Regarded as Australia’s most successful netballer and leading circle defender, Liz Ellis AM played a record 122 times for Australia from 1993 – 2007, and was the most capped Commonwealth Bank Trophy player in history with 173 matches.
She was the second captain of the Sydney Swifts (now NSW Swifts) and led them right up until the rebrand in 2008, leading the Swifts to their first four Premierships.
Hailing from Hawkesbury Netball Association, Ellis was an ever present in Netball NSW junior and senior State teams, and was a member of the NSW Open Team who won four national titles (1992, 1993, 1994, 1997), three of these during the Golden Boot era.
In a career full of highlights, Ellis won three World Championships (1995, 1999, 2007), two Commonwealth Games Gold Medals (1998, 2002), and four National Premierships with the Sydney Swifts (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007).
In 2006, led by Ellis, the Swifts achieved an historic undefeated season and were awarded National Team of the Year at that year’s Australian Sport Awards.
Ellis, who captained her country from 2004-2007, also received a number of individual accolades during her career, being named Australia’s Most Valuable Netballer on four occasions (1996, 1998, 2002, 2006).
Since her retirement from domestic and international netball in 2007, Ellis has forged a highly successful media career and is a leading television netball commentator.
In 2008, Netball Australia paid tribute to the revered champion and former Australian captain by introducing the Liz Ellis Diamond, the sport’s premier individual award which is presented to the player who is voted for their outstanding achievement in both the international arena and National League (currently Suncorp Super Netball) each year.
Ellis was awarded an Australian Honour, a Member of the Order of Australia Medal, in 2009 for services to netball and the encouragement of women in sport, and to the community through support for a range of charitable organizations. In the same year, Ellis was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions.
More recently she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
In 2023, Ellis was presented with Netball NSW's highest Honour when she was elevated to Legend Status in the organisation's Hall of Fame.
