Super Netball 2024 team news: Thunderbirds champ switches teams to be closer to AFL star

An Aussie sporting power couple have been reunited after a champion netballer returned to her old team in a major team switch.

Super Netball teams are beginning to unveil their 2024 squads after netball’s pay war finally ended this week.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan resigned in the wake of a tumultuous time in charge, including the recent ugly and emotional standoff with players over their new pay deal.

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The new deal will see average salaries for Australia’s netballers rise to just under $90,000 and players will get a share of revenue.

Players had been left in limbo for months without a contract, but now a new Collective Players’ Agreement has been agreed on, teams are starting to make contract announcements for 2024.

First cab off the rank was the Queensland Firebirds, who announced midcourter Lara Dunkley had re-signed for two more years.

The Firebirds also announced midcourter/goal attack Tippah Dwan would return to the team after two seasons with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, with whom she won the 2023 Super Netball premiership.

Power couple Tippah Dwan and Josh Dunkley will both play in Brisbane. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The face of every netball fan trying to keep up to date with contract news. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Dwan’s boyfriend is Brisbane Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley, who is also Lara’s brother, and her team switch means the couple will live out their professional sporting dreams in the same city.

“We were joking about it yesterday with him,” Dwan said.

“Hopefully the Lions can do one better and we can get two Queensland teams in the granny.”

Eighty players are on the market ahead of next year’s Super Netball season.

Elsewhere, the Giants announced they had re-signed seven players for 2024 including veteran shooter Jo Harten, as well as Diamonds stars Jamie-Lee Price and Sophie Dwyer.

Lara Dunkley and Tippah Dwan have signed on with the Firebirds. Photo: Instagram.

Tippah Dwan is returning to her old team. Photo: Instagram.

The NSW Swifts have confirmed just one player on their roster for next season, with gun defender Sarah Klau to continue in the red dress after cementing her place in the Diamonds team at international level.

The West Coast Fever have had a mass exodus of players in the off-season, with Courtney Bruce, Sasha Glasgow, Rudi Ellis, Emma Cosh, Kim Jenner and Verity Simmons all set to leave the club.

But perhaps the most significant team news in years was confirmed when the Sunshine Coast Lightning announced Liz Watson was joining the two-time Super Netball champions.

Watson has played her entire career at the Melbourne Vixens, playing in premierships in 2014 and 2020.

The Vixens were wooden spooners in 2021 when Watson missed the entire season with a foot injury.

The Super Netball 2024 season will begin in mid April.

Super Netball contracted players confirmed

Queensland Firebirds: Lara Dunkley, Tippah Dwan

GIANTS: Jo Harten, Maddie Hay, Sophie Dwyer, Jamie-Lee Price, Tilly McDonnell, Amy Sligar, Matisse Letherbarrow

Sunshine Coast Lightning: Liz Watson

NSW Swifts: Sarah Klau

Adelaide Thunderbirds: Georgie Horjus

Originally published as Super Netball 2024 team news: Thunderbirds champ switches teams to be closer to AFL star