Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. Since

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

they have played in

Suncorp Super Netball Suncorp Super Netball is the top level netball league featuring teams from Australia. In 2017 it replaced the ANZ Championship, which also included teams from New Zealand, as the top level netball league in Australia. Since 2019, the league has ...

. Between

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

and

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

, they played in the

ANZ Championship The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, is a former netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned ...

and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the

Commonwealth Bank Trophy The Commonwealth Bank Trophy, also referred to as the National Netball League, was the top level national Australian netball league between 1997 and 2007. The league was organized by Netball Australia. Its main sponsor was the Commonwealth Ba ...

league. Thunderbirds have won four premierships. They won their first two premierships in 1998 and 1999 during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era and their third and fourth in 2010 and

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...

during ANZ Championship era. Historically, Thundersbirds are one of Australia's most successful netball teams. Between 1997 and 2010 they finished in the top three of every regular season.

History

Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Between 1997 and 2007, Adelaide Thunderbirds played in the

league. Together with Adelaide Ravens,

Melbourne Kestrels Melbourne Kestrels were an Australian netball team that represented Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Between 1997 and 2007, together with Melbourne Phoenix, they were one of two teams to represent Netball Victoria in the Common ...

Melbourne Phoenix Melbourne Phoenix were an Australian netball team that represented Netball Victoria in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Between 1997 and 2007, together with Melbourne Kestrels, they were one of two teams to represent Netball Victoria in the Common ...

, Perth Orioles,

Queensland Firebirds Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane, Queensland. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the ...

Sydney Sandpipers Sydney Sandpipers were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2003, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three t ...

and

Sydney Swifts Sydney Swifts were an Australian netball team based in Sydney. Between 1997 and 2007, they represented Netball New South Wales in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Together with Sydney Sandpipers and Hunter Jaegers, they were one of three t ...

, Thunderbirds were one of the founding members of the league. Thunderbirds were initially going to be named Adelaide Falcons but the name was changed at the request of the rugby union team. Adelaide Thunderbirds and Adelaide Ravens represented

Netball South Australia Netball South Australia is the governing body for netball in South Australia. It is affiliated to Netball Australia. It is responsible for organizing and managing the Netball South Australia Premier League as well as numerous other leagues and ...

and each team was assigned four

state league The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield is the premier domestic women's one-day cricket competition in New Zealand. The tournament began in 1935–36, as a first-class competition, but is now played as a 50-over competition, with six provincial teams ...

clubs to select players from. Thunderbirds were aligned with Cheerio, Contax, Matrics and Oakdale. With a team coached by former Contax head coach, Margaret Angove and a starting seven featuring Rebecca Sanders,

Kathryn Harby-Williams Kathryn Harby-Williams (born 16 July 1969) is an Australian netball player and television presenter. She captained the Australian netball team. Harby-Williams currently works with Radio Sport New Zealand and is a Sky TV commentator for Sky S ...

, Jacqui Delaney, Sarah Sutter, Peta Squire, Cassie Mogg and Alex Hodge, Thunderbirds won their first two premierships and grand finals in 1998 and 1999. ;Regular season statistics

ANZ Championship

Between

and

, Thunderbirds played in the

. Natalie von Bertouch became the inaugural ANZ Championship Thunderbirds captain. She subsequently captained Thunderbirds to two ANZ Championship titles. In 2010, after finishing second during the regular season, they defeated the minor premiers,

New South Wales Swifts New South Wales Swifts are an Australian netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have represented Netball New South Wales in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was ...

, in the major semi-final and

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are a New Zealand netball team based in Hamilton. Between 1999 and 2007, they played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017, Magic have ...

in the grand final. In

, Natalie von Bertouch captained Thunderbirds to their fourth premiership after they defeated

in the grand final. ;Regular season statistics

Suncorp Super Netball

Since

, Thunderbirds have played in

. They have been an unsuccessful franchise as of 2022, having not yet made finals or finished higher than 7th place. ;Regular season statistics

Grand finals

;

Home venues

Thunderbirds have played the majority of their home games at the Netball SA Stadium. Due to sponsorship arrangements this venue has also be known as ETSA Park or

Priceline Stadium Netball SA Stadium is an Australia netball stadium based in Mile End South, Adelaide. Due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements, it has also been known as ETSA Park and Priceline Stadium. The stadium is owned by the Government of Sout ...

. Thunderbirds have also played home games, including the 2010 and

grand finals, at the

Adelaide Entertainment Centre The Adelaide Entertainment Centre (AEC) is an indoor arena located in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is used for sporting and entertainment events. It is the principal venue for concerts, events and attractions for audiences bet ...

. Thunderbirds have also played home games at the

Adelaide Arena Adelaide Arena (known commercially as Adelaide 36ers Arena) is a multipurpose indoor sports stadium located in Findon, an inner western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the former home arena for the Adelaide 36ers of the NBL and th ...

. Thunderbirds played a 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Round 7 home match against Sunshine Coast Lightning at the Territory Netball Stadium.

Team colours

During the

era, Thunderbirds main colour was silver. Between

and 2010, when Thundersbirds were sponsored by Port Adelaide Football Club, they adopted their sponsors team colours of black, white, teal and silver. Ahead of the 2011 season, Thunderbirds announced they were changing their team colours to pink. ;Logos File:Adelthunderbirdslogo.png, Commonwealth Bank Trophy 1997–2007 File:Adelaide Thunderbirds 2008.jpg, ANZ Championship 2008–2010 File:Adelaide Thunderbirds.jpg, ANZ Championship 2011

Notable players

2023 squad

Internationals

; ; ; * Carla Borrego * Shimona Nelson * Shamera Sterling * Latanya Wilson ; * Leana de Bruin * Maria Folau *

Cathrine Latu Cathrine Tuivaiti (née Latu; born 25 October 1986 in West Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand netball player of Tongan, Samoan, and Māori descent. Career Early career Cathrine Tuivaiti was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools ...

; *

; * Fiona Themann ;

Captains

Coaches

;Head Coaches ;Assistant coaches ;Specialist coaches

Main sponsors

Premierships

**''Winners'': 2010,

**''Runners Up'': 2009 *

**''Winners'': 1998, 1999 **''Runners Up'': 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006

Southern Force

Southern Force are the

reserve team In sports, a reserve team is a team composed of players under contract to a club but who do not normally play in matches for the first team. Reserve teams often include back-up players from the first team, young players who need playing time to i ...

of Thunderbirds. They play in the Australian Netball League. In 2012 they were ANL Champions.

References

External links

Adelaide Thunderbirds on Facebook

Adelaide Thunderbirds on Twitter
{{Adelaide Sports Teams ANZ Championship teams Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams 1997 establishments in Australia Sports clubs established in 1997 Sporting clubs in Adelaide Suncorp Super Netball teams Netball teams in South Australia Netball teams in Australia