Sunshine Girls stick to tradition

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls, along with the coaching staff, team officials, Netball Jamaica executives, sponsors and supporters, attended the Waltham Park New Testament Church of God on Sunday for a lively, spirit-filled worship service ahead of the team’s departure for England for the opening leg of the Horizon Netball Series.

Seeking the Lord’s blessing before an international tour has become something of a tradition for the Sunshine Girls, who usually worship at a different church before each overseas assignment.

Sunshine Girl Abigale Sutherland read the lesson, while Netball Jamaica President Karen Baugh delivered a well-received greeting that was punctuated by Bible verses and shouts of approval from members of the congregation.

According to Baugh, attending church before a tour is important to the team for several reasons.

“Apart from it being a tradition to come and worship together before we leave to go on a tour, we really feel that it’s something that really bonds the team together, that it’s not just what happens on court that is important. What happens off court is as important and we get our support team here, everybody together, praising the Lord in a way that the service today was really wonderful, and I think we have left feeling refreshed and energised so go forth and conquer.”

Latanya Wilson, one of Jamaica’s leading defenders and a standout performer on the international stage, welcomed the opportunity to worship ahead of the series and expressed confidence about the team’s prospects in the four-match contest.

“It means a lot. It has been a practice for us because the skills alone is not going to do it. And we always put God at the forefront, and without Him we can’t do anything. So we have to make sure we come and honour His name and make sure we are just giving back to God, ‘cause He has blessed us with the skills and the talent to go out there to represent ourselves and our country.”

She also outlined her expectations for the series.

“My expectation is definitely to build on the World Cup. Winning is a part of it, but also just making sure that we are nailing the basics and working on combinations for the World Cup next year.”

The team will continue its preparations with training sessions three days per week under coach Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright, with a more targeted approach now that the squad has been finalised.

The series, now in its third year, will get under way in England with matches on November 21 and 22 at the Copper Box Arena in London before concluding in Jamaica at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on December 5 and 6. The teams will contest the Rhone Hornsby Trophy, named in honour of Jamaica’s Molly Rhone and England’s Jean Hornsby, the first Black player to represent England’s national team.

Jamaica captured the trophy at the inaugural staging in 2024 with a 2-1 victory, while England claimed their first title in 2025 with a 2-0 result, when only the England leg was contested because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

This year’s series is expected to provide another closely contested battle between the teams, who are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the World Netball rankings, with England holding the higher position.

The Sunshine Girls are sponsored by Kendel and Best Dressed. Other series sponsors include Wata, Powerade, Gilbert, Supreme Ventures, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica Public Service, the Bob Marley Foundation, Main Event, Budget Car Rental, the Coconut Industry Board, Guardian Life and Canopy Insurance.