GIANTS Netball will feature on the world stage yet again with GIANTS stars Jamie-Lee Price and Sophie Dwyer named in the in the Origin Australia Diamonds squad for January’s Netball Nations Cup.
Price and Dwyer have been selected in the 13-player squad set to take on England, New Zealand and Uganda in London and Leeds between January 20-28, 2024.
A foundation GIANT, Price has established herself as one of the country’s best defensive midcourters and will represent the Diamonds following a brilliant 2023 season in which she became a world champion as part of Australia’s record 12th Netball World Cup victory in South Africa in August.
In a red-hot 2023 season, the 27-year-old also took out the GIANTS’ 2023 HCF Most Valuable Player, the Members’ Player of the Year, and the Players’ Player awards.
Meanwhile, Dwyer will represent the country yet again as she continues her emergence as one of Australia’s best goal attacks following stellar play for both the GIANTS and the Diamonds.
Price and Dwyer’s selections come followings recent news the star pair have both recommitted to the GIANTS for the maximum term of three years.
The duo will now take their place in England amongst a Diamonds side ready to defend their mantle as the world’s best.
Price and Dwyer will be part of history at the event, with the Diamonds set to face world no.7 ranked Uganda on the international stage for the very first time.
The Diamonds will also face off with England for the first time since smashing them in the World Cup Final, while the matchup with the Silver Ferns will be their first since the Constellation Cup in October.
Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich said she is looking forward to coming up against the top nations in the world.
“The Netball Nations Cup is a great opportunity for fans to see the Origin Australia Diamonds against various international teams and styles of netball,” she said.
“It’s a great challenge to be able to not only test ourselves against these styles of play but to do so in front of a loud England crowd.
“We will continue to explore the depth and capability of our squad as we look to drive performance with a vision to the future.”
The Diamonds squad will travel to the AIS in Canberra in early January for a training camp in preparation for the international event.
2024 Netball Nations Cup Squad:
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Courtney Bruce
Sophie Dwyer
Sophie Garbin
Paige Hadley (vice-captain)
Sarah Klau
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Jamie-Lee Price
Donnell Wallam
Liz Watson (captain)
Jo Weston
