Super Netball 2025 news: Silver Ferns’ star turns back on nation for Swifts deal
The NSW Swifts have added some much needed star power to its line-up for the 2025 season with a Silver Ferns star turning her back to her national team to sign in with the Super Netball club.
New South Wales Swifts have secured a major Super Netball coup, signing Silver Ferns star goaler Grace Nweke, who will surrender her eligibility to play for New Zealand next year with her move across the ditch.
In the biggest signing of the Super Netball off-season to date, the Swifts confirmed they had secured the 22-year-old shooting ace as a replacement for Sam Wallace-Joseph, who they parted ways with mid-year, for the 2025 season.
But Netball New Zealand was quick to react to Nweke’s signing, saying she would become unavailable for Silver Ferns selection next year by playing in Australia.
The governing body said Nweke would still be eligible for the 2024 internationals for the Silver Ferns, however, having played for the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Premiership this year.
The specialist goal shooter has more than 30 Test caps to her name and scored the winning goal in the 2024 grand final against the Central Pulse in the ANZ Premiership decider. She was named the NZ player of the year in 2022.
Nweke will make the move to Sydney to begin pre-season training with the Swifts after her current international commitments with New Zealand have been completed.
The signing is an attacking coup for the Swifts, who missed the Super Netball finals this year, finishing sixth on the ladder.
Swifts’ head coach Briony Akle was excited to have secured Nweke’s signature and said the club was prepared to work with the Silver Ferns on Nweke’s availability.
“Grace is one of the best shooters in the world and we are very excited to welcome her to the Swifts,” Akle said.
“While she has established herself at international level, I feel she has only scratched the surface of her potential and we cannot wait to share this next chapter with her.
“When we chatted with Grace it was clear that she wanted to test herself in our competition and continue her growth as a player and person and that resonates with us.
“As a club we are also deeply committed to supporting the aspirations of all our athletes when it comes to playing international netball.
“We work closely with the likes of the Australian Diamonds and England Roses to ensure availability of our athletes for international competition, and would of course do likewise for the Silver Ferns.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Grace to Sydney and supporting her in every way we can.”
Nweke said she was ready for a “shake-up” in her netball career and hoped playing in the Super Netball league would help grow her game.
“Playing with the Swifts in Australia will provide me with new challenges and experiences that will further hone my skills and, ultimately, benefit my game at all levels,” Nweke said.
“Getting the opportunity to be exposed to different playing styles and strategies, week in and week out, is really important for my development and I am honoured to have the chance to do this at a club as successful and storied as the Swifts.
“I am ready for a shake-up and a new journey and cannot wait to get started with the Swifts.”
Nweke understood the sacrifice she was making regarding her international eligibility, but suggested she would be back to fight for her position in the Silver Ferns “when the time comes”.
“To me the most important thing is to maintain strong and healthy relationship and to me that is always about communication,” Nweke said.
“I will now focus on the upcoming Silver Ferns season and give my all to the black dress, understanding that I will also need to fight for my position in the side when the time comes and I am once again available for the Silver Ferns.”
NNZ board chair Matt Whineray respected Nweke’s decision and hoped she would return to New Zealand in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2027 World Cup.
“We understand this has been a very difficult decision for Grace to make, and one that she has not taken lightly,” Whineray said.
“As someone who is a future leader within the Silver Ferns, Grace has expressed to us her desire to continue to grow both on and off the court and be the best Silver Fern she can be.
We look forward to seeing Grace back in time for the Commonwealth Games and 2027 Netball World Cup.”
Uneeq Palavi had stepped into the goal shooter’s position at the Swifts after the club parted ways with Wallace-Joseph in mid-June due to a matter which “concerned her behaviour within the team environment”.
Nweke’s signing also has implications for Diamonds’ goaler Donnell Wallam with another goal shooting position locked away, following the re-signing of Romelda Aiken at the Thunderbirds and Shimona Jok at the Mavericks in the past two weeks.
Wallam was axed late last month by the Firebirds, who have signed 201cm Ugandan goal shooter Mary Cholhok as her replacement.
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