By Sophie Taylor
The 2026 Marie Little Shield title has been claimed by Victoria after a phenomenal weekend of all-abilities netball action.
Hosted at Narrandjeri Stadium in Thornbury and proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria, all eight states and territories played the three-day event with plenty of enthusiasm and competitive spirit.
We run through the talking points.
Victoria pull off upset over NSW
Victoria claimed a triumphant 25-19 victory over the back-to-back reigning champions on Sunday, taking back the Marie Little Shield for the first time since 2023.
The Vics flipped the script from their Pool Round encounter, which they lost by three goals (14-17), and came out with a point to prove in the final against an undefeated NSW outfit.
A strong 9-3 start put Victoria in a good position before NSW showed their dominance in the second, pulling back the deficit to just two goals (11-9).
They extended their margin to five by the final break (18-13) before eventually running home six-point victors in front of a strong home crowd.
WA claim bronze
Western Australia broke a string of fourth-place finishes, defeating South Australia 32-22 to claim the bronze medal.
The team came in with a wealth of confidence after a 10-goal victory in their pool match against the SA Rubies on Saturday morning, with greater volume to post helping them on their way to victory.
The triumph brough out plenty of well-earned celebrations, having built from the ground up and showcased improvement from day one to take out the victory.
Victoria, NSW and WA claimed the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively.
SA duo take home awards
South Australian Rubies duo Isabella Inancic-Holland and Samantha Walker took home the major awards on Sunday afternoon.
Inancic-Holland claimed the Marie Little Shield Most Valuable Player Award following a consistent weekend of action in both the goal circle and in centre.
A keen defender, Walker took home the Naomi Perry Spirit Award for her sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
All smiles, all weekend
The Marie Little Shield is netball at its purest, and the competition over the weekend reflected the power of fostering an inclusive and diverse netball community.
From guards of honour before the game to post-match dance circles, every match had the same common denominator – genuine joy.
Sportsmanship was a continual theme across every match, ensuring teams got goals on the board no matter the deficit.
And most importantly, players had fun.
Big smiles and even bigger celebrations were had, showcasing what each state was capable of and building confidence across the three days of action.
The Marie Little Shield is proudly supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria, and the Confident Girls Foundation.
