South Africa maintain a strong presence in the NSL for 2026

South Africa will be proud to see yet again a good number of players competing in professional leagues in 2026.

Over the last couple of years, the Spar Proteas have seen several players getting a chance to play in overseas leagues where the sport is played on a professional level.

In 2024, a record nine South African players featured in the United Kingdom’s Netball Super League (NSL).

The number remains strong for next season, with eight Proteas set to compete in the NSL, one more player than in the 2025 season.

For the first time in seven seasons Sigi Burger will not feature in the NSL.

The goal shooter played for Birmingham Panthers in 2025, however she could not finish the season after sustaining a knee injury to her medial collateral ligament (MCL) during a league match against her former club, London Pulse.

She has not yet announced if she will be continuing with playing the sport.

Burger moved to the UK’s league in 2018 where she played for Surrey Storm, Pulse, and Leeds Rhinos.

She later joined Severn Stars for two seasons before her final move to the Panthers.

Elmere van der Berg has also exited the UK league after two seasons with Manchester Thunder.

She will move Down Under next season to play for Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Nicholé Breedt will also miss out on the NSL 2.0 after leaving Pulse at the end of last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Khanyisa Chawane - Cardiff Dragons

The Proteas captain will be enjoying her third season with the Dragons.

Although she has enjoyed a lot of time on court, her side didn’t get the best results in the competitions.

The team finished last on the NSL table with only two wins to their name out of 14.

Chawane says she hopes 2026 will come with better results for her side.

“I’m hoping that we improve our ranking as a team. We did well this year, but obviously, we didn’t win as many games as we wanted or were hoping we would. The core of the team has remained and we’re looking forward to us playing well together and hoping that we win more games to find ourselves in the top four, she says.

Kamogelo Maseko - London Pulse

The agile attacking player will be playing in her debut season in the NSL. She will be replacing compatriot Breedt.

Maseko says she hopes the move will expand her skills, which she can use at the national team.

“I am really excited for the move. I feel it is time for me to get out of my comfort zone and get out of a family environment, but at the end of the day, the goal doesn’t change. It is about playing my best netball for my country. If I can go out and grow further than what I am now and come back to give to my country, that is the ultimate goal. I am excited about making the move, it is going to make me a better version of myself,” she says.

Nicola Smith - Manchester Thunder

Smith will be hoping to have a full season at Thunder next year. The goalkeeper suffered an injury early this year while touring with the Proteas in Jamaica.

She broke her arm and subsequently missed the entire pre-season, and this forced her to go back to court with the league already in full swing.

Smith will be hoping her side makes it to the Grand Final next season after losing to Pulse in the preliminary final of the competition.

Rolene Streukter - Nottingham Forest

After her impressive debut season with Forest, eyes will be on the shooter in 2026.

In Forest’s first season in the NSL Streukter was named the Players' Player of the Season, Gilbert Top Scorer and Soft and Gentle Super Shooter in her debut year.

She scored a total of 598 goals this season to earn the Top Scorer Award. She also made it into the All-Star starting seven team of the season.

The former Free State Crinums player will be hoping to do enough to help her team finish in the top four next year after the side

Ané Retief - Nottingham Forest

Retief returns to the UK after having a bit of taste of the league in the 2025 season. The defender stepped into fellow South African’s shoes, Smith, while she was recovering from an injury.

Although it was brief, Retief was impressive, and she will be looking to continue in the same vein of form at her new club, where she will be playing alongside Streukter.

Shadine van der Merwe - Loughborough Lightning

Van der Merwe will be hoping luck is on her side next season. The defender missed out on the champions' medal this season after her side fell to Pulse in the Grand Final of the competition.

She will be hoping to add another NSL title medal to her collection. She was a member of the Thunder team that won the 2022 title, and in 2024, she got silver with Thunder before joining Lightning, where her side finished as runners-up to Pulse for yet another silver medal to her name.

Jamie van Wyk - London Mavericks

2025 Telkom Netball League Defender of the Season will be making her debut in the NSL.

Van Wyk will be hoping her experience in the TNL as well as in the senior national colours will come in handy as the Mavericks will be looking to get into the top four for the second time in a row.

Sanmarie Visser - Leeds Rhinos

Visser will be enjoy her second stint in professional netball with the Rhinos.

She was announced as a temporary replacement player for Romelda Aiken-George in the pre-season at the Thunderbirds, however she later replaced Shamera Sterling-Humphrey following her pregnancy announcement.