West Coast Fever star Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard announces pregnancy, will miss entire 2026 Super Netball season
West Coast Fever superstar Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has revealed she is pregnant, 11 months after she had a miscarriage.
The joyous news caps an emotional year for Super Netball’s best player, who was crowned the competition’s MVP after returning to the court following her personal tragedy.
The legendary 36-year-old shooter will miss the 2026 season to welcome her second child and first with husband Ashani, but said she had no thoughts of retirement from the sport.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I won’t be playing next season as my husband and I are expecting a child next year. This pregnancy means a lot to my family and I; it goes to show how much God has been writing my story and his hand is on everything, I am giving all the glory to God,” Fowler-Nembhard said.
“I will still be in and around the girls (at Fever) as much as I can, making sure that my presence is still being felt. I will continue to do whatever I can off the court to motivate the team and play my part.
“I don’t feel like this is the time to retire from netball for me and with God’s will I am looking forward to coming back.”
Following her miscarriage in January, Fowler-Nembhard returned to the court in sensational fashion.
The Jamaican led the Fever to a grand final berth off the back of a league-record 13 consecutive victories, and was crowned Super Netball’s MVP for a sixth time despite missing the first two matches of the season.
West Coast will turn to Fowler-Nembhard’s countrywoman Romelda Aiken-George to help fill the considerable void at goal shooter when their new season begins in March, with the 37-year-old to come out of retirement to don the green dress.
Aiken-George is the league’s second leading goalscorer behind Fowler-Nembhard with more than 9000 goals in 245 games. She previously played for Queensland – where she won three premierships - and NSW, and most recently Adelaide, where she earned grand final MVP honours in the club’s 2024 championship triumph.
“I am here to help the team achieve another championship and everything starts from pre-season, so my job is to take everything in and build those connections,” said Aiken-George, who had announced her retirement in July.
“I am very excited for the opportunity and for Dan Ryan and Sara Francis-Bayman to reach out to me I feel like they see my potential and my story isn’t quite finished yet.
“I am looking forward to playing at RAC Arena. When you are on the opposition it is quite loud, and the Green Army fans are definitely that eighth player on the court which is pretty exciting.”
West Coast Fever netball boss Sara Francis-Bayman said the move to sign Aiken-George allowed Fever to maintain their structure headed into the 2026.
“We all know that Jhaniele is irreplaceable but to be able to sign the league’s second all-time goalscorer and four-time premiership player in Romelda Aiken-George, this is a huge signing for the club,” she said.
