The Adelaide Thunderbirds have elevated training partner and South Australian midcourter Sophie Casey as the club’s Eleventh Player for 2025.
An Adelaide local, Casey has come through the Netball SA Pathway, representing her state on the national stage and identified as a South Australian Sports Institute athlete.
In the Hospital Research Foundation Group Premier League, she is a premiership player for the Matrics Netball Club.
She captained SA’s 19U side who won gold at the National Netball Championships in 2023 in the same year she earned her first selection as an Adelaide Thunderbirds training partner.
Casey became Thunderbird #107 when she made her Suncorp Super Netball debut in Round 12 of the 2023 season as an injury replacement for captain Hannah Petty.
Representing the Thunderbirds Futures side, the midcourter has been named back-to-back Most Valuable Player in 2023 and 2024.
Last July, she was named in the 2024 Australian 21U national squad, in preparation for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
Sophie Casey representing the Thunderbirds in the Team Girls Cup final. Image: Christopher Adams.Head coach Tania Obst said the South Australian will add valuable flexibility to the side’s midcourt.
“Sophie has shown significant growth both on court and off court since coming into our training partner environment,” Obst said.
“She excelled at the Australian Netball Championships in 2023 and for our Futures side in the Super Netball Reserves competition in 2024.
“During our pre-season matches, Sophie has held her own against SSN opposition and shown signs of having the physical and mental resilience you need to compete against the best netballers in the world.”
The Thunderbirds will kick off their 2025 campaign at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday, April 5 as they host the Melbourne Vixens for a Grand Final rematch.
Purchase tickets for the Thunderbirds’ 2025 season HERE.
