Adelaide Thunderbirds Break Record With 13-Win Season

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are proving that excellence can become a habit, capping off a near-perfect season with their 13th win and a piece of Super Netball history.

The team dominated the Sunshine Coast Lightning 67-49 on Saturday night, breaking the league record for most wins in a regular season. Their only loss came back in round six against the Melbourne Vixens, but Adelaide still cruised to the 2026 minor premiership.

The secret to their success? A stifling defense led by Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who helped Adelaide hold opponents to the lowest scores in the league. In their final regular season game, that defensive prowess was on full display as they held Lightning to just 49 goals.

Now the Thunderbirds are setting their sights on an even bigger prize. A home semifinal awaits them on June 21 at the Adelaide 36ers arena, where the atmosphere promises to be electric.

"The noise in that semifinal, I just remember it was amazing," coach Tania Obst said about their previous playoff game at the venue. "The crowd feels a little bit more on top of you in the game, which I think for an opposition wouldn't be pleasing."

Why This Inspires

What makes this team special isn't just the wins. It's how they've built a culture of sustained excellence after championships in 2023 and 2024.

Vice-captain Tayla Williams credits the team's versatility for their playoff readiness. "We've tried lots of different combinations and we've had different types of games, close ones, and bigger margins," she said.

Rather than resting on their record-breaking season, Obst keeps her team focused on the process. She's more interested in the daily work than the trophy case, though another championship would cement this squad as one of the greatest in modern netball history.

The Thunderbirds have shown that building something great takes time, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to getting better every day. Three championships in four years would be the ultimate proof that this approach works.