SASHER-GAYE Henry-Wright, head coach of Jamaica’s senior Sunshine Girls, said that while the present roster is missing some key players, they have enough quality to compete against the England Roses in the 2025 Vitality Horizon netball series.

The series rivalry typically features two games in Jamaica and two in England each year. The Sunshine Girls won last year’s series 2-1, after one match was tied. This year, the Jamaica leg of the competition, which was slated for December 6 and 7 at the National Indoor Sports Centre, was cancelled due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa. Only the England leg will go through as planned on December 13 and 14 at London’s Copper Box Arena.

“England is a much better-experienced team; they have more experience in their team from the top to the bottom. We do have great players on board that can match up to them but we just need to keep steady with the ball and try to take that ball down from [the] defensive area into the attack,” Henry-Wright told the Jamaica Observer.

“So, we still have a lot of work to do and we’re still working. And, you know, inexperience can cause a little bit [of a] damper but we’re still pushing forward and we’re looking forward to the fierce competition from England so that the players can grow and build from it,” added Henry-Wright who, along with her team, will be leaving the island this evening for England.

Captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, along with Romelda Aiken-George, Shimona Nelson, and Latanya Wilson, have all withdrawn from the squad.

Shamera Sterling-Humphrey recently gave birth, and Jodi-Ann Ward is recovering from surgery.

But Henry-Wright said they are heading into the series with a focus on growth over pressure.

“We are in no pressure facing England; we are talking about performances, we are talking about goals. We know what we have, we know what we are going to England with. We just have to work,” Henry-Wright insisted.

“This is the best team we can put together right now, and we are very happy that we could put a team together despite not having our senior and experienced players. And, it goes to show that our programme just needs to be more premier — having more coaches, having the pathway programme readily available that when these times come, we can pull from it.

“We don’t have that right now because of funding. We only have a senior programme and the under-21s and so there’s nothing happening, so because of the [lack of] money we are not able to do it. And I think we still need to go out and we still need to recruit players; we need to look around and see what we have in Jamaica but we are still optimistic and we believe that things we be better soon,” she further explained.

The Sunshine Girls wrapped up their preparation ahead of the series with a 40-52 loss to the All-Star Mixed Team at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Friday, December 5.

“As I said, this is the best team we have that we can put on paper right now and I am satisfied with that. But [am I] satisfied with the performance [against the All-Star Mixed team]? I think they could have taken care of the ball, especially through court play, you know, take care of the centre pass more.

“It is all about centre pass conversion; and if you want to win the game or have an opportunity to win, you really have to ensure that we capitalise on our centre pass. We have to score off our centre pass; if we can’t do that then we are in trouble,” former player of the game, Henry-Wright said.

She reflected on the team’s performance, spotlighting areas for growth ahead of the England series.

“Our entire backline is very young. I think we’re still struggling from the back in terms of bringing through the court — and that’s one area that we have been working [on]. I think we need to get it right before [the series] because I think they can do a much better performance in terms of executing the game strategies that we really worked on.

“In the attacking area, I think Gezelle [Allison] stepped up today; she shot well. Simone Gordon came in, and we’re trying the rotations so, really and truly, we didn’t stick to one team — we try to rotate it. It wasn’t about winning; it was to see how persons would come on and perform. Although we were expecting to win this game, I was a little bit disappointed [we didn’t] but we look forward in terms of building before the weekend,” Henry-Wright said.

HENRY-WRIGHT… this is the best team we have that we can put on paper right now and I am satisfied with that

Head Coach Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright (centre) talks to Jamaica’s senior Sunshine Girls during a match against the All-Star Mixed Team at the National Indoor Indoor Sports Centre on December 5, 2025. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

SQUAD:

Shooters – Shanice Beckford, Rhea Dixon, Simone Gordon, Gezelle Allison, and Mischa Creary

Centre Court – Khadijah Williams, Adean Thomas, Abigale Sutherland, Crystal Plummer, and Zaudi Green

Defenders – Kimone Shaw, Vangelee Williams, Theresa Beckford, Roxanna McLean, and Paula Ann Burton

Staff: Sasher Gaye Henry-Wright (head coach), Kerry-Ann Brown (intern coach); Dr Michelle Holt (team doctor), Offneil Lamont (physiotherapist); and Maureen Brown (team manager)