The Jamaica national netball team, commonly known as the Sunshine Girls, represent Netball Jamaica in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, Netball at the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented Jamaica at the World Games. At the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games, Jamaica were silver medallists. They were bronze medallists in 2002, 2014 and 2018. They were also bronze medallists at the 1991, 2003, 2007 and 2023 Netball World Cups. Jamaica also won the 2018 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. As of 1 March 2026, Jamaica are ranked number four in the World Netball Rankings.
History Early tests The Jamaica Netball Association was formed in 1959. It subsequently became affiliated to the West Indies Netball Board and were invited to send a team to the West Indies Netball Championship in Montserrat in August 1959. Jamaica made their Test debut at this tournament.
World Netball Rankings Between 2008 and 2018, Jamaica were regularly ranked number four in the World Netball Rankings. However, in July 2019, they were ranked number two for the first time. During the early 2020s they have regularly challenged England for the number three position.
Tournament history Major tournaments Netball World Cup Jamaica have competed at every World Netball Championships and/or Netball World Cup since the inaugural 1963 tournament. They have been bronze medalists on four occasions – 1991, 2003, 2007 and 2023. Jamaica have also hosted the 1971 and 2003 World Netball Championships.
Tournaments Place1963 World Netball Championships5th1967 World Netball Championships6th 1971 World Netball Championships4th1975 World Netball Championships5th1979 World Netball Championships5th 1983 World Netball Championships5th 1987 World Netball Championships5th 1991 World Netball Championships 1995 World Netball Championships5th 1999 World Netball Championships4th2003 World Netball Championships 2007 World Netball Championships 2011 World Netball Championships4th2015 Netball World Cup4th2019 Netball World Cup5th2023 Netball World Cup
World Games Tournaments Place1985 World Games1993 World Games
Commonwealth Games Jamaica have competed at every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. They were bronze medallists in 2002, 2014 and 2018. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with a team coached by Connie Francis and captained by Jhaniele Fowler, Jamaica finished as silver medallists. Jamaica defeated Australia 57–55 during the pool stages and topped the pool. In the semi-finals they defeated New Zealand 67–51 and, as a result, qualified for their first major final. However, in the final, they lost 55–51 to Australia.
Tournaments Place1998 Commonwealth Games5th2002 Commonwealth Games 2006 Commonwealth Games4th2010 Commonwealth Games4th2014 Commonwealth Games 2018 Commonwealth Games2022 Commonwealth Games2026 Commonwealth Games
Taini Jamison Trophy Since 2008, Netball New Zealand has hosted the Taini Jamison Trophy series. The series features New Zealand playing against visiting teams. In 2010, Jamaica made their debut in the series and they have been regular participants ever since. In 2018, Jamaica won the series. During a full four team tournament, they twice defeated New Zealand, once in the preliminary rounds and again in the final. However, Netball New Zealand subsequently refused to allow Jamaica to take the actual trophy home, stating that "for insurance purposes... we can't really have it go offshore". In 2022 complications with passports and visas saw the Jamaica team's arrival in New Zealand delayed. This resulted in the original test series been cancelled. It also saw Jamaica playing with a severely under strength team. Following an investigation, World Netball would later fine Netball Jamaica GBP £5,000 (NZD $9,800) for failing to fulfill the original fixtures planned for the series.
Tournaments Place2010 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd2016 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd2018 Taini Jamison Trophy Series1st2022 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd
Netball Nations Cup Tournaments Place2020 Netball Nations Cup2nd
Fast5 Netball World Series Since 2009, Jamaica have played in the Fast5 Netball World Series.
Tournaments Place2009 World Netball Series2nd2010 World Netball Series3rd2011 World Netball Series4th2012 Fast5 Netball World Series4th2013 Fast5 Netball World Series3rd 2014 Fast5 Netball World Series4th2016 Fast5 Netball World Series5th2017 Fast5 Netball World Series2nd 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series2nd2022 Fast5 Netball World Series6th2023 Fast5 Netball World Series5th2024 Fast5 Netball World Series6th
Americas tournaments West Indies, Caribbean, AFNA Championships Jamaica made their Test debut at the 1959 West Indies Netball Championship. After 1984, Jamaica began to participate more regularly and, from 1989 onwards, they replaced Trinidad and Tobago as the dominant team, winning nearly every tournament they entered.
Tournaments Place1959 West Indies Netball Championship1984 Caribbean Netball Championships4th1988 Caribbean Netball Championships1989 Caribbean Netball Championships1st1990 Caribbean Netball Championships1st1991 Caribbean Netball Championships1st1994 AFNA Championships1st1996 AFNA Championships1st1997 AFNA Championships1st2000 AFNA Championships1st2001 AFNA Championships1st2004 AFNA Championships1st2008 AFNA Championships1st2012 AFNA Championships1st
Netball World Cup Qualifiers Tournaments Place2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Americas1st
Central American and Caribbean Games Tournaments Place2023 Central American and Caribbean Games1st2026 Central American and Caribbean Games2nd
Notable players
Current Squad
Captains
Most-capped internationals
Head coaches Coach YearsLeila Robinson1963Jo Wigman1967–1979Barbara Robinson Sinclair1983–1987Maureen Hall1991–2006 Connie Francis2007–2011 Oberon Pitterson2011–2014 Minneth Reynolds2014–2016Jermaine Allison-McCracken2017Marvette Anderson2017–2019Sasher-Gaye Henry2017–2018Connie Francis2019–2023 Nicole Aiken-Pinnock2023Sasher-Gaye Henry2024–
Notes Between 2017 and 2018, Marvette Anderson and Sasher-Gaye Henry served as co-head coach.
Honours
Commonwealth Games Runners Up: 2022, 2026 West Indies, Caribbean, AFNA Championships Winners: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 Netball World Cup Qualifiers Winners: 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Winners: 2023 Runners Up: 2026 Taini Jamison Trophy Winners: 2018 Runners Up: 2010, 2016, 2022 Netball Nations Cup Runners Up: 2020 Fast5 Netball World Series Runners up: 2009, 2017, 2018
References