Netball Jamaica president says Sunshine Girls will field full-strength Commonwealth Games push

Netball Jamaica president Karen Rosen-Baugh says the association intends to put a powerful Sunshine Girls squad on court for this year’s Commonwealth Games, as the team chases a breakthrough gold medal.

Jamaica earned silver at the previous Games in Birmingham four years ago, but Rosen-Baugh noted the Sunshine Girls will head into Glasgow after back-to-back series losses to England and Australia.

Those series were played without several senior players, including captain Jhaniele Fowler, who recently gave birth, as well as Shamera Sterling, Jodi-Ann Ward, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Latanya Wilson, and Shimona Nelson. The team is coached by Sasher-Gay Henry.

Rosen-Baugh said the group expects to have many of its overseas-based players available, though she stressed that the final squad will be settled based on fitness levels and how ready players are.

“We are expecting to have many or most of our overseas-based players available for us. They are currently engaged in their club leagues in Australia and England now, but the coach is working with a long squad list of players that are also resident here and overseas," said Rosen-Baugh. "The key to our preparations is that we will bring the players together for a camp when the club leagues end," she said.

She explained that the timing of competitions abroad is shaping the planning, pointing out that the Australian club final is set for July 5, which falls close to the Commonwealth Games window.

“The Australian club final doesn't happen until July 5, which is pretty close to the Commonwealth Games time. So we are planning for a camp, and we are fundraising for a camp in the UK (United Kingdom), both for acclimatisation for the coach to have the players who are based in different parts of the world come together in a final camp before the Games. And we are expecting to have most of the overseas players available to us at that time,” said the NJ boss.

On Fowler’s situation, Rosen-Baugh said any decision on her involvement will be made nearer to the tournament.

“Bear in mind that Fowler just gave birth a few weeks ago, so that is a conversation between she and the coach; and so she will have to make that decision to determine if she is ready to come back. And I don't want to make an announcement about Fowler, but I am sure if she is able to return then I know that she will," she said. "We are taking this championship very seriously. I want to emphasise the importance of camp because we are funded by the Jamaica Olympic Association for the Commonwealth Games, but we need to raise funds for the camp.”

Rosen-Baugh added that the team’s work for Glasgow is also being managed with an eye on the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.

“We also have our minds set on our preparations for the 2027 Netball World Cup, which is in Australia, and again, we have to manage our players leading up to the World Cup," she said. "It is always tough when you go into battle with the top teams in the world, but we are going there to do the best that we can. We have a similar core of players like we did the last time, so it is up to the coach to ensure that everybody is gelling and peaking at the right time.”