Latest news with #HelenHousby
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swifts hold nerve to sink Firebirds in extra time
The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. Moore levels the score! 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 13, 2025 NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that.
The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Swifts hold nerve to sink Firebirds in extra time
The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that. The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that. The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that.
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Swifts hold nerve to sink Firebirds in extra time
The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that.
Daily Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
NSW Swifts: Verity Simmons, Sharni Lambden, Helen Housby discuss the future of netball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stellar. Followed categories will be added to My News. The NSW Swifts know how to produce stars. It's the former club of netball greats Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox. Now, 30-year-old shooter Helen Housby, who originally hails from the UK before calling Sydney home and helping them win two premierships, is their latest star. She's gone viral for both her goals and also TikTok dances during matches. 'I get recognised a lot more than I used to,' she says. 'But I think it's good for the game. If you look at the best sports in the world, they have people that fans want to engage with and want to look up to, and I think netball, because it's such a great team sport, has sometimes shied away from promoting individuals. 'But I feel a responsibility to promote the game because I love it.' Wing defence Sharni Lambden joined the Swifts this season and pinches herself daily that she's part of a team that has played in more grand finals, and won more titles, than any other in the game. Verity Simmons, Sharni Lambden, Helen Housby of the NSW Swifts Netball. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar Especially considering it took her 10 years in the pathways program to even get her start. 'What motivates me is that little girl that absolutely fell in love with netball when she first started playing at eight,' she says. 'It's been a big journey and she never would have thought she'll be here. She was such a shy, young little girl and now I'm here. I'm trying to really soak it all in.' While Netball is currently the only team sport to compete at the reduced Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. And there is a huge push for it to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because if breakdancing can make it to Paris, why can't a sport which is played in 120 countries around the world be included. For Housby, it's something she wants to be part of. 'I will be 37 then so I'm not sure if I will have the legs in me. I might have to retire for a good couple of years and then get to CrossFit or something to try and stay fit,' she laughs. 'But if it did come to Brisbane in 2032, that would definitely be something that I would look towards.' 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up.' Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar Housby's new teammate Verity Simmons adds that for the sport to be taken seriously as an Olympic sport, America needs to get involved; 'You look at how they work in the States and how they blow up their athletes'. 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up. 'You know everything's bigger in America, right?' The game isn't far off that. In June, the Women's Sport Network founded by Whoopi Goldberg, signed a three-year deal with Suncorp Super Netball which will see the competition beamed into 65 countries around the world with a reach of 900 million. Testament to growing support for the game, this year the Grand Final will be played at Rod Laver Arena for the first time ever. She's red-y! Helen Housby, of the Swifts, in action on the court. Picture: Getty Images Simmons, a 34-year-old centre and wing attack has a unique view on the game. The Diamonds player hung up her bib in 2023 and picked up a pair of footy boots, joining the AFLW and the West Coast Eagles for a season, before returning to the Swifts this year. When it comes to 'professionalism and how clean and tidy we keep the sport,' Simmons believes netballers are the best. 'I love being back around the netball environment. I love the community. I love the fans that we have. 'We have incredibly loyal fans that literally love this sport and are so happy to give so much time and love and energy to it and volunteer. I feel very fortunate to be back involved in a club like this.' There is no doubt the sport has come a long way in the past five years when it comes to sponsorship opportunities, pay increases for players (in 2023, after a civil war between administration and players, both parties agreed to an 11 per cent pay increase) and engagement for fans (Swifts games now regularly sell out.) However for Simmons, it was her time away from the sport that highlighted just how far they'd come. Verity Simmons during the round one Super Netball match between West Coast Fever and NSW Swifts in April. Picture: Getty Images Courting attention! Sharni Lambden of the NSW Swifts: 'I've never done anything like it!' Picture: Getty Images 'I used to think why has it taken so long? We're the most highly participated sport in Australia for women. 'It's been frustrating at times, but, I think stepping away from it and being in the football environment and still watching the sport grow and develop I was like, Wow, this really is something special,' she says. Ultimately, all three enjoyed their exclusive shoot for Stellar. 