Netball Super Cup: Loughborough Lightning beat London Pulse by one goal in final to claim title and put down marker for new season

The Netball Super League is back for 2026! The season got under way with the Super Cup which saw all eight teams play in shortened matches over the course of a single day; Loughborough Lightning came through to beat London Pulse 18-17

February 21, 2026 at 11:52 AM· 304 words· updated February 21, 2026 at 05:14 PM

London Pulse were looking to defend their title after winning the inaugural event last year but Loughborough Lightning pipped them in a close final and put down a marker for the season ahead.

The one-day standalone tournament saw all eight Netball Super League teams in action ahead of the start of the regular season.

The eight teams were drawn into two pools for the group stages, during which each team played three shorter length, seven-a-side games.

The two top teams from the two groups progressed to the semi-finals. Lightning beat NIC Leeds Rhinos 13-9 in the first semi-final, while Pulse defeated LexisNexis Dragons 18-16.

In the final the strength of Lightning's circle defence forced Pulse to shoot from long range. This pressure allowed Lightning to get a four-goal lead in the first half but Pulse hit back to trail by two at half-time.

With the score 11-9, Player of the Final Sammy Wallace Joseph unleashed her long-range shooting ability, bagging Amex Super Shots at will to stretch Lightning's advantage.

The goal shooter's 80 per cent Amex Super Shot accuracy proved the difference in a nail-biting finish.

Pulse went on a last-minute run of goals, and momentum swung in their favour, but the buzzer blocked their chance to repeat last year's victory, and they fell one short.

The one-goal victory in the final secured the Soft & Gentle Netball Super Cup for Lightning's trophy cabinet.

Loughborough Lightning 23-21 Nottingham Forest

AO Manchester Thunder 9-16 NIC Leeds Rhinos

Birmingham Panthers 6-18 LexisNexis Dragons

London Pulse 21-13 AO Manchester Thunder

Nottingham Forest 14-12 Birmingham Panthers

LexisNexis Dragons 15-18 Loughborough Lightning

Nottingham Forest 9-16 LexisNexis Dragons

AO Manchester Thunder 8-19 London Mavericks

Birmingham Panthers 18-21 Loughborough Lightning

Semi-final 1: Loughborough Lightning 13-9 NIC Leeds Rhinos

Semi-final 2: LexisNexis Dragons 16-18 London Pulse