The side will travel to Melbourne from 20-24 August to compete against representative teams from every State and Territory, made up of athletes aged 23 and under.
Last year, with the tournament in its pilot year, WA came home in fifth position after falling in their final game against Tasmania by two goals.
Josie Janz-Dawson returns as Head Coach and said that with retaining a majority of the same team as last year, she has a good understanding of her players.
“For me it’s exciting to be able to do it again, but there’s also an unknown because for Nationals you can’t have an expectation of who is going to be a strong State,” she said.
“We just have to go out and play our particular brand of netball.”
Janz-Dawson said in 2024, the program had a focus on bonding and off-court connection, with First Nations athletes representing different areas of Western Australia and broader Australia.
“We were able to share our individual identity with each other and to create a bond that could last beyond that tournament for years to come,” she said.
The 2025 squad has a mix of young and experienced players across the court, with three 16-year-old players and two Black Swans players.
Yamatji and Noongar woman Tierrah Miller and Yawuru woman Jamaica Jauncey are both part of the First Nations national team, the Black Swans, and will be looking to utilise their connection around the goal circle.
“We have some excitement with players like Jamaica and also Tierrah who played for South Australia last year. Both played for the Black Swans and are coming off quite strong GIG WANL seasons,” Janz-Dawson said.
“Our defence are also quite exciting; they’re all ball getters.”
Many athletes from the squad also have experience in the GIG WANL pathway under their belt.
“There are some athletes that are currently in the GIG WANL system, so this is a good reward at the end of the season to be able to represent the State,” Janz-Dawson said.
“It’s also about identity, being able to recognise that you’re a First Nations person, not only playing for yourself but also with your sisters or sisterhood here,
“For a lot of their families there’s a lot of pride in their ability to fly the flag, whether it’s Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people,
“I think for families to see their granddaughters or daughters represent, be proud to represent, and not have a hidden culture is far greater than what we ever want to achieve through netball as a sport.”
SQUAD
Zaharah Alhabsji Waibene
Jamaica Jauncey Yawuru
Macy Jauncey Yawuru
Tierrah Miller Yamatji/Noongar
Shaila Newbery Whadjuk/Yued
Nakeiyah Pitt Erub
Shania Ring Wadjari/Noongar
Myllie Semler Erub
Courtney White Menang
Kahleeyah Woodley Wilman/Wajarri/Yued
Coach: Josie Janz-Dawson Erub
Assistant Coach: Scarlet Jauncey Yawuru
Manager: Tobie Narkle-Watson Wilman
The Team will kick start their tournament with a match against the reigning premiers, Queensland, on Wednesday, 20 August 7am WST. Find fixtures here.
Keep up with all the action by watching on KommunityTV.
