The New South Wales Swifts are a professional netball team based in Sydney, Australia. They represent the state of New South Wales and compete in Suncorp Super Netball, the country’s premier domestic league. Formed in 2007, the Swifts are one of Australia’s most successful clubs, with a national title in the very first year they took the court and further championships in the Super Netball era. This guide explains where the club came from, what it has won and who plays for it today.
Key Facts
| Club | New South Wales Swifts |
|---|---|
| Based in | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Founded | 2007 (debuted 2008) |
| League | Suncorp Super Netball |
| Home venue | Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney Olympic Park |
| Team colour | Red |
| Head coach | Briony Akle (since 2017) |
| Captain (2026) | Maddy Turner |
| Major titles | ANZ Championship 2008; Super Netball 2019 & 2021 |
| Official website | nswswifts.com.au |
Who are the New South Wales Swifts?
Netball is a seven-a-side ball sport, popular across Commonwealth countries, in which players pass a ball down a marked court to score goals through a hoop. Each player is restricted to certain zones by the position printed on their bib. If you are new to the sport, our overview of netball positions explains how the seven roles work.
The Swifts are the Sydney-based franchise in Australia’s national league. The club is run by Netball New South Wales and draws players from across the state’s strong grassroots and pathway system. Their home colour is red, and their supporter base is known affectionately as the “Swifts Family.”
Formation: two clubs become one (2007–2008)
The Swifts were created in late 2007 when Netball New South Wales merged its two teams from the old Commonwealth Bank Trophy competition — the Sydney Swifts and the Hunter Jaegers — into a single side. The goal was to field one strong New South Wales team in the new trans-Tasman ANZ Championship, which brought together the best Australian and New Zealand clubs from 2008.
The Sydney Swifts had been a powerhouse of the earlier era, winning several Commonwealth Bank Trophy titles, so the new club inherited a proud history and an established fan following.
ANZ Championship years (2008–2016)
The Swifts made an immediate impact. Coached by Julie Fitzgerald and captained by shooter Catherine Cox, they won the inaugural 2008 ANZ Championship — the first champions of the new trans-Tasman league.
Success was harder to come by over the following seasons. The team reached the grand final again in 2015 but were beaten by the Queensland Firebirds in a dramatic finish, finishing as runners-up. The ANZ Championship was wound up after the 2016 season, ending the trans-Tasman format.
Move to Suncorp Super Netball (2017–present)
In 2017 the Australian teams broke away to form a new, fully professional domestic competition, Suncorp Super Netball. The Swifts joined the new league along with the other Australian franchises.
Under head coach Briony Akle the club enjoyed a golden run. The Swifts won the 2019 title, beating the Sunshine Coast Lightning 64–47 in the grand final, and added a second Super Netball crown in 2021 with a 63–59 win over cross-city rivals Giants Netball. They have remained a consistent finals contender since, reaching the preliminary final in both 2024 and 2025.
Honours
| Competition | Title(s) | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ Championship | 2008 | 2015 |
| Suncorp Super Netball | 2019, 2021 | — |
| Commonwealth Bank Trophy (as Sydney Swifts) | Multiple titles | — |
Home venue: Ken Rosewall Arena
The Swifts play their home matches at Ken Rosewall Arena, part of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct in Sydney’s west. The venue gives the club a central, purpose-built home, and selected marquee games are occasionally staged at larger Sydney arenas to accommodate bigger crowds.
Head coaches
Julie Fitzgerald (2008–2011)
A highly experienced New South Wales coach, Fitzgerald led the Swifts to the inaugural ANZ Championship title in 2008.
Lisa Beehag (2012–2013)
Beehag took charge of the Swifts for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Rob Wright (2014–2016)
Wright coached the club in the mid-2010s and guided the Swifts to the 2015 ANZ Championship grand final, where they finished runners-up.
Briony Akle (2017–present)
A former Swifts player who came up through the Netball NSW pathway, Akle has been head coach since 2017. She has led the club to two Suncorp Super Netball titles, in 2019 and 2021.
Notable players
Grace Nweke
A New Zealand international goal shooter, Grace Nweke joined the Swifts for the 2025 season and was voted the club’s most valuable player in her debut year. She re-signed for 2026 and is one of the most prolific shooters in the competition.
Helen Housby
An England international, Helen Housby joined the Swifts in 2017 and has been a mainstay ever since. She is known for her accuracy and composure, and famously scored the game-winning goal for England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games final. She was named the club’s vice-captain for the 2026 season.
Paige Hadley
Paige Hadley has been a long-standing member of the Swifts, joining the team in 2011. A versatile midcourter, she has captained the club and represented the Australian Diamonds.
Maddy Proud
Midcourter and long-serving co-captain Maddy Proud is a key on-court leader for the Swifts. She stepped away from the game in 2025 on maternity leave and returned to the squad for the 2026 season.
Maddy Turner
Defender Maddy Turner was appointed sole captain of the Swifts for the 2026 season, leading a squad that blends experienced internationals with emerging talent.
The club’s honour roll also includes earlier greats such as Catherine Cox, Susan Pratley, Kimberlee Green and Caitlin Thwaites, who all served the team during its formative ANZ Championship years.
Rivalries
The Swifts’ fiercest domestic rivalry is the “Sydney Derby” against Giants Netball, the other Sydney-based Super Netball club — the two met in the 2021 grand final. The club also shares long-standing rivalries with the Queensland Firebirds, the Melbourne Vixens and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, dating back to the intense Australia-versus-New Zealand clashes of the ANZ Championship.
Fans and community
Beyond the elite team, the Swifts are active in grassroots netball across New South Wales. The club and Netball NSW run clinics, school programmes and pathway squads designed to grow participation and develop the next generation of players, helping to sustain the loyal supporter base that follows the team each season.
Sources
- New South Wales Swifts — official website
- Netball NSW — History of Netball NSW
- ABC News — Swifts win the 2019 Super Netball grand final
- Rookie Me Central — Firebirds defeat Swifts in the 2015 ANZ Championship grand final
- Netball Australia — 2024 Super Netball grand final report
- 1News — Grace Nweke and the Silver Ferns exemption (Swifts shooter)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
When were the New South Wales Swifts formed?
The club was formed in late 2007, when Netball New South Wales merged its two Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams — the Sydney Swifts and the Hunter Jaegers — to enter a single side in the 2008 ANZ Championship.
How many championships have the Swifts won?
In the trans-Tasman and national leagues the Swifts have won three major titles: the inaugural 2008 ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball titles in 2019 and 2021. Their predecessor, the Sydney Swifts, also won multiple Commonwealth Bank Trophy titles.
Where do the Swifts play their home games?
The Swifts play at Ken Rosewall Arena in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct in western Sydney, with selected big matches occasionally held at larger arenas.
Who coaches the New South Wales Swifts?
Briony Akle has been the head coach since 2017. A former Swifts player, she guided the club to Super Netball titles in 2019 and 2021.
Which league do the Swifts compete in?
The Swifts compete in Suncorp Super Netball, Australia’s premier domestic netball competition. From 2008 to 2016 they played in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship.
