Anticipation is mounting as Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls and England’s Vitality Roses arrive on the island to conclude the fiercely contested Horizon Series.
Both teams touched down at Norman Manley International Airport on Monday night, bringing high hopes and a commitment to deliver electrifying performances in front of an eager Jamaican crowd.
After two gripping matches in England—ending in a 49-49 draw and a 56-47 victory for the Roses—the stage is set for a dramatic finale on Jamaica’s home soil.
Sunshine Girls eye redemption
The Sunshine Girls are determined to capitalize on their home-court advantage. Head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry expressed pride in her team’s effort so far while emphasizing the need for improvement.
“I think we did great as a team and we should be proud of our achievements,” Henry reflected. “Maybe the last result was not what we wanted, but it’s something that we have to work through and try to come [into] the last two games and improve on our performance.”
Henry remains optimistic about Jamaica’s chances to win the series outright but recognizes the challenge posed by the second-ranked Roses. “It’s gonna be keenly contested. It’s gonna be competitive. We have to respect England and their second place in the world, and we are number four,” she said. “It all comes down to being disciplined, being precise in our movements, and improving on our weaknesses. We have to limit our turnovers and capitalize on their strengths, so it’s something that we have to work on.”
Sterling-Humphrey’s optimistic leadership
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, captaining the Sunshine Girls for the first time, exudes confidence in her team’s ability to secure back-to-back wins.
“I feel like once we can fix what needs to be fixed in the three ends of our court—the midcourt, the shooting, and the defense—then I think Jamaica can get the two wins,” Sterling-Humphrey asserted.
The standout captain also expressed satisfaction with her performance in the series thus far, setting the tone for a focused and driven team.
Vitality Roses embrace the challenge
On the other side, the Vitality Roses are brimming with excitement about playing in Jamaica. Captain Fran Williams described the experience as both exhilarating and challenging.
“We are so excited to be here, and it’s amazing to get to travel and play in other countries and explore new places,” Williams said. “We’ve had such a good start to the series with two really close matches, including a draw, so it’s gonna be exciting on Monday and Tuesday next week.”
England’s head coach, Jess Thirlby, acknowledged the difficulty of playing against the Sunshine Girls on their home turf but remains hopeful for a series victory.
“We know that this is gonna be a really tough ask coming out to Jamaica, but we know we are on the hunt for one more win to try and take that series,” Thirlby remarked. “Our expectations of ourselves are high, but the Jamaica Sunshine Girls have got some, if not a lot, of world-class girls in that side. It’s been a tough challenge at home, and they obviously managed to get that draw with us, so it’s game on over here.”
Thirlby added, “I am sure they are gonna love being back here at home, and we know the crowd will be right behind them. It’s a very different challenge here.”
Home crowd awaits the Sunshine Girls
As the Sunshine Girls prepare for the deciding matches, their training sessions have focused on addressing the issues that plagued their earlier games. With over 15 months since their last series in Jamaica, the excitement is palpable among players and fans alike.
Netball Jamaica has ramped up ticket sales, urging the local community to pack the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston for the matches scheduled on Monday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 26, at 7:00 p.m.
The series promises to showcase the very best of international netball, with the Sunshine Girls striving for redemption and the Roses aiming to maintain their dominance.
