Adelaide Thunderbirds star defender Shamera Sterling is set to play her 50th National League game this Saturday as her side host the NSW Swifts at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Sterling recorded game #49 in the Thunderbirds’ six-goal win over the Melbourne Vixens on the Sunshine Coast last Sunday night.
It is fitting that Adelaide will the milestone on the big stage for the side’s only match at AEC this season.
“What a milestone! I’m so proud of this achievement and I’m so excited to celebrate it at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night,” Sterling said.
“We played there against the Swifts in 2019 and the atmosphere was amazing so I hope our fans pack the place out again.
“We’ve taken a lot of confidence out of our win over the Vixens and we’re ready for the challenge the Swifts will put up.”
Sterling played 15 games for Loughborough Lightning in the Vitality Netball Superleague in the UK before making her way to Australia, where she has now played 34 games in the Suncorp Super Netball League.
Since joining the Thunderbirds ahead of the 2019 season, the Jamaican international has become a fan favourite, showcasing her athletic flair, and making a name for herself as one of the best goal keepers in the world.
She burst on to the scene in her debut season, finishing top of the League leader board in Nissan Net Points (NNP) with 1282, deflections with 120, intercepts with 68 and defensive rebounds with 35.
The Jamaican international backed up her stellar performance in 2019 with another impressive year in the pink dress in 2020, finishing second in the league for Nissan Net Points with 1147.
Sterling topped the league for defensive rebounds with 37, second for deflections with 104 and third for intercepts on 37.
She also made seven appearances in the Nissan Net Points Team of the Year.
To cap off the season, she was named dual Club Champion alongside teammate Maisie Nankivell.
In 2021, Sterling’s top performance so far came in Round Five as the Thunderbirds hosted the Sunshine Coast Lightning for Indigenous Round.
With 96.5 NNP, 11 deflections, four intercepts and seven gains, she was named Nissan Player of the Match, chosen in the NNP Team of the Week and voted by the Thunderbirds fans as their Most Valuable Player for the round.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds’ Round Seven match against the Swifts kicks off at 7pm this Saturday night, June 12.
Tickets are still available HERE.
