Confidence and ambition are high in the Team Bath Netball camp ahead of this week’s 2026 NXT Gen League season opener at home to London Pulse.
A four-figure crowd is set to roar on the Blue & Gold at the Team Bath Arena on Friday (23rd) as they look to build on last year’s excellent runners-up finish and a productive pre-season training block.
It is the second successive year that Team Bath have hosted the opening fixture and there will be added excitement as it will be the first NXT Gen match to feature the Super Shot, which allows shooters to score two points from a dedicated area on the edge of the shooting circle during the last five minutes of each quarter.
With 12 of this season’s 17-strong squad returning from the 2025 campaign, Natalie Roddy – joint Head Coach with Anya Le Monnier – believes that continuity has helped Team Bath step up their preparations.
“It feels like we are further ahead than where we were at the same point last year and that feeling is shared within the playing group,” said Roddy. “Our goal at the start of pre-season training back in October was to build on where we left off last summer and I think we’ve done that. We’ve looked strong, committed and there is a great atmosphere around the squad.
“We’ve had two positive performances in friendlies against Nottingham Forest and Cardiff Dragons but you never really know where you are until that first league game and Pulse will provide a great marker. Like us, they are renowned for their player development programme and our matches against them last year were really competitive.
“We are determined to start the season with a win but however it goes and whatever the result is, I know we will build throughout the season. We beat everybody at some point last season, so that has to be our marker again.
“We want to push on from last year so matching that achievement would be our minimum target. If you ask the players the ambition is to win the league.”
Roddy says the introduction of Super Shot will have a big impact on the league but believes her shooters are ready for the challenge, assisted by experienced new recruit Lucy Herdman who is renowned for her long-range shooting prowess.
“Super Shot brings a whole new dynamic to games and there is a real tactical element to it too, so it will make the league even more exciting,” said Roddy. “We’ve been working on it in training and, while the pressure will be very different during matches, the players are looking confident. Lucy has been very generous in passing on her knowledge and tactics to the other shooters.”
This week’s match against Pulse – who feature former Team Bath Super League and NXT Gen centre Phoebe Maslen in their ranks – is sponsored by Hengistbury. It is the first of back-to-back Friday fixtures at the Team Bath Arena, with Nottingham Forest also visiting on 30thJanuary. Centre-pass for both matches is 7pm.
Tickets for all eight home matches during 2026, plus season tickets, are available to buy at netball.teambath.com/tickets.
Team Bath Netball are supported by Bath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are both overall Team Bath Partners, and Bath Recreation Limited. Flyhawk supply Team Bath Netball’s performance clothing and off-court apparel.
With thanks to Team Bath
