Netball is one of the most popular women’s sports in the world, with millions of players and fans worldwide. With the sport’s growing popularity, many aspiring netball players wonder how much they can earn playing netball professionally. In this article, we will discuss the salaries of netball players around the world, including the top leagues and competitions.
Netball Salaries Around the World
Netball players’ salaries vary greatly depending on the country, league, and level of competition. Here is an overview of the salaries of netball players in different countries:
Australia
Australia is widely regarded as the birthplace of netball and has one of the world’s most popular and competitive netball leagues, the Suncorp Super Netball League. The league consists of eight teams, and each team has a salary cap of AUD $692,000 per season. This means that the average salary for a netball player in the league is around AUD $86,500 per season. The league’s highest-paid players, such as the Australian Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett and the England Roses star shooter Jhaniele Fowler, can earn up to AUD $300,000 per season. However, most players earn significantly less than this figure.
New Zealand
New Zealand has a strong netball culture and is home to the ANZ Premiership, which is the country’s top netball league. The league consists of six teams, and each team has a salary cap of NZD $380,000 per season. This means that the average salary for a netball player in the league is around NZD $63,333 per season. The highest-paid players in the league, such as the Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and the Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler, can earn up to NZD $180,000 per season. However, most players earn significantly less than this figure.
England
England has a vibrant netball scene and is home to the Vitality Netball Superleague, which is the country’s top netball league. The league consists of 10 teams, and each team has a salary cap of GBP £380,000 per season. This means that the average salary for a netball player in the league is around GBP £38,000 per season. The highest-paid players in the league, such as the England Roses captain Serena Guthrie and the Australian shooter Jo Harten, can earn up to GBP £75,000 per season. However, most players earn significantly less than this figure.
South Africa
South Africa has a rapidly growing netball scene and is home to the Netball Premier League, which is the country’s top netball league. The league consists of eight teams, and each team has a salary cap of ZAR 2.5 million per season. This means that the average salary for a netball player in the league is around ZAR 312,500 per season. The highest-paid players in the league, such as the South African captain Bongiwe Msomi and the Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok, can earn up to ZAR 1 million per season. However, most players earn significantly less than this figure.
Jamaica
Jamaica is a powerhouse in netball and is home to the Sunshine Netball Series, which is the country’s top netball league. The league consists of six teams, and each team has a salary cap of JMD $15 million per season. This means that the average salary for a netball player in the league is around JMD $2.5 million per season. The highest-paid players in the league, such as the Jamaican captain Jhaniele Fowler and the Australian shooter Romelda Aiken, can earn up to JMD $7 million per season. However, most players earn significantly less than this figure.
Top Netball Competitions
Apart from the domestic leagues, netball players can also earn significant amounts of money by participating in top netball competitions. Here are some of the most lucrative netball competitions:
Netball World Cup
The Netball World Cup is the pinnacle of international netball and is held every four years. The tournament features the top netball teams from around the world, and the winning team earns a significant cash prize. The prize money for the 2019 Netball World Cup, held in Liverpool, was AUD $425,000, with the winning team, New Zealand, taking home AUD $100,000.
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years and features the top athletes from countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Netball is one of the core sports at the Commonwealth Games, and the winning team earns a significant cash prize. The prize money for the netball competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, held in the Gold Coast, was AUD $300,000, with the winning team, England, taking home AUD $60,000.
Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series
The Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series is the playoffs of the Suncorp Super Netball League and features the top four teams from the regular season. The winning team earns a significant cash prize. The prize money for the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Finals Series was AUD $250,000, with the winning team, the Melbourne Vixens, taking home the entire prize money.
ANZ Premiership Finals Series
The ANZ Premiership Finals Series is the playoffs of the ANZ Premiership League and features the top three teams from the regular season. The winning team earns a significant cash prize. The prize money for the 2020 ANZ Premiership Finals Series was NZD $59,000, with the winning team, the Central Pulse, taking home the entire prize money.
Factors Affecting Netball Salaries
Several factors influence netball players’ salaries, including the following:
Level of Competition
The level of competition plays a significant role in determining netball players’ salaries. Players competing in top leagues and competitions such as the Suncorp Super Netball League and the Netball World Cup can earn significantly more than players competing in lower-level leagues and competitions.
Performance
Netball players’ salaries are often linked to their performance on the court. Players who perform well consistently and contribute to their team’s success are more likely to earn higher salaries than players who underperform.
Endorsements
Netball players with significant public profiles can earn additional income through endorsements and sponsorships. These endorsements can be with brands related to netball or with non-netball related brands.
Experience
Netball players with more experience are often paid more than less experienced players. Experienced players are considered to bring leadership, mentoring, and stability to a team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, netball players’ salaries vary significantly depending on the country, league, and level of competition. The highest-paid netball players in the world can earn up to AUD $300,000 per season, while the average salary for a netball player in top leagues such as the Suncorp Super Netball League is around AUD $86,500 per season. Apart from domestic leagues, netball players can also earn significant amounts of money by participating in top netball competitions such as the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Several factors influence netball players’ salaries, including the level of competition, performance, endorsements, and experience. Players who perform well consistently, have a significant public profile and experience are more likely to earn higher salaries.
Overall, netball is a rewarding sport both in terms of personal fulfillment and potential earnings. As the sport continues to grow and gain popularity worldwide, we can expect to see an increase in salaries and opportunities for netball players in the future.
References
- “Netball Superstars Could Earn as Much as $500,000 as New League Launches”. ABC News, 2016, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-01/netball-superstars-could-earn-as-much-as-500000/7291160.
- “Romelda Aiken: Jamaican Netball Star Talks Salary Cap, Bush Medicine and More”. CNN, 2021, https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/06/sport/romelda-aiken-netball-jamaica-australia-spt-intl-cmd/index.html.
- “Netball World Cup 2019: How Much Prize Money Do Winners Get and How Much Are Tickets?”. The Independent, 2019, https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/netball-world-cup-2019-prize-money-tickets-how-much-new-zealand-australia-england-south-africa-a8981016.html.
- “Netball at the Commonwealth Games”. Commonwealth Games Federation, https://thecgf.com/sports/netball.
- “Super Netball Prize Money to Rise as League Welcomes Super Shot”. The Sydney Morning Herald, 2020, https://www.smh.com.au/sport/netball/super-netball-prize-money-to-rise-as-league-welcomes-super-shot-20200603-p54zg2.html.
- “ANZ Premiership Finals Preview: Central Pulse Vs Tactix”. Radio New Zealand, 2020, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/421503/anz-premiership-finals-preview-central-pulse-vs-tactix.