Super Netball champions rocked by Shamera Sterling-Humphrey pregnancy
One of the best players in world netball will miss the rest of the Super Netball after announcing some major personal news.
Adelaide Thunderbirds superstar Shamera Sterling-Humphrey has announced she is pregnant with her first child and will miss the rest of the Super Netball season.
Sterling-Humphrey led the Thunderbirds to back-to-back premierships last year and was named Super Netball’s Most Valuable Player in 2023.
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The 29-year-old said she was delighted to be entering a new chapter with her husband Andrew.
“I’m so excited to be having a little one and getting the opportunity to be back with my husband for this special moment – I know I’ll be a great mum,” Sterling-Humphrey said.
“I’ll miss being out on court this season, but I’ll continue supporting the team while I prepare for the arrival of our new family member.”
Sterling-Humphreys will be replaced in the Thunderbirds line-up by South Africa’s Sanmarie Visser, who originally joined the club as a temporary replacement player for shooter Romelda Aiken-George and will be elevated from a training partner contract to a replacement player.
Thunderbirds General Manager of High Performance Jace Bode said the club was thrilled for Sterling-Humphrey and her family.
“We know how much this means to Shamera and Andrew and we’re so excited for them to grow their family,” Bode said.
“As a team, we’ve loved having Romelda’s daughter Gigi around over the past two seasons and we look forward to meeting the newest member of the Tbirds family later this year.
“We will continue to support Shamera as she remains a significant part of our team, and we look forward to having her back on court in 2026.”
The Thunderbirds have one of the stronger squads in Super Netball but Sterling-Humphreys’ absence will leave a big hole in the team given she is the best defender in the world.
Adelaide sit second on the Super Netball ladder with two wins and one loss from three games so far. The Thunderbirds take on the Giants in Sydney on Saturday.
Sterling-Humphrey is the latest of several netball stars to announce their pregnancies, with NSW Swifts midcourt Maddy Proud and Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix announcing their pregnancies in the off-season.
Superstar Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard returned for the West Coast Fever last weekend after suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage in December.
Fowler-Nembhard shot 59 goals in an MVP performance in the Fever’s win over the Vixens in round 3.
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NSW Swifts vs Queensland Firebirds — Sunday 4pm, Ken Rosewall Arena (Kayo Freebies)
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