Netball championship takes over Estero as sport looks to grow in U.S.

ESTERO, Fla. - A national championship is being decided in Estero this weekend in a sport many American fans may have never watched before.

USA Netball brought teams from across the country to Southwest Florida for its Premier League and Championship, with 19 teams playing roughly 35 to 40 games over the weekend.

The game moves quickly, looks familiar at first glance and shares some DNA with basketball, but netball has its own rules.

“Netball is a sport that is similar to basketball or handball,” said Andre Johnson, a member of the USA Netball men’s national team. “It's typically very popular in the Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica.”

Netball puts seven players on each side of the court. Players are limited to certain areas based on their position, and only designated shooters can score. Instead of a basketball hoop and backboard, players shoot at a ring standing on its own.

For some of the athletes competing in Estero, the sport is one they have carried with them for years.

“Netball is not just a sport to me, it is something that I play with my heart, my mind and my soul,” said Florida team captain Anya Graham. “I started playing netball when I was a teenager. I started playing netball with my brother, which makes it more sentimental.”

That passion is now part of a larger push to give netball a bigger place in the American sports landscape.

USA Netball head coach Greg Heinrich said he has seen the player pool and interest in the sport grow since taking over the national program about 18 months ago. The championship in Estero also gives him a chance to watch athletes from around the country as the U.S. prepares for its next international competition.

“The momentum that we're generating is tremendous,” Heinrich said. “We're preparing to go to a World Cup qualifiers in October and Barbados, and I think there's a bit of hype about that from the netball community, and I think that's always just going to promote us further and push us into the future.”

For players already representing the United States, that growth means more opportunities to compete for the country, and potentially introduce the game to new fans at home.

Gabby Woods has played for the U.S. national team for about four years and is preparing for another World Cup qualifying cycle.

“It means absolutely everything,” Woods said. “I think I've come a long way as a person playing for the USA and grown across my journey, and it means just so much. It's such an honor to represent the flag and to play with the girls among me. It's just amazing.”

The tournament concludes on Sunday.