London Pulse Sets the Pace in Netball Super Cup Opener
London Pulse made waves at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, lifting the trophy at the inaugural Netball Super Cup after overcoming Leeds Rhinos 20-15. This wasn’t just a typical season opener: it was the debut for the new format, and Pulse wanted to make their name the first one etched on the cup. The energy in the arena was unmistakable—fans sensed right away this was the start of something bigger for netball.
Pulse wasted no time seizing control. Olivia Tchine nailed early shots, building an eight-point cushion before halftime. You could feel the urgency from Leeds Rhinos—they don’t usually trail by that much. Still, the Pulse offense kept their rhythm. The bench was hyped, and every ball into the circle added another notch to Pulse’s confidence. With the season’s new Super Shot rule stirring up tactics, it was obvious both sides had adapted, but Pulse looked just that little bit sharper.
But Leeds weren’t just going to fold. Joyce Mvula led a late Rhinos charge, outmaneuvering defenders and picking off shots that gave her side hope. The gap narrowed to six goals, and for a few tense minutes, Sheffield’s crowd could feel momentum swinging. That’s when Funmi Fadoju swooped in with a game-defining interception. Her timing? Impeccable. Her decision? The difference. That single play put the brakes on the Rhinos’ comeback and gave Pulse just the buffer they needed to see out the win.
Big Moments, Bold Statements—This Cup Was Earned
The numbers didn’t tell the whole story, though. Zare Everitt took home the Player of the Match award, not just for racking up key passes and turnovers, but for steering her teammates through high-pressure moments. In her words, this was all about building trust and adapting at lightning speed. The win “gives us confidence” for the rest of the campaign, she said after the final whistle. It didn’t hurt that Pulse had already survived a nail-biter against Manchester Thunder—17-16 in the semifinal—knocking out the only unbeaten squad in the competition up to that point. That match was a thriller, with Thunder considered the team to beat after dominating the group stage. Pulse proved they had both resilience and flair, edging out victory when it mattered most.
The Rhinos, for their part, had to earn their place in the final by breaking down a stubborn Nottingham Forest side, squeezing out a 15-13 win in their own semifinal. Their route to the final may have looked a bit smoother but demanded just as much grit and smarts, especially with the pressure of knockout netball and aggressive defensive lines. Still, facing the Pulse was a different ballgame—they just couldn’t recover from that first-half deficit despite Mvula’s efforts.
The Super Cup’s launch has instantly raised the profile of the competition, shining a spotlight on tactical flexibility and the value of clutch plays. The stakes are clearer, the crowd is bigger, and every team knows a strong start could set the tone for their season. For Pulse, there’s more than just a shiny new trophy on their sideboard—a win like this sets a blueprint for their *London Pulse* ambitions. Players, coaches, and fans alike are watching to see if this is the start of a new era at the top of English netball.