Glasgow gold for NZ netball team

A jubilant New Zealand team celebrated a famous gold medal moment after outclassing Jamaica 56-48 in the netball final to break a 16-year drought on the closing day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It was a third Commonwealth Games gold medal for New Zealand since the sport’s introduction to the event in 1998, and their first since 2010.

Showing their growing resolve, resilience and ability to dig themselves out of a hole, New Zealand absorbed plenty before gaining the upper hand late in the third quarter and unleashing a forceful closing 15 minutes to secure the win.

“I can’t believe it, this is incredible. I am just so proud,” New Zealand vice-captain Kate Heffernan said afterwards. “It means so much. We’ve been through it these last 18 months and the way we’ve been able to turn it around, this is the most incredible group and I’m just so proud we did it for ourselves, for our fans and everyone back at home, it means so much.

“Noeline (Taurua) has been incredible this whole time. She’s kept it simple and had so much belief in us from the start, so we backed ourselves from the start, and we fully did it for her and for everyone in New Zealand.”

Quietly going about her business with minimal fuss throughout the tournament, New Zealand coach Dame Noeline Taurua, in her first assignment at the helm since late 2024, once again demonstrated her unique ability to mould a team in a short space of time.

That included expertly managing her players’ loading, ensuring there was plenty left in the tank at the business end. At the same time, showing her renowned innovative streak with an out of the box call to successfully transform Mila Reuelu-Buchanan into the unfamiliar role of highly effective wing defence, freeing up the invaluable presence of Kate Heffernan to play from centre.

New Zealand came into the final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, which included a five-goal win over Jamaica in pool play, the pair meeting in a pinnacle event final for the first time. New Zealand’s last major event win was in the Netball World Cup final in 2019.

Relying on their same starting seven from the semi-final, New Zealand produced a near-flawless opening quarter to get away to the best of starts. With twin towers Grace Nweke and veteran Jamaica shooter Romelda Aiken key targets at either end, it was the New Zealander who was provided a silver service delivery from her frontline feeders early on.

Backed up by bullish defence where the height of Kelly Jackson and constant movement of captain Karin Burger put Jamaica’s attackers off stride, New Zealand took advantage to shoot out to a four-goal lead. The Sunshine Girls trimmed the margin slightly when New Zealand took a 16-13 lead into the first break.

New Zealand got away to a positive start on the resumption to score the first two goals before the second stanza turned into a goal-for-goal arm-wrestle. At times Jamaica made hard work of their attacking play but tightening the screws on defence helped them stay well in the contest.

Picking up timely gains, Jamaica crept to within one goal but New Zealand held their ground, continuing their confidence on attack with goal attack Georgia Heffernan playing a key provider role to Nweke, who remained a tower of strength under the New Zealand hoop.

In a drawn second quarter, New Zealand maintained their advantage when leading 28-25 at the main break.

In a gritty and tense third quarter, Jamaica came roaring back into the frame, slowing New Zealand’s play expertly while their famed defensive line was on the button with timely intercepts through Jodi-Ann Ward and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.

The resulting boost in confidence helped Jamaica level up as the team’s battled ferociously to gain the initiative in a goal-for-goal exchange. A change in tactic from Jackson resulted in two late intercepts, Kimiora Poi adding fresh legs for Maddy Gordon in the midcourt during the third quarter helping New Zealand regain their spark on attack to push the women in black out to a 41-36 lead at the last break and poised to push on.