A decision has been reached regarding the future of superstar Sunshine Girls goal-shooter, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, and her return to centre-court for the West Coast Fever in the Suncorp Super Netball League for the upcoming season.

Fowler-Nembhard, who had initially served her notice of intent to return to the club after the tragic loss of her pregnancy, has been a key figure for the Perth-based Fever. However, with her return imminent, the role of Malawi international Mwai Kumwenda, who had been named as Fowler-Nembhard’s replacement for the 2025 season, remained uncertain.

Netball Australia has now confirmed that Kumwenda, the Melbourne Vixens Premiership winner who missed the 2024 season due to the birth of her first child, will serve as a training partner once Fowler-Nembhard is cleared to return to play. This decision comes under Netball Australia’s approval, taking into account the league’s competition rules and the National Employment Standards.

A Netball Australia spokesperson shared, “Jhaniele is entitled to return to her pre-parental leave position with four weeks’ notice. The replacement player (Mwai Kumwenda) and the Fever would then have an opportunity to negotiate a training partner contract.”

The spokesperson added, “We recognise that this has a personal impact on both players, and we continue to support the Fever as it navigates this sensitive matter and the timings around those decisions.”

The West Coast Fever confirmed that they had already received Fowler-Nembhard’s four-week notice to return to the court, a significant step in the recovery of the Jamaican netball legend, who has been a star attraction in Super Netball for years. Fowler-Nembhard is a five-time competition MVP and the leading goal-scorer in every season she has participated in, cementing her reputation as one of the league’s premier players.