Jayda Pechova will step up to the England squad for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Nat Metcalf and Fran Williams also named.
Coach Anna Stembridge named a 12-member squad, including 2018 Commonwealth champion Metcalf, and Williams will captain the team for the Glasgow event, scheduled for July 23 to August 2.
Pechova, 21, swept the board at the 2026 Netball Super League awards ceremony, winning all three individual awards, including Player of the Year.
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Former England coaches Tracey Neville and Tamsin Greenway discuss England Netball’s announcement that Jess Thirlby has stepped down as head coach of the Vitality Roses.
She became the youngest member of the team and made the senior debut after outstanding performances at Nottingham Forest.
Pechova scored a brilliant 88 points and made 75 deflections as Forest finished in the top four for the first time in the club’s history.
stembridge, Who took over for Jess Thirlby“It is a great honor to be able to announce the players who will represent England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Every player who puts on the red dress understands the responsibility that comes with that opportunity, and all 12 players named today have earned their places through their performance, dedication and the standards they set.
“The competitiveness of England netball is incredibly strong and this team reflects the quality and depth we have across the program. We have a balance of players who bring valuable experience from previous major tournaments, as well as players who have experienced their first Commonwealth Games and are ready to embrace that opportunity.
“Each player brings different qualities to this group and the strength of this team will come from how they combine these qualities and perform together. We look forward to continuing our preparation and to representing England on one of our sport’s biggest stages.”
Fran Williams won silver and bronze medals at the Netball World Cup.
Williams is one of six players from England’s 2023 silver medal-winning World Cup squad to take the court this summer, while Liv Tchine also returns to take on the vice-captain role alongside Amy Carter.
Goal shooter Tchine is entering his second major international tournament after making his debut in 2022 and featuring for the London Pulse in the domestic Netball Super League (NSL) and on the international stage.
Tchine joins the attack from Eleanor Cardwell, who was selected for her second Commonwealth Games after making her debut in Birmingham 2022.
Meanwhile, Cardwell’s AO Manchester Thunder team-mate Lois Pearson will be making her first major international appearance.
The Bury-born striker made his international debut in 2024 after a standout NSL season, where he was named Players’ Player of the Year, and has been a leading player for club and country ever since.
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Tamsin Greenway reacts to the news that England Netball coach Jess Thirlby is to resign just four months after the Commonwealth Games opener.
Fellow England debutant Sasha Glasgow rounded out the team’s shooting options. Glasgow was born and raised in Australia to British parents and made his international debut in 2023.
At midcourt, Metcalf returned for a third of the game. The wing attack was part of the historic team that won gold at Gold Coast 2018 before she captained England at Birmingham 2022 and co-captained Vitality Rose to silver at the 2023 Netball World Cup. Metcalf returned to the court this season after the birth of her daughter Miller last year.
She joins AO Manchester Thunder team-mate Carter, who is a traveling reserve for the 2023 Netball World Cup and captained the AO Thunder to a historic fifth NSL title last weekend.
Versatile midcourt Imo Allison is also featured in his second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, establishing himself as one of the game’s leading players across central and wing defence.
Jess Shaw rounded out the midcourt, impressing in recent domestic seasons with some impressive all-action displays.
In defence, Williams joins Halimat Adio, Funmi Fadoju and Pechova.
Adio heads to his first Commonwealth Games after a series of strong seasons with the London Pulse. She became a mainstay of England’s defence.
Fadoju features alongside Adio at the London Pulse and is set to do the same for England at Glasgow 2026.
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Highlights from the Netball Super League Grand Final between Manchester Thunder and London Pulse.
England national netball team
defense
Halimat Adio (28, London, London Pulse)
Francesca Williams (28, Reading, West Coast Fever)
Funmi Padozoo (23, Redbridge, London Perth)
Jayda Pechova (21, Fleet, Nottingham Forest)
midcourt
Aunt Allison (28, Huddersfield, Queensland Firebirds)
Jess Shaw (30, Stockport, Loughborough Lightning)
Amy Carter (27, Nottingham, AO Manchester Thunder)
Nat Metcalf (33, Kayley, AO Manchester Thunder)
attack
Sasha Glasgow (27, Moonta, Australia, West Coast Fever)
Liv Chine (25, London, London Pulse)
Eleanor Cardwell (31, Blackpool, AO Manchester Thunder)
Royce Pearson (26, Bury, AO Manchester Thunder)
Vitality Rose; England Netball’s senior team is currently ranked third in the World Netball world rankings.
England star Housby has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games.
Helen Housby famously won gold in England’s last second win at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
England star Helen Housby will miss the Commonwealth Games due to injury..
In April it was revealed that Housby would miss an “extended period” of the Suncorp Super Netball season in Australia due to a back injury, with further tests confirming she would be unable to compete this summer.
Hausby, who famously scored the last-minute winner as England won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, said he was “absolutely devastated” not to be able to attend the games in Glasgow.
“Representing England is an honor and contains some of my proudest and fondest memories,” she said.
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With 110 caps under her belt, Tamsin and Tracey praise Helen Housby’s invaluable performances for the Roses on the international stage and question who could fill the gap.
“Despite the setbacks, I am determined to get back on the court stronger than ever, especially with the World Cup in Sydney just around the corner.
“I am fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible support system and am very grateful for the love I have received from those closest to me – England Netball, New South Wales Swifts and Vitality Roses fans.
“I’m excited to see what our girls can achieve this summer and I’ll give everything I can off the court to support them in Glasgow. I truly believe our team can beat anyone and I’m looking forward to watching as a fan this time around.”
