Sunshine Coast Lightning are a professional Australian netball team competing in Suncorp Super Netball based out of University of the Sunshine Coast and owned by Melbourne Storm.

Lightning suffered through an unsuccessful season 2022 under former head coach Belinda Reynolds but are poised for success this time around under their new manager Belinda Reynolds. Steph Wood and Cara Koenen’s shooting will be key contributors for Lightning this year.

The team

Sunshine Coast Lightning are Queensland’s inaugural national elite sports team, established in 2016 as a joint venture between University of the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne Storm in Australia. Playing at UniSC’s world-class arena.

2022 was a difficult season for the club, winning only four matches outright, yet they’re ready to regain their premiership dominance with an excellent new coach and ample talent onboard in 2023. Steph Wood excelled as a shooter last season snaring 47 super shots while Karla Pretorius and Cara Koenen led defense on both ends of the court.

Sunshine Coast Lightning’s 2023 squad has been strengthened with the inclusion of young shooter Charlie Bell. However, Reilley Batcheldor who tore her ACL at Australian Netball Championships will miss some time; she should return at some point but could possibly be named as a replacement player instead.

The players

Sunshine Coast Lightning endured an unsuccessful 2022 season, yet learned plenty to carry into next season. They feature young talent such as shooters Leesa Mi Mi and Reilley Batcheldor who will look to experience Super Shot periods at the end of each quarter for themselves.

Mi Mi, a Queensland Firebirds rookie who just made her Suncorp Super Netball debut at Lightning, has received her first Suncorp Super Netball contract and looks poised to make an immediate impactful statement, as will Ashleigh Ervin who returns to Lightning after performing well during their Fast5 Netball tour last season.

Karla Pretorius and Steph Wood who won premierships with Lightning in 2020 have returned as members of the squad, joined by Queensland 19U duo Jada Delaney and Baylee Boyd who were appointed Training Partners.

The coaches

After suffering through a wooden spoon finish in 2022, Lightning are looking to rebound under new Head Coach Belinda Reynolds and feature an abundance of talent across their roster, such as signing Origin Diamond Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce as key additions. Lightning boast a good chance at competing for finals glory this season.

Reynolds brings both an exceptional work ethic and people-first focus to her role, making her an excellent choice for the Sunshine Coast community. She boasts extensive Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) experience as West Coast Fever Assistant Coach.

Attackers Cara Koenen and Steph Fretwell will continue to be formidable with former Australian Diamond teammates Mahalia Cassidy, Karla Pretorius, Kate Shimmin. Defensive players like Ava Black and Kadie-Ann Dehaney working alongside Courtney Bruce who won 2023 Liz Ellis Diamond winner status and Tara Hinchliffe returning.

The fans

Sunshine Coast Lightning plays its home games at University of Southern California’s state-of-the-art sports arena. Fans from throughout the region and beyond flock to cheer on their heroes at every game!

At halftime, McKinnis reconfigured his team. Ellis moved from goalkeeper to GK; Mannix to GD; and Weston to WD. Although these moves injected new life and energy into the Lightning team, they came too late for an unlikely victory.

Score bench incompetence resulted in a bizarre and contentious overtime defeat against Sydney Giants in Brisbane. Queensland team Lightning thought they had won after being shown ahead 71-70 on stadium scoreboard; however, Champion Data confirmed later that no winner had been declared; hence, Lightning were informed they may initiate an official protest against this decision.