THERE has been no shortage of massive signings in the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) already, but it is hard to go past the bombshell signing of England Roses international Layla Guscoth to Surrey Storm. The defender dominated the 2022 season for Team Bath, but had announced she was leaving for other opportunities given Bath announced its 2023 season roster first. Not long after that was confirmed, Guscoth was named as a huge Storm signing to shake up the competition.

Coming off a huge Commonwealth Games with the Roses, Guscoth also had a dominant VNSL season, recording the most intercepts (65) and turnovers (108) of any player, and finished top three for deflections (86) in a side that had its fair share of outstanding individuals. Also earning selection in the VNSL All-Star Seven, Guscoth is looking to help Surrey Storm rise up the table from their eight-win, seventh place performance this season.

Storm midcourter and playing head coach Mikki Austin said she and the club were “ecstatic” to welcome the Roses defender onboard.

“As one of the best defenders in world netball right now, and one of the most sort after players, we are ecstatic to sign Layla to Surrey Storm,” she said.

“Layla brings a wealth of domestic and international experience along with a ball winning ability unlike any other. Alongside what she brings as a netballer, Layla is also a fantastic person to add into our environment to raise the standard and continue to push our mental toughness.”

Guscoth said the move was about having a new challenge and imparting her knowledge in a new environment having played not just in the VNSL and internationally, but also in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN).

“I am really looking forward to the upcoming season with Storm,” Guscoth said. “It’s exciting for me to have a new challenge and new environment, seeing the growth of Storm and the togetherness of the team is something I can’t wait to be a part of.”

With Guscoth coming in, it brings the Storm’s total squad number to eight, with the seven other players re-signings, headlined by Austin and high-volume shooter, Peace Proscovia. Club captain Yasmin Brookes (nee Parsons) will join Austin in the midcourt once again, with Francesca Wells, Sophia Candappa, Charlotte Curtis and Niamh Cooper. Young shooter Sophie Kelly is the sole departure, heading to Team Bath.

Curtis (upgraded) and Cooper were announced shortly after Guscoth, and will learn plenty of the English Roses star.

“After representing Surrey Storm for the last two seasons and cementing herself as a regular in VNSL, we are looking forward to having Niamh back in the duck egg blue,” Austin said. “A player who brings an incredibly high work ethic, relentlessness, and ability to be deadly in both attack and defence, we look forward to helping her continued development.

“Chartie performed incredibly well within our environment in 2022. An athlete who constantly pushed to improve along with leading by example with her work ethic, we were thrilled to elevate Chartie into a contracted position. She offers a specific dynamic across multiple positions in the defense end which we cannot wait to utilise.”