Loughborough Lightning is an English netball team based at Loughborough University. Their senior team plays in the Netball Super League where they have made seven grand finals, winning three in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
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History
In 2005 Loughborough Lightning were named as the East Midlands franchise in the new Netball Super League. Together with Brunel Hurricanes, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Carnegie, Galleria Mavericks, Northern Thunder, Team Bath and Team Northumbria, Lightning were founder members of the league. Together with the women's cricket team, the women's rugby union team, the women's cycling team, the women's football team and the women's wheelchair basketball team, the netball team is one of five women's sports teams based at Loughborough University that use the Loughborough Lightning name.
Lightning made their first Super League grand final in 2007–08 where the lost to Galleria Mavericks.
They made further grand finals 2017 and 2018 but lost to Wasps Netball both times 55-11.
Lightning coached by Sara Francis-Bayman and captained by Natalie Panagarry won their first Super League title in 2021, defeating Team Bath. They would go on to make four consecutive grand finals, winning back to back titles in 2023 and 2024.
Senior finals
Netball Super League Grand Finals
Loughborough Lightning made their Netball Super Leagueeague Grand Final debut in 2007–08.
Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship
In 2017 Loughborough Lightning won the inaugural British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship.
Home venue
Loughborough Lightning play their home games at the Sir David Wallace Sports Centre at Loughborough University and Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham.
Notable players
Internationals
England
Northern Ireland
Niamh Cooper
Michelle Drayne
Michelle Magee
Oonagh McCulloch
Jamaica
Shamera Sterling
Vanessa Walker
Scotland
Ella Gibbons
South Africa
Maryka Holtzhausen
Phumza Maweni
Renske Stoltz
Shadine van der Merwe
Uganda
Mary Cholhok Nuba
Peace Proscovia
Wales
Rebecca James
Zimbabwe
Adelaide Muskwe
Source:
Honours
Netball Super League: 2021, 2023, 2024 Runners up: 2007–08, 2017, 2018, 2022
British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship: 2017, 2019
Sponsorship
In February 2023, clothing retailer Long Tall Sally were confirmed as the team's headline sponsor for the 2023 Netball Super League season.