From two waste paper bins to an Olympic dream: netball's professional journey
Netball, born in the 1890s as a by-product of physical education, now aims for inclusion in the 2032 Olympics while professionalising with rising salaries and attendances.
Martina Bergman Osterberg, a pioneering liberal college owner in late 19th-century England, strategically set out to build 'physically perfect' women through her physical education college. One unintended consequence was netball, which emerged in the mid-1890s. The sport, long struggling for recognition, is now entering its professional era.
Elite netball teams are moving from sports halls to major arenas, and players see pay rises. In Australia's Suncorp Super Netball, top salaries approach six figures, while UK-based Netball Super League players earn five figures and often have second jobs. The league is two years into a 10-year professional pathway, with attendances jumping 45% in the first year.
Netball remains female-driven. Historian Margaret Henley from the University of Auckland calls it unique—controlled, operated, and designed by women throughout its history. Women set the benchmark, unlike rugby or football where women's versions are derivatives.
Globally, netball has about 13 million players. England has the most active players (3 million), and Africa leads among continents. Traditionally a Commonwealth sport, Glasgow 2026 is a major occasion, but the Commonwealth Games struggle with costs and relevance.
World Netball president Dame Liz Nicholl says the sport's future cannot depend solely on those Games. Netball is pushing for Olympic inclusion by 2032. 'Achieving Olympic inclusion would be a very important moment,' she says, potentially securing the sport for generations. She believes netball has a strong case for Brisbane 2032.
