The NSW Swifts’ season is officially over – and their injury crisis deepened with newly named Diamonds invitee Grace Whyte failing to finish her side’s 66-60 loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday.
Already without Diamonds defender Sarah Klau who was a late out for the do-or-die clash due to a lingering leg injury, the loss of Whyte just summed up how brutal the 2026 season has been for the Swifts.
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Star import Helen Housby was earlier this week ruled out of the remainder of the year – and the upcoming Commonwealth Games for England.
And now Whyte’s injury is just another blow for the club.
She had landed on the foot of Thunderbird Kate Heffernan midway through the opening term and immediately stayed down.
“She’s clearly in some pain,” Catherine Cox said on Fox Netball.
“Grabbed it straight away – Paige Hadley’s reaction in back of play (is shocked).
“Has been the superstar sub in that goal attack position this season.
“They are running out of options (the Swifts attack).”
And despite some brilliant super shot fight from Whyte’s replacement Nicola Barge (9/16 super shots), the Swifts couldn’t recover from their slow start.
Their season is now officially over with the Swifts no longer just a mathematical chance of finals.
The Thunderbirds meantime have locked up the minor premiership and a home semi-final with one round remaining off the back of their six-goal victory.
In star Georgie Horjus’ 100th Super Netball match, the Thunderbirds put on an opening quarter clinic to claim a 24-13 lead that the Swifts could never recover.
And despite the 10-1 supershot count against them, Adelaide secured victory in dominant fashion.
Speaking after the match Swifts coach Briony Akle was disappointed in the result and revealed it was “more than a stinger” for Whyte, but would await scans post-match.
The young goaler was in a moon boot at full time in a worrying sign for her Diamonds camp hopes – less than a week after her rise to invitee status.
