WHEN Sasha Glasgow fractured her lower leg back in a Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) practice match earlier this year, the star shooter thought she feared for the worst.

“I thought that was definitely my entire netball career over,” Glasgow said.

“Just the pain that I was in, just what I was experiencing and I think just the level of a double broken bone is quite scary. I feel like I’m in a better space now than what I was when I did the injury. But I’m definitely keen to get back to playing netball soon.”

That fateful evening back in February changed the course of Glasgow’s year, with the newly minted Melbourne Maverick yet to be able to take to the court for her new side this SSN season.

This injury came off the back of what was a bit of a break out 2023 calendar year for Glasgow.

“I feel like I really flourished out at Fever and I felt really settled in my game and the super shot and I was really excited to make the England squad and make that choice to go with the Roses” Glasgow said, speaking about her year.

“I just felt really comfortable and really confident that my ability I guess had been recognised and it was amazing to go over there and take my netball to another level. And as devastating as it was for what my 2024 looks like, I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t have such a successful 2023 without West Coast Fever.”

That break out 2023 year culminated in Glasgow officially becoming an international netballer after making her England Roses debut at the back end of 2023.

Glasgow said that becoming a Rose has been “amazing”.

“I’ve just met some incredible human beings,” she said.

“Meeting those girls, accepting me, obviously living in Australia my whole life and just being English through my parents I felt a little bit nervous, but the girls are amazing, embracing me with open arms, and I’d say like some of my greatest friends are there now in such a short time”

“I really bonded with Elle [Cardwell] in our time, so when we were coming over to the Mavericks together it just felt so fun and amazing, and then obviously Fran [Williams], Imogen Allison as well, just people like that that come to mind that have really like changed my life in six months and yeah, I don’t know what my England career looks like at the moment, but I feel like whatever happens, I’ve taken really good friendships from that.”

She said that being an English Rose based in Australia on the other side of the world is “super unique.”

“I know obviously it’s not like I’m the only Suncorp player,” Glasgow said. “You know, Helen [Housby], Jo [Harten] have done it for so many years, Geva [Mentor], Ell, Fran, and I just feel like you want to be in the best league in the world. It’s so amazing that so many of my English teammates are here and representing England, I guess from afar.

“It’s a monster load when you finish the season, what the international season looks like. It’s just juggling. Suncorp is an incredible league and then international netball is so special in its own right. I feel really proud to do both.”

Last year was not just a breakthrough year for Glasgow, but was also one for the England Roses too, with the Roses making great strides in closing the gap between themselves and the top two sides in the world.

Glasgow said there is “a lot of excitement and a lot of youth” around the Roses group heading into 2024.

“If I look at our squad now, the level of experience that these girls are just getting through the Netball Super League in England and then what they can bring to the Roses environment is amazing,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of retirements and people step away from netball. We’ve got a few like Elle and Helen that are staying in the environment that can offer experience to the youth. It’s just going to be a massive development and really exciting time for England.

“They’ve got so much depth, which England have spoke about that they haven’t necessarily had before. I think that’s amazing and credit to the program and what they’re doing in England. I just feel really excited to be a part of that and be a Rose.”

She also believes that the gap between the English team and world number ones Australia is closing.

“New Zealand’s a little bit different in the fact that they have the international cap and the rule (with ANZ Premiership restrictions),” Glasgow said. “But with England and Australia, it is very similar and on par.

“There is still a little bit of a difference between the top four and the bottom four teams, but I feel like those top four teams that are in England can really actually compete with teams in Australia and I feel like girls are pushing to want to be here in this league, but also while they’re over there in the Netball Super League.

“They’re also developing that league as well and making that league more well known, better, more competitive, and then it will just, I think it will only grow when they become professional next year.”