Analysis: More than half of Super Netball full time players will be out of contract after the 2025 season

Super Netball’s silly season is still another year away, but CODE SPORTS can reveal that more than half of full time players will be without a contract at season’s end. Click for every team’s analysis.

Six of the eight Super Netball clubs’ captains or co-captains are among more than half the league’s players off contract at the end of the 2025 season.

A CODE Sports analysis of the contracts of all full-time players in the league has shown 51 of the 80 players are out of contract at the year’s end.

That figure does not include the four players currently on short-term deals as temporary or permanent replacement players for those expected back at some stage this season or next from long-term injury and pregnancy.

Super Netball remains a year away from the signing silly season - a period in which every player in the competition is off-contract at the same time - but given the number of players in the last season of their deals, there remains the potential for significant movement within the league.

A host of star players are out of Super Netball contracts after this season.

Those off contract include some of the biggest names in the league, including both of last year’s grand final captains - Adelaide Thunderbirds’ Hannah Petty and Melbourne Vixens mentor Kate Moloney, as well as Sunshine Coast Lightning stalwart and former Diamonds vice-captain Steph Wood, Melbourne Mavericks leader Amy Parmenter, Queensland Firebirds co-captain Hulita Veve and Giants co-captain Jo Harten.

And while Super Netball is viewed as the toughest competition in the world, big-name internationals also litter the off-contract list, including star shooters Grace Nweke (Swifts), Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Fran Williams (both Fever), Eleanor Cardwell (Mavericks) and Romelda Aiken-George (Thunderbirds).

With clubs able to do deals with their own players at any time though, the future of at least half the players on the list is expected to be sorted by the time the contracting window opens to rival clubs in August.

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

T-Birds officials have some work to do before the end of the season, with half the full-time list including captain Hannah Petty set to be re-signed or replaced for 2026. Key planks in place in defence and midcourt, with all three international defenders, midcourt ace Georgie Horjus and rising star Tayla Williams sewn up. But all three goalers off contract at the end of the year.

GIANTS NETBALL

Some big decisions ahead for the Giants, especially if they finish outside the top four again this season. Recontracted several list members at the end of last year despite finishing with the wooden spoon. Biggest decision will come from co-captain Jo Harten, who is set to make a call on her playing future at year’s end. Coach Julie Fitzgerald also off contract.

MELBOURNE MAVERICKS

Just one Mavs player - Kim Brown (Jenner) is contracted for 2026 but that’s largely to do with the fact the league’s newest club only engaged its entire list for two seasons initially. Brown became the first Mav to sign for 2026 in the off-season but expect plenty more to follow before other clubs can get a look-in.

MELBOURNE VIXENS

The only club that does not release the length of their signings publicly, the Vixens are understood to have signed only two players, Emily Mannix and Kiera Austin to the maximum three-year contract ahead of last season, meaning that unless recent upgrades have been inked, some of the biggest names in the game, including captain Kate Moloney and fellow Diamonds Sophie Garbin and Jo Weston are entering their final year of deals. Likely to be rectified soon after club legend Sharelle McMahon started her new role as Netball Victoria’s general manager of high performance and pathways earlier this month.

NSW SWIFTS

Locked several big names up for the maximum three years ahead of the 2024 season but have the league’s biggest new name in goaler Grace Nweke tied up for just the 2025 season, with her stay in Supre Netball likely to depend on whether the Silver Ferns relax their eligibility rules. Will also be keen to lock up rising stars Teigan O’Shannassy and Sophie Fawns.

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS

After several tumultuous years, the Firebirds could be in for yet more change, with six of their 10 players off contract at the end of the season, including new co-captain Hulita Veve. Diamonds defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran and imports Mary Cholhok and Imogen Allison are locked down for the next two years though, as is Macy Gardner.

SUNSHINE COACH LIGHTNING

Another club with several players off contract at the end of the season, expect the Lightning to get deals done before other clubs can initiate talks with the likes of dynamic midcourter Leesa Mi Mi or Diamonds squad member Ash Ervin. Captain Steph Fretwell, now 33, will make a big call on her future but could be content to bow out with a premiership.

WEST COAST FEVER

Having upgraded Diamonds defender Sunday Aryang until the end of 2026 before the start of the season, the Fever now have just (cough) half their list off contract at the end of the year. Some big calls to be made by, and on, imports including Jamaican great Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.

Originally published as Analysis: More than half of Super Netball full time players will be out of contract after the 2025 season