Netball Australia announced today the athletes selected for the 2025 17/U and 19/U Australian National netball squads, with fourteen NSW athletes named across the two squads.
The selected cohorts showcase the next generation of elite netball talent, identified from across the country, and represent a key step in the high-performance pathway toward national and international success.
The two squads were informed by standout performances at the National Netball Championships held in Sydney last week, where our 19U took home Gold and the 17Us silver.
The Championships saw athletes from all states and territories compete at the highest level of youth netball, and selectors were impressed by the skill, intensity and composure shown throughout the week.
NSW Athletes Selected
17U
- Marley Aplin (Orange Netball Association)
- Evalina Carneiro (Sutherland Shire Netball Association)
- Marley Dighton (Ku-ring-gai Netball Association)
- Matilda Fanning (Sutherland Shire Netball Association)
- Sarah Hicks (Baulkham Hills Shire Netball Association)
- Ruby Nero (Manly Warringah Netball Association)
- Matilda Percival (Newcastle Netball Association)
19U
- Nicola Barge (Sutherland Shire Netball Association)
- Olivia Harris (Penrith District Netball Association)
- Sophia Martinussen (Randwick Netball Association)
- Nevaeh Matenga (Liverpool City Netball Association)
- Kelis Ogle (Liverpool City Netball Association)
- Skye Thompson (Sutherland Shire Netball Association)
- Hope White (Newcastle Netball Association)
See the full squad announcement here
Netball Australia’s 2025 selection panel included Head of Pathway Selections Michelle Wilkins, Pathway Head Coach Anita Keelan AM, and Australian 21/U Assistant Coach Kate Upton. The selectors were further supported by two panellists for each age group.
"These young athletes have demonstrated exceptional potential, and we're excited about what they bring to the future of the sport," said Wilkins.
“This cohort will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Australian netball, with major milestones like the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, providing inspiration for what is possible for Australian netballers.”
2025 Black Swans squad member Tia Molo is amongst the 19/U athletes selected in the national squad. Her selection follows a standout National Netball Championships performance that saw her awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“I was very grateful to be given the opportunity to be awarded the Most Valuable Player for the tournament,” Molo said.
“The Black Swans have helped me gain confidence in myself and stay true to me throughout the higher levels of netball, which has helped me as a player and as a person. For me it has set the standard of what team culture should really look like.”
“I think it shows all the training put in behind the scenes and how it really pays off, especially now being selected into the national squad which is another privilege I’m very grateful for.”
Of the 29 selected 19/U athletes, seven are currently linked to Suncorp Super Netball clubs, including fresh GIANTS signee – Hope White – who made her Suncorp Super Netball debut in Round 1 this year.
2025 Suncorp Super Netball training partners include Charlotte Walker (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Nicola Barge (NSW Swifts), Mia Lavis (Melbourne Vixens), Kirra Tappenden and Sasha-May Flegler (Queensland Firebirds), and Jada Delaney (Sunshine Coast Lightning).
The selected athletes will enter national development camps designed to foster their growth on and off the court.
17/U squad members will come together at the Australian Institute of Sport this July, with the 19/U squad set for their camp in September.
Learning opportunities will be centred around specialist and skills-based court sessions, education on high performance behaviours, cultural literacy, fitness testing, and intra-squad match play.
The 19/U squad will also have an opportunity to participate in match play against the 21/U team prior to their World Youth Cup campaign in Gibraltar.
