TODAY is the day, the big one – Netball Super League Grand Final Day.

There are just two teams left in the race – Loughborough Lightning and Manchester Thunder. Today will see either the Lightning come away with the third title in their history, or the Thunder win their fifth.

NETBALL SUPER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

Manchester Thunder vs Loughborough Lightning
4:30pm local time
Resorts World Arena

DID YOU KNOW?

Either one or both of today’s Grand Finalists has been involved in every Netball Super League Grand Final since 2016.

RECENT FORM

The Thunder have had a stellar end to the season. So much so that they have not lost a match since back in Round 6, which was over two months ago now.

Things have been a little different though for the reigning champions the Lightning.

Two of their losses for the whole season have come in the last six weeks of the regular season, and crucially for today one of those was against the Thunder.

HEAD TO HEAD

This season these two played each other twice. The more recent meeting was won by the Thunder, but crucially the Lightning are the only ones to have beaten the Thunder all year, which they did so back at the end of March.

LAST TIME THEY MET

As previously mentioned, the last time these two met it was a win to the Thunder, but it was not a big one. After a dead even first term, the Lightning pulled ahead a little in the second before the Thunder regained control in the second half to emerge four goal victors.

KEY PLAYERS

For the Thunder, it is hard to top the quality of their midcourt. Imogen Allison, Natalie Metcalf and Amy Carter all have Roses caps for a reason, and the quality and speed with which that trio are able to transition the ball down court is top notch.

For the Lightning, their quality comes from their shooters. Mary Cholhok is by far the most prolific shooter in the entire competition this season, shooting almost 200 goals more than any other shooter this season. Her partnership with Rhea Dixon has also been really growing this season, and has become really strong and important.

NETBALL SUPER LEAGUE BRONZE MEDAL MATCH

The Grand Final is not the only on court entertainment for the fans to enjoy today up in Birmingham, with London Pulse and the Severn Stars battling it out for third place.

That match will either see the Pulse recover some pride after failing to better last year’s result, or the Stars cap off their time in the Super League in a big way with their first ever top three finish.

The head-to-head ledger between the sides sits at one all this season, so anything could happen, especially with the emotion that will be fuelling the Stars.