'I've never done anything like it. It was a really cool experience and I didn't know what I was in for but I'm always up for anything,' says Lambden. Adds Housby, 'when I first joined the Swifts or even when I debuted for England it was much, much harder to be seen on TV or to be in magazines. 'The coverage was just completely different. The payment was completely different but because I've benefited from the rise in netball, I do feel a responsibility to continue that and to champion it. 'I'll probably still be talking about netball into my 90s.' The Suncorp Super Netball Finals series is live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. See the full shoot with the NSW Swifts in tomorrow's Stellar, inside The Sunday Telepgrah (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA). For more from Stellar, click here.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Meet some of Australian netball's brightest stars: From TikTok viral goals to Olympic dreams at the NSW Swifts
The NSW Swifts know how to produce stars. It's the former club of netball greats Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox. Now, 30-year-old shooter Helen Housby, who originally hails from the UK before calling Sydney home and helping them win two premierships, is their latest star. She's gone viral for both her goals and also TikTok dances during matches. 'I get recognised a lot more than I used to,' she says. 'But I think it's good for the game. If you look at the best sports in the world, they have people that fans want to engage with and want to look up to, and I think netball, because it's such a great team sport, has sometimes shied away from promoting individuals. 'But I feel a responsibility to promote the game because I love it.' Wing defence Sharni Lambden joined the Swifts this season and pinches herself daily that she's part of a team that has played in more grand finals, and won more titles, than any other in the game. Especially considering it took her 10 years in the pathways program to even get her start. 'What motivates me is that little girl that absolutely fell in love with netball when she first started playing at eight,' she says. 'It's been a big journey and she never would have thought she'll be here. She was such a shy, young little girl and now I'm here. I'm trying to really soak it all in.' While Netball is currently the only team sport to compete at the reduced Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. And there is a huge push for it to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because if breakdancing can make it to Paris, why can't a sport which is played in 120 countries around the world be included. For Housby, it's something she wants to be part of. 'I will be 37 then so I'm not sure if I will have the legs in me. I might have to retire for a good couple of years and then get to CrossFit or something to try and stay fit,' she laughs. 'But if it did come to Brisbane in 2032, that would definitely be something that I would look towards.' Housby's new teammate Verity Simmons adds that for the sport to be taken seriously as an Olympic sport, America needs to get involved; 'You look at how they work in the States and how they blow up their athletes'. 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up. 'You know everything's bigger in America, right?' The game isn't far off that. In June, the Women's Sport Network founded by Whoopi Goldberg, signed a three-year deal with Suncorp Super Netball which will see the competition beamed into 65 countries around the world with a reach of 900 million. Testament to growing support for the game, this year the Grand Final will be played at Rod Laver Arena for the first time ever. Simmons, a 34-year-old centre and wing attack has a unique view on the game. The Diamonds player hung up her bib in 2023 and picked up a pair of footy boots, joining the AFLW and the West Coast Eagles for a season, before returning to the Swifts this year. When it comes to 'professionalism and how clean and tidy we keep the sport,' Simmons believes netballers are the best. 'I love being back around the netball environment. I love the community. I love the fans that we have. 'We have incredibly loyal fans that literally love this sport and are so happy to give so much time and love and energy to it and volunteer. I feel very fortunate to be back involved in a club like this.' There is no doubt the sport has come a long way in the past five years when it comes to sponsorship opportunities, pay increases for players (in 2023, after a civil war between administration and players, both parties agreed to an 11 per cent pay increase) and engagement for fans (Swifts games now regularly sell out.) However for Simmons, it was her time away from the sport that highlighted just how far they'd come. 'I used to think why has it taken so long? We're the most highly participated sport in Australia for women. 'It's been frustrating at times, but, I think stepping away from it and being in the football environment and still watching the sport grow and develop I was like, Wow, this really is something special,' she says. Ultimately, all three enjoyed their exclusive shoot for Stellar. 'I've never done anything like it. It was a really cool experience and I didn't know what I was in for but I'm always up for anything,' says Lambden. Adds Housby, 'when I first joined the Swifts or even when I debuted for England it was much, much harder to be seen on TV or to be in magazines. 'The coverage was just completely different. The payment was completely different but because I've benefited from the rise in netball, I do feel a responsibility to continue that and to champion it. 'I'll probably still be talking about netball into my 90s.' The Suncorp Super Netball Finals series is live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. See the full shoot with the NSW Swifts in tomorrow's Stellar, inside The Sunday Telepgrah (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA).
