Players to watch in Varsity Netball 2025

As the country’s top student-athletes prepare to take the court for Varsity Netball 2025, excitement is building for what promises to be another thrilling season. From seasoned international stars to rising young prospects, this year’s competition is stacked with talent. With the action tipping off on 24 August, here are some of the standout players to keep your eye on throughout the campaign.

ROLENE STREUTKER – UFS KOVSIES

Arguably the most feared shooter in the competition, Rolene Streutker returns after a dominant 2024 campaign. The Proteas star was voted Varsity Netball Player of the Tournament and also named Netball Super League Player of the Year for 2025. Streutker’s ability to rack up points and control the circle will once again make the Kovsies title favourites.

PHOPHI NEMATANGARI - TUKS

The Baby Proteas captain led the South African Under-21 team to a 3-0 win over Jamaica's youth team in the recent test series and they also won the Netball World Youth Cup Qualification Tournament in Tshwane where Phophi was named the tournament's best mid-court player. 

Under her leadership the national Under-21 side have now won nine consecutive matches. Look out for her to be as impactful when the Stripe Generation take to the court in Varsity Netball 2025.

SUNEL SMIT - NWU

NWU goal shooter Sunel Smit was voted as the Suzuki Players' Player of the Tournament last season. There is no better stamp approval than from your peers so expect Sunel to once again be a force for Eagles. She represented the Baby Proteas (Under-21) in 2024 and was instrumental in leading Team South Africa to gold at the AUSC Region 5 Games in 2022.

HANNISKA VAN VUUREN – MADIBAZ

Madibaz captain Hanniska van Vuuren brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to her side. A gold medalist with the South African Under-19 team at the Region V Games, she also featured in last year’s victorious CUCSA Games campaign. As a key figure in Madibaz's structure, expect Van Vuuren’s leadership and versatility to play a major role in their 2025 run.

SYNTICHE KABUYA – MATIES

The veteran goalkeeper and Maties captain Syntiche Kabuya has already made waves at national level. She was selected for the Spar Proteas squad at the 2024 FAST5 Netball World Series and also featured in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup earlier this year. With elite experience and commanding presence in the circle, Kabuya will be central to Maties' title ambitions.

ALIX HORN – WITS

A stalwart in the Wits defence, Alix Horn impressed last year and continues to develop her game after competing for the Boababs in the Telkom Netball League (TNL). Horn’s athleticism and game reading ability make her one of the toughest defenders to face this season.

CORNELIA MUPENDA – UJ

UJ’s last line of defence is in the safe hands of Cornelia Mupenda, a Namibian international who continues to thrive on the domestic and international stage. After joining the Singapore Super

League earlier this year and winning the TNL 2025 with the Golden Fireballs, Mupenda brings elite-level experience to an already competitive UJ squad.

As the 2025 Varsity Netball season prepares to showcase some of South Africa’s brightest talents, these players will no doubt be instrumental in shaping the outcome of this year’s campaign, but you can be sure that several new players will emerge as the stars of tomorrow.

Watch all the games live on SuperSport.