The Young Sunshine Girls are set to touch down in Jamaica on Wednesday, October 1, and there’s a palpable sense of pride surrounding their recent performance at the World Netball Youth Cup 2025 in Gibraltar.

Although they didn’t clinch a podium finish, Head Coach Annett Daley is tremendously proud of her young charges. Despite falling short of their goal of finishing in the top four, Daley believes the group has immense potential.

Their journey showcased grit and growth, with notable improvements match by match — a testament to the hard work put in by the team and coaching staff and management team.

“You definitely would have wanted to be in the top four. You would have wanted to be playing for a medal even if you didn’t get it,” Daley told the Jamaica Observer.

“But looking back at the quality of the teams that we played, you have to accept that those other teams were more experienced than the Jamaican team. And it is that experience that was used in order to beat them really. Seeing them compete against other nations that have done their investments in netball, I am extremely proud of them,” Daley further said.

The young Sunshine Girls had a thrilling start to the tournament. Their first match against Tonga was a strong one, with the team dominating 66-43. This impressive win set the tone for their tournament. Next up was Sri Lanka, but the match didn’t quite materialise as Sri Lanka withdrew from the tournament. Still, Jamaica earned two valuable points from the fixture.

The Young Sunshine Girls were back in action against Wales, and they delivered another convincing performance, winning the game 61-43. Their teamwork and skills were on full display, and the team seemed unstoppable.

However, their winning streak came to an end when they faced off against powerhouse England in the final group stage. England proved to be a formidable opponent, and the young Sunshine Girls struggled to keep up, ultimately losing 33-64.

Despite the tough loss, the team regrouped and prepared for the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, their journey ended there, with the mighty Australia proving too strong, winning 85-33. Though their tournament run ended earlier than they’d have liked, the Young Sunshine Girls showed flashes of brilliance and potential that will surely serve them well in future competitions.

The young Sunshine Girls secured a 57-47 win over Cook Islands in the semi-finals of the consolation group, advancing them to the fifth-place playoff match against Scotland. And they didn’t stop there. The young Sunshine Girls went on to defeat Scotland 53-44 on Sunday, clinching an impressive fifth-place finish at the tournament.

Australia claimed the title by defeating New Zealand 63-48 in the final. England secured third place with a convincing 55-35 victory over South Africa.

Daley reflected on the team’s journey with optimism.

“Doing things differently would not be at the tournament. The differently would have to be before the tournament. Based on the tournament and being in it, we’re seeing where we would have worked with the resources that were given and we would have improved each match we have played.

“For it to have been impactful the difference would have had to happen prior to the tournament itself, and that’s where we need to make changes,” explained Daley.

Daley found Gibraltar’s climate familiar, drawing comparisons to Jamaica’s own parish towns.

“The atmosphere is good and the weather is good. The weather is similar to let’s say if you go up to Mandeville or Coleyville; so it’s a good weather,” she noted, evoking the comfortable temperatures of Jamaica’s midland areas.

Describing Gibraltar itself, she spoke of a “nice laid back sort of country”.

“It is a small country, it’s pretty quiet. You are talking about 39,000 people; it is like a community in Jamaica,” said Daley, illustrating the intimate feel of this overseas territory with its tight-knit population.

Wing attack Tori Akinrinola (right) of Jamaica catches the ball under pressure from Mia Hall of Wales during the World Netball Youth Cup match at Europa Sports Complex in Gibraltar on September 23, 2025.

Australia netballers celebrate winning the 2025 World Netball Youth Cup at the Europa Sports Complex in Gilbraltar on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Australia defeated New Zealnd 63-48 in the final. (Photos: Collin Reid courtesy of KFC and SVL)