Loughborough Lightning is an English netball team based at Loughborough University. Their senior team plays in the Netball Super League where they have made seven grand finals, winning three in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
History In 2005 Loughborough Lightning were named as the East Midlands franchise in the new Netball Super League. Together with Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Carnegie, Galleria Mavericks, Northern Thunder, Team Bath and Team Northumbria, Lightning were founder members of the league. Together with the women's cricket team, the women's rugby union team, the women's cycling team, the women's football team and the women's wheelchair basketball team, the netball team is one of five women's sports teams based at Loughborough University that use the Loughborough Lightning name.
Lightning made their first Super League grand final in 2007–08 where the lost to Galleria Mavericks.
They made further grand finals 2017 and 2018 but lost to Wasps Netball both times 55-11.
Lightning coached by Sara Francis-Bayman and captained by Natalie Panagarry won their first Super League title in 2021, defeating Team Bath. They would go on to make four consecutive grand finals, winning back to back titles in 2023 and 2024.
Senior finals Netball Super League Grand Finals Loughborough Lightning made their Netball Super Leagueeague Grand Final debut in 2007–08.
Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2007–08Galleria Mavericks43–39Loughborough LightningK2 Leisure Centre2017Wasps Netball55–51Loughborough LightningBarclaycard Arena2018Wasps Netball55–51Loughborough LightningCopper Box Arena2021Loughborough Lightning49–32Team BathCopper Box Arena2022Manchester Thunder60–53Loughborough LightningCopper Box Arena2023Loughborough Lightning57–48London PulseCopper Box Arena2024Loughborough Lightning70-54Manchester ThunderResorts World Arena2025London Pulse53-45Loughborough LightningThe O2 Arena
Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship In 2017 Loughborough Lightning won the inaugural British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship.
Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2017 Loughborough Lightning35–33Team BathThe O2 Arena2019 Loughborough Lightning61–35Wasps NetballCopper Box Arena
Home venue Loughborough Lightning play their home games at the Sir David Wallace Sports Centre at Loughborough University and Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham.
Notable players 2026 squad
Internationals
Ama Agbeze Karen Atkinson Sophia Candappa Ella Clark Jade Clarke Beth Cobden Sasha Corbin Chloe Essam Jodie Gibson Layla Guscoth Joanne Harten Hannah Joseph Olivia Murphy Natalie Panagarry Emma Thacker Fran Williams
Niamh Cooper Michelle Drayne Michelle Magee Oonagh McCulloch
Shamera Sterling Vanessa Walker
Ella Gibbons
Maryka Holtzhausen Phumza Maweni Renske Stoltz Shadine van der Merwe
Mary Cholhok Nuba Peace Proscovia
Rebecca James
Adelaide Muskwe
Head coaches Coach Years Margaret Foster2013–2014 Karen Atkinson2014–2017 Anna Carter 2017–2018 Sara Bayman2018–2021 Victoria Burgess2021-
Honours Netball Super League: 2021, 2023, 2024 Runners up: 2007–08, 2017, 2018, 2022 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship: 2017, 2019
Sponsorship In February 2023, clothing retailer Long Tall Sally were confirmed as the team's headline sponsor for the 2023 Netball Super League season.
References
External links Loughborough Lightning on Facebook Loughborough Students Netball Club on Facebook Loughborough Lightning on Twitter Loughborough Students Netball Club on Twitter