Swifts' Kiwi recruit in low-key Super Netball debut

NSW Swifts fans will have to wait an extra week to see star Kiwi recruit Grace Nweke in action, with the goal shooter to make her Super Netball debut in Perth next season.

The Swifts are hoping the towering Silver Ferns ace can restore them to the finals after she turned her back on the New Zealand dress to join the Australian competition.

The 22-year-old is expected to be back in the national line-up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, but NSW fans will look to savour having Nweke on their side after she proved almost unstoppable in New Zealand's recent stunning Constellation Cup win over the Diamonds.

She will make her debut against the West Coast Fever in Perth, before playing in front of her new home crowd in Sydney against Melbourne Mavericks in round two.

Super Netball boss Stacey West joked it was about "building suspense for the Sydney market".

"Grace is going to have an incredible impact and we're thrilled that she's joining the competition in 20225," West said after the 2025 draw was announced on Tuesday.

"I know the Swifts do enjoy that challenge of heading across to the west, but I reckon the Sydney crowd will welcome her home pretty strongly after that.

"She brings excitement and I do believe that those sort of marquee players, who really do bring the X-factor, are so significant for this league."

Other features of the draw include a grand final rematch between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens to open the ninth season, while round three is split over the Easter and Anzac Day weekends.

The 14-round competition gets under way on Saturday April 5 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and the grand final is already locked in for Melbourne, with the date and venue to be confirmed.

Almost 20 per cent of Super Netball players are now internationals, including one-third of the Jamaican national team who played at last year's World Cup.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich says this factor is limiting the progress for young Australian players, particularly in the goal circle, where 10 international goalers have been signed with 16 spots available in the eight Super Netball teams.

The New Zealand premiership has a limit of one import player per team, in contrast to the Australian league, which has unlimited imports.

Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam has signed to play in New Zealand with the Mystics after Queensland opted for 201cm Uganda goaler Mary Chulhock.

The league trialled the Super Netball Reserves five-week pilot program this season to try to bolster high-performance pathway opportunities.

"We've had great feedback and we will again endorse a Super Netball Reserves competition in 2025, and we're working with the teams and member organisations around the format and fixture," West said.

But she said for Super Netball to maintain its status it couldn't deny the game's elite players, with fans supporting the league in record crowd and broadcast figures this year.

"To be titled the world's best league means you have the world's best athletes, and we're bold at stating that,'' West said.

"We love what that elite product brings into this country for our league - entertainment, rivalry, competitiveness on the court - it's what captures our Super Netball environment."