An Overview into 3 time NSL Champions, Loughborough Lightning Netball
- Lauren White
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
The club is based at Loughborough University and their senior team play in the Netball Super League where the side have made seven finals and won in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
In 2005, they were named as the East Midlands team in the new Netball Super League and are the founding members of the league making their first final in 2007-08 but lost to Galleria Mavericks (now known as London Mavericks).
Lightning made two more finals in 2017 and 2018 but lost to Wasps Netball on both occasions. They then made four consecutive finals between 2021 and 2024 winning three against Team Bath, London Pulse and Manchester Thunder.
Their home venues include playing at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham and at the Sir David Wallace Sports Centre at Loughborough Lightning.
The side is led out by head coach Victoria Burgess and she has been part of the set up since 2021 after taking over from Sara Bayman. On the court, Nat Panagarry holds the Captain’s duty after being with Lightning since 2015.
In the main season, prior to the playoffs, Lightning have won all their games apart from the double against new franchise Nottingham Forest and their final game against Birmingham Panthers. They will face London Pulse in the Major Semi-final for a chance in the final.
Their 10 player squad includes experienced players and some new faces to the Lightning cohort. There were four new signings at the start of the season: Berri Neil (GA/GS) from London Pulse, Sammy Wallace-Joseph (GS/GA) from New South Wales Swifts, Jodie Gibson (GD/GK/WD) from London Mavericks and Shadine Van Der Merwe (GD/GK) from Manchester Thunder.
Six players stayed in Loughborough colours this season: Alice Harvey (GK/GD), Belle Baylis (C/WA), Beth Cobden (WD/C), Ella Clark (GA/GS), Hannah Joseph (WA/C) and Nat Panagarry (C/WD).
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