous amount of potential that we haven’t yet really fully realised.

“You only need to look at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 to see that netball is the only full team sport, and that’s not an accident that we’re there. We’re there because we rate.

“So it’s … a step towards where we want to get to.”

Hulita Veve the co-captain/centre and Mary Cholhok the goal shooter, are Firebirds players. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West said the broadcast deal “cements our place at the forefront of women’s sport.”

“AWSN shares our vision of taking women’s sport to new heights. Together, we’re creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before,” Ms West said.

Ms Ellis says the new partnership would inspire girls to join the sport.

“The more we have our athletes featured in places like the AWSN … it really does create terrific role models for these young girls and women to look up to and to want to emulate,” she said.

Originally published as Whoopi Goldberg’s ultimate sister act to Aussie netballers