By Stephanie Smarrelli
After 14 rounds of twists, pressure and momentum swings, the top four are locked in and now the race for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball premiership really begins.
Sunday’s Semi Final showdowns will be unmissable as the battle for premiership glory steps up a notch.
One team will book a place in the big dance, while another will have its premiership dreams come to an end.
Who will lift the trophy on Saturday July 4?
After this weekend, we’ll be one step closer to the answer.
Are the Thunderbirds built for finals?
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have earned the right to host the Major Semi Final after finishing the regular season as minor premiers, and they'll head into Sunday knowing they're just one win away from another Grand Final appearance.
They'll be full of confidence too.
Only a few weeks ago they dismantled the Melbourne Vixens in a performance that reminded everyone why they've been the team to beat all season.
Win and the Thunderbirds go straight through to the Grand Final and move one step closer to becoming the first team to win three Suncorp Super Netball premierships.
Lose and they’ll get another chance in the Preliminary Final, but the Thunderbirds will be keen to get the job done now.
The Vixens, though, know what it takes to win finals.
The Thunderbirds will host the Major Semi Final this weekend.
At their best they’re unstoppable with plenty of finals experience to lead them while under pressure.
Last year they took the long road to the premiership, a run that included a Minor Semi Final victory over the Thunderbirds in Adