Fowler-Nembhard shared the news with her teammates and coaching staff several weeks ago, before today confirming the news publicly.
“I won’t be playing next season as my husband and I are expecting a child next year. This pregnancy means a lot to my family and I, it goes to show how much God has been writing my story and his hand is on everything, I am giving all the glory to God,” Fowler-Nembhard said.
“I will still be in and around the girls as much as I can, making sure that my presence is still being felt. I will continue to do whatever I can off the court to motivate the team and play my part.”
“I don’t feel like this is the time to retire from netball for me and with God’s will I am looking forward to coming back.”
Fever has moved quickly to sign a replacement player with Fowler-Nembhard’s good friend and the second highest goal scorer in league history, Romelda Aiken-George moving to Perth to join the Green Army.
Aiken-George, who stands at 196cm, has scored more than 9,000 National League Goals in her 245 games. She also has four premierships to her name, including two Grand Final MVPs.
Aiken-George said she was extremely excited for Jhaniele and her family as well as for the opportunity to play with West Coast Fever.
“I am here to help the team achieve another championship and everything starts from pre-season so my job is to take everything in and build those connections,” Aiken-George said.
“I am very excited for the opportunity and for Dan Ryan and Sara Francis-Bayman to reach out to me I feel like they see my potential and my story isn’t quite finished yet.
“I am looking forward to playing at RAC Arena. When you are on the opposition it is quite loud and the Green Army fans are definitely that eighth player on the court which is pretty exciting.”
General Manager Sara Francis-Bayman said: “Everyone at the Club was absolutely thrilled for Jae, Ashani and Drehannah. This is such an exciting time and we couldn’t be happier for them.”
Francis-Bayman said the move to sign Aiken-George allowed Fever to maintain their structures heading into the 2026.
“We all know that Jhaniele is irreplaceable but to be able to sign the league’s second all-time goalscorer and four-time premiership player in Romelda Aiken-George, this is a huge signing for the Club.”
