New Zealand
The defending champions always have a target on their back and how the Silver Ferns stand up will be key. The Ferns have never won back-to-back World Cups and after the 2019 win they will be hungrier than ever. Four years ago they were based around the "fossils", Maria Folau, Laura Langman and Casey Kopua, but there is plenty of experience still around this time in Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Gina Crampton, Phoenix Karaka, Jane Watson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. That is peppered with exciting young talent in Grace Nweke, Kate Heffernan and Maddy Gordon, making for a good balance among the squad. They have been immersed in big training camps, and more coming up in the Gold Coast and back home, and will have the benefit of having had a good chunk of time together before the opening game. Other countries do not have the same luxury, with many internationals playing in Australia, with the Suncorp Super Netball final next weekend.
Australia
The Diamonds finally named their squad last Monday, almost a week late after Netball Australia refused to name the side until a new Diamonds Collective Player Agreement was signed. Talk about a stressful build-up for players and staff. But that will not hinder them, with the Diamonds remaining favourites, as always, and sporting a relatively unchanged lineup from the squad that won Commonwealth Games gold last year. Sophie Garbin’s selection has caused the most chat. Garbin has had a disappointing season at goal attack for the Collingwood Magpies — who have been axed from Suncorp Super Netball — but she is a goal shoot by trade and played a big part in New Zealand’s loss in the Constellation Cup last year. Expect her to come in to her own internationally. Wing defence Ash Brazill will want to retire on a high and coach Stacey Marinkovich will want to repay Netball Australia’s faith in her after re-signed until 2027 last week.
Jamaica
Arguably this is the most impressive Sunshine Girls team ever. Led by top international shooter Jhaniele Fowler, Jamaica won a historic silver medal at the Commonwealth Games last year and other than a blip in New Zealand last year — not all players arrived in the country in time — the Sunshine Girls have been on the rise. Romelda Aiken-George, who has starred for the New South Wales Swifts, makes her international return after the birth of her daughter and they are packed with defensive firepower in Shamera Sterling, Jodi-Ann Ward and Latanya Wilson at the other end of the court.
Specialist goal shoot Shimona Nelson, another Collingwood Magpie, is unlucky to be only a reserve for the World Cup, but with Fowler and Aiken-George already taking that spot, there just is no room for another. Jamaica’s depth, especially in the midcourt, is where the real question lies, but you get the feeling they are going to cause a few upsets again.
England
The Roses are packed with experience — and that is vital at big events. Jade Clarke and Geva Mentor are lining up for their sixth World Cups, with Mentor already announcing her international retirement following the World Cup. Helen Housby is in the form of her life, turning herself into a long-bomb queen in Suncorp Super Netball, and Nat Metcalf, Chelsea Pitman, Layla Guscoth and Eleanor Cardwell add some good depth. Jo Harten is a big loss for the squad, with the shooter announcing her international retirement in April following a knee injury. But there is still plenty to be excited about in Funmi Fadoju, one of the most electric rising defenders in English netball, who adds something different for her first World Cup. The Roses have developed massively since its 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal, but missed out on a medal last year and will be gunning to prove what they are worth again.
