Pulse secure Netball Super League top spot - what happens next?

wccwcc
Jun 15, 2025 - 16:30
 0  0
Pulse secure Netball Super League top spot - what happens next?
Olivia Tchine in London Pulse kit
Olivia Tchine helped Pulse finish the regular season with a 12th win in 14 games [Getty Images]

London Pulse secured top spot at the end of the Netball Super League regular season - and with it home advantage for the major semi-final in the play-offs.

Pulse led Loughborough Lightning by two points going into the final round of games and were given a helping hand.

It came from Birmingham Panthers who caused a surprise in their coach Jo Trip's final game in charge by achieving a 67-58 success over Lightning, who have won three of the past four Grand Finals, to ensure Pulse finished top.

Antonia Mitchell had 42 goals for Panthers who pulled clear in the second quarter against a Lightning side who lacked fluency and will have plenty to think about before the play-offs.

Pulse then ensured they go into next weekend's game against Lightning on a high with a comfortable 67-44 victory over bottom side Cardiff Dragons, helped by 36 goals from Olivia Tchine.

The winner of the major semi-final goes straight to the Grand Final while the loser will face the winner of the minor semi-final between third and fourth - Manchester Thunder and London Mavericks - to determine the other finalist.

Thunder and Mavericks lined up for a dress rehearsal on Saturday with the Manchester side winning 67-45 at Wembley Arena, led by 50 goals from Elmere van der Berg.

In the weekend's final game on Sunday, the sport said farewell to one of its greatest players.

Former England star Geva Mentor took to the court for the last time before she retires as she lined up for Leeds Rhinos against Nottingham Forest - in a match shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

How do the NSL play-offs work & when are the games?

Now that we know the last-four line-up, the pathway to the Grand Final is set.

The showpiece match takes place at the O2 in London on 6 July, but there is plenty of netball to be played before then.

Pulse and Lightning can have up to two nibbles at earning their tickets to the season finale.

They will meet in the 'major' semi-final on Friday, 20 June (20:00 BST) at the Copper Box Arena at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with the winners going straight through to the Grand Final.

The 'minor' semi-final takes place on the same evening, as Manchester Thunder host London Mavericks at Belle Vue Arena (18:30), and the winner of that goes on to face the losing side from the 'major' semi-final, who will have home court advantage.

Those teams will contest the 'preliminary final' on the weekend of 28-29 June, vying to play for the right to become 2025 NSL champions the following week.

What's Your Reaction?

Like Like 0
Dislike Dislike 0
Love Love 0
Funny Funny 0
Angry Angry 0
Sad Sad 0
Wow Wow 0