By Stephanie Smarrelli
Just weeks into the 2026 season and the gap between the contenders and chasers is already opening, with tight finishes, one-goal thrillers and statement wins setting the tone early.
This weekend the pressure is only going to intensify.
Two genuine contenders go head-to-head but they’ve had two very different starts to the season.
West Coast Fever have been fairly in control, two wins from three games they’re in the top half of the ladder, exactly where they want to be.
But that’s why their opposition this week is so dangerous.
The NSW Swifts aren’t where they want to be and that’s what makes them a threat.
Still stinging from a one-goal loss that could’ve gone either way, they’ll be desperate to climb the ladder.
Sitting in sixth, they’re in striking distance of the top four.
Win this and the narrative turns in their favour but lose and the result could haunt them for the rest of the season.
So how do the teams stack up?
They both boast Suncorp Super Shot specialists in Sasha Glasgow and Helen Housby who can be gamechangers on any given day.
The sides are both strong during the Power Five of each quarter.
Glasgow has slot 15 Super Shots this season while Helen’s nailed eight.
Meaning both teams will need to be on red alert in the Power Fives, particularly as not only do these sides use a Super Shot to trim a lead, but they also use it to extend one.
The Fever outfit do have a slight edge from range with an average of 55 per cent accuracy when it comes to Super Shots compared to the Swifts’ 47 per cent.
But the Swifts have been more accurate from under the post with 92 per cent accuracy compared to 85 per cent.
Another key player to keep an eye on this week will be Alice Teague-Neeld.
The Fever midcourter continues to take her game to new heights, she collected 60 feeds against the GIANTS on the weekend and leads the competition with 154.
She's the side’s key playmaker and it’ll be up to the Swifts defenders to shut her down.
But she’s not Fever’s only avenue into the goal circle, Jordan Cransberg and Glasgow have also been prolific feeding with 84 and 67 feeds each.
Leading the charge for the Swifts is young gun Grace Whyte, who has collected the most feeds for her side with 65.
Whyte’s staked her claim on the wing attack bib but also provided the Swifts with another option in the goal circle, slotting two Super Shots last weekend.
Teague-Neeld has started the season strongly.
But if there’s one match up, you won’t want to miss it’s Kadie-Ann Dehaney vs Grace Nweke.
Dehaney’s a menace in defence, in the best way.
While she’s had the most goals scored against her so far this season, she creates headaches for opposition feeders.
With seven deflections in Round 3 against the GIANTS she knows how to get her fingertips to the ball.
Then there’s Nweke who has been a strong target for the Swifts in attack.
She’s shooting confidently at an average of 91 per cent and has added to the side’s Super Shot tally as well.
The last time Fever met the Swifts it was in last year’s Major Semi Final.
Dehaney finished with four gains that day, successfully getting under the skin of the Swifts’ attack end, a job she’ll look to replicate this weekend.
But the Swifts have their own star power in defence, Teigan O’Shannassy.
While Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner have been the stars of the Swifts’ defensive end for years, O’Shannassy has quietly gone about her business and been building.
Dehaney will be tasked with disrupting the Swifts' attack this weekend.
But after her 2025 season was cut short due to injury, she’s come back firing.
O'Shannassy has been the strongest of the Swifts defensive unit when it comes to reading the play with six gains to her name to start the season.
She might not be the biggest name in their defensive end but she’s proved her worth time and time again.
She’s likely to line up against Glasgow this weekend but could also be tasked with nullifying the impact of Romelda Aiken-George.
The Jamaican superstar has comfortably found her place in the Fever side and poses a threat in the goal circle.
REST OF THE WEEKEND
A blockbuster Easter weekend begins with the GIANTS hosting the Firebirds.
Both sides are winless to start the season so will attack Saturday’s match ferociously to get that much-needed win on the board.
Then the Mavericks have nothing to lose when they come up against an undefeated Thunderbirds.
The Mavs have just fallen short over the past couple of weeks but expect them to use that as fuel this weekend.
They’re sitting just outside the top four and a statement win against the Thunderbirds could be the spark to get their season back on track.
The Mavs are fighting to get back into the top four.
Then Sunday afternoon the Sunshine Coast Lightning will face their biggest test yet.
The reigning premiers.
The Vixens are undefeated, but Lightning will be determined to put an end to their streak.
The Sunny Coast side are sitting fourth on the ladder and with opposition teams breathing down their necks a win against the Vixens would keep them from falling out of the top.
Don’t miss a second of the action, tune in live or on demand on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and BINGE.
