Pulse beat Lightning to win first Netball Super League title
'It was like a game of chess'
London Pulse defender and player of the match Funmi Fadoju: "It feels so amazing. I am so proud of the girls. We went out there and did what we had to do."We knew exactly what our set-ups were, we knew we had to work together, and that's what we did."There's no words to describe it. I knew we could do it and we did."Pulse coach Sam Bird: "I'm so happy for the club, the girls, the sponsors, the fans. It is such a great day. It was such a hard game. It was like a game of chess. The strategy involved was really tough and I'm just really proud we got across the line."Loughborough head coach Vic Burgess: "I'm pretty devastated. Credit to Pulse, they came out and did a great job. There was always going to be a massive battle and they came out on top. That's the nature of sport."
Pulse richly deserved first-time winners
It's been all Thunder and Lightning of late, with a Manchester and Loughborough duopoly of the NSL title over the past five seasons, but the clouds have broken and there's a new champion team in town. Just like this year, Pulse also topped the regular-season standings in 2023, but on that occasion the team from the Copper Box lost out to Loughborough in the Grand Final.This turning of the tables in British netball's biggest match means Pulse have become NSL champions within 10 years of the club's formation. At courtside, Pulse boss Bird - CEO and director of netball at the club - earns the success she has been craving since joining in May 2019 after a stint with Severn Stars. On the court, her players are richly deserved first-time winners.
Season's stat leaders
Most goals: Elmere van der Berg (Manchester Thunder) - 496 Most feeds: Bethan Dyke (Cardiff Dragons) - 465 Most super shots: Rolene Streutker (Nottingham Forest) - 157 Deflections: Funmi Fadoju (London Pulse) - 128
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