2021 Netball Superleague season | |
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League | Netball Superleague |
Sport | Netball |
Number of teams | 11 |
2021 Netball Superleague season | |
Season champions | Loughborough Lightning |
Runners-up | Team Bath |
Season MVP | Beth Cobden[1] |
Top scorer | Mary Cholhok Nuba[1] |
The 2021 Netball Superleague season was the sixteenth season of the Netball Superleague, the elite domestic netball competition in the United Kingdom. The season started on 12 February 2021. Manchester Thunder were the defending champions, as they won the 2019 season[2] and the 2020 season was cancelled after three rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Because of the ongoing pandemic, the first nine weeks of matches were held at Studio 001 in Wakefield, and the remaining matches were held at the Copper Box Arena in London. All matches were originally scheduled to be held behind closed doors, though from week 17 onwards, limited numbers of fans were permitted into matches, due to a change in the UK Government guidelines.
In the league section, Loughborough Lightning finished top, ahead of Manchester Thunder, Team Bath and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second, third and fourth respectively. The top three teams finished on the same number of points, and were separated by goal difference. Rhinos had their last two matches cancelled, as the squad had to isolate after one player tested positive for COVID-19. They were awarded the points and therefore qualified for the playoffs. In the semi-finals, Loughborough Lightning beat Leeds Rhinos and Team Bath beat Manchester Thunder. Lightning beat Bath in the final to win the competition.