Last Week
Fever keep their undefeated start to the season intact with a two-goal victory over the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane.
The reigning premiers came out hot against the Firebirds and built a 10-goal lead at quarter time which was extended to 13 at the main change.
The second half saw the Firebirds lift and by the time Power 5 came around in the last quarter they were only seven goals behind. Firebirds Shooter Donnell Wallam scored four supershots in the last quarter to nearly steal the win.
The Thunderbirds are coming off an 11-goal win over the Melbourne Vixens at home.
After a slow start, the Thunderbirds lifted their intensity to draw level at the first change.
They then controlled the contest and built on their lead in every quarter to set up the top of the table clash with Fever.
Match Ups
The battles in circle at either end of the court will be enthralling contests. Will it be the match-up between English International Eleanor Cardwell and Aussie Diamond Courtney Bruce or will it be the battle of the Jamaicans Jhaniele Fowler and Shamera Sterling which decides this game?
Sterling leads the competition for Nissan Net Points while Fowler is the leading goal shooter. Sterling had eight Gains and eight Deflections to help stop the Vixens attack last week. While Fowler shot 60 from 61 to help secure the points for Fever in Brisbane.
Cardwell has been in red hot form and is coming off 30 goals and five from six supershots against the Vixens and her presence on court has been vital for the Thunderbirds.
Bruce is coming off a top performance against the Firebirds where she was opposed to Wallam at stages. She finished the match five Gains, two Intercepts, five Deflections and three Rebounds.
Last Time They Met
Round 14, 2022 – Fever 68 defeated Thunderbirds 57
West Coast Fever celebrated a pair of individual milestones with a 68-57 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the final round of the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball season at RAC Arena when these two sides last clashed.
Goal Shooter Jhaniele Fowler set a new record for the most goals by an individual in a season, while star defender Stacey Francis-Bayman notched up her 100th National League Game.
Fowler broke her own record for the most individual goals in a regular season of 795, scoring her 796th goal in the fourth quarter to a huge roar from the Green Army. She extended the record to 800 with 3 minutes left and finished the game with 44 goals to set the new record at 804.
Since their last official SSN clash, these two sides have also played in the Team Girls Cup final and two pre-season clashes in Perth.
Stats & Facts
Fever midcourter Verity Simmons will celebrate game 150 against the Thunderbirds.
Simmons debuted for Fever in 2012 and after two seasons crossed over to the Firebirds between 2014 and 2015. She returned to Fever in 2016 and has been a mainstay in the midcourt ever since.
Along with her 149 National League Games, she has also represented Australia on three occasions and was of course, part of Fever’s maiden Premiership Team.
Coach Dan Ryan will coach his 50th National League Game against his old side. Ryan coached the Thunderbirds for 28 games and will coach Fever for the 22nd time to notch the milestone.
Get your tickets to the Top of the Table clash this Sunday via Ticketek
