After a 25-year wait, the Green Army were rewarded on 3 July, 2022, when Fever achieved their maiden premiership in front of a record crowd of more than 13,000 fans at RAC Arena.
Facing the Melbourne Vixens, who sat as the minor premiers for the 2022 season, Fever put on an absolute show in front of their home crowd. The girls in green won each quarter throughout the game, finding a lead as high as 14 goals, and lifting the trophy for an 11-goal win.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard had a day out with 58 goals and a 98 per cent shooting accuracy, paired with Sasha Glasgow’s four super shots.
Captain Courtney Bruce secured herself seven deflections and six rebounds, alongside Sunday Aryang’s three deflections for the game.
Alice Teague-Neeld was all over the court, taking 35 center pass receives to match up with her 34 feeds and an intercept.
The premiership was long awaited by the Green Army, after making the Grand Final in both 2018 and 2020 and the finals again in 2021.
The impressive performances were not just on the court, it’s hard to go past Head Coach Dan Ryan and his ability to lead the team to the premiership in his first year as Fever Coach.
The Green Army roared in the final minutes of the game, aware that their heroes were about to make history not just for the club, but for West Australian netball.
The premiership was not just achieved through the squad’s performance in a single game, with Fever consistently putting on impressive displays throughout the 2022 season. The team achieved a three-game winning streak twice, along with multiple weeks spent at the top of the table and finished second at the end of the regular season.
To kick off the finals series, Fever travelled to Melbourne for the major semi final to face the Vixens. From the outset they produced relentless full-court pressure, patient ball handling, and a hunger for the contest, which cemented their place in the Grand Final after a nine-goal win.
Fever’s maiden premiership was meaningful to the players, staff, Green Army, and the State. In the 25-year history of WA competing in the National League, not once, across both the Perth Orioles (1997-2007) and West Coast Fever, had WA won the premiership.
The success certainly hasn’t ended with the 2022 victory. In 2023, Fever reached their fourth straight finals series and finished third overall with the squad currently working toward adding another premiership to their list of accomplishments.
