Fever have made three changes to their team with Fowler-Nembhard, Zoe Cransberg and Caitlyn Brown coming in to the line-up, in place of Mwai Kumwenda and injured defenders Ruth Aryang (Achilles) and Sunday Aryang (Ankle).
Fowler-Nembhard has completed an intense return to play program and has subsequently been signed off to resume full duties by Fever’s medical team.
General Manager Sue Gaudion said Fowler-Nembhard’s return was a huge boost for the Club and everyone was looking forward to having her back this weekend.
“The journey for Jhaniele and her family has been challenging, and I have no doubt that taking the court on Sunday will be one full of emotion and pride,” Gaudion said.
“I have nothing but admiration for the way in which Jae has attacked the training environment over the past five weeks to ensure she is both physically and mentally ready to compete again.
“She is one of Netball's most iconic figures and as a Club we knew we must be unwavering in our support to ensure that her time in the game was not yet over.”
As Fowler-Nembhard has now been reinstated into West Coast Fever’s Final Squad, Kumwenda and West Coast Fever have mutually agreed to the termination of her current replacement player contract. Significantly, this mutual termination ensures that Kumwenda is financially no worse off.
In line with current SSN Competition & Compliance Rules, she will now remain as part of the Club on a Training Partner Contract and will line up for the West Coast Fever Reserves Team for 2025.
Gaudion said: “I cannot speak highly enough of MJ Kumwenda. She has been amazing throughout what has been a really difficult and challenging period for everyone.
“When we first talked to her about what Jhaniele’s potential return meant, she understood that she was the athlete who was going to be impacted and she took that in her stride.
“Her performances in the first two games have been vital and we are really looking forward to her remaining in the Fever environment as a training partner and in our Reserves Team.
“MJ is a team-first player, she will continue to play a huge role in our environment and we know if required to take to the SSN court again this season, she will be up for the task.”
Training partner and two-time Jill McIntosh Medallist Caitlyn Brown will make her SSN Debut, if she enters the court, becoming Fever Player Number 131.
West Coast Fever Team
IN: Caitlyn Brown, Zoe Cransberg and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard
OUT: Ruth Aryang (Achilles), Sunday Aryang (Ankle) and Mwai Kumwenda
Jess Anstiss, Shanice Beckford, Caitlyn Brown, Jordan Cransberg, Zoe Cransberg, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Alice Teague-Neeld, Olivia Wilkinson and Fran Williams
