Super Netball star Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard announces pregnancy
West Coast Fever have lured a Super Netball great out of retirement after the heartwarming news star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is pregnant.
West Cover Fever super shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has announced she is pregnant and won’t be playing the 2026 Super Netball season — the side have already got her replacement lined up.
Fowler-Nembhard’s news, which was shared with the team several weeks ago, comes 11 months after the netballer had a miscarriage.
The 36-year-old shared the news publicly on Wednesday morning.
“I won’t be playing next season as my husband and I are expecting a child next year,” Fowler-Nembhard said.
“This pregnancy means a lot to my family and it goes to show how much God has been writing my story and his hand is on everything, I am giving all the glory to God.
“I will be in and around the girls as much as I can, making sure that my presence is still being felt. I will continue to do whatever I can off the court to motivate the team and play my part.”
Fowler-Nembhard thinks she will be back on the court in the future.
“I don’t feel like this is the time to retire from netball for me and with God’s will I am looking forward to coming back.”
Fever hasn’t wasted any time finding a replacement. Signing Fowler-Nembhard’s close friend, sharp shooter Romelda Aiken-George.
Aiken George played 14 seasons for the Firebirds, also played for the Swifts and spent the past two seasons with the Thunderbirds. She announced her retirement in July.
The 196cm tall shooter has netted more than 9000 national league goals in her 245 games and has won four premierships and two grand finals.
Aiken-George said she was excited for the opportunity to play with Fever.
“I am here to help the team achieve another championship and everything starts from pre-season so my job is to take everything in and build those connections,” Aiken-George said.
“I am very excited for the opportunity and for Dan Ryan and Sara Francis-Bayman to reach out to me I feel like they see my potential and my story isn’t quite finished yet.
Francis-Bayman said this replacement would allow Fever to keep their set-ups mostly unchanged.
“We all know that Jhaniele is irreplaceable but to be able to sign the league’s second all-time goalscorer and four-time premiership player in Romelda Aiken-George this is a huge signing for the club,” she said.
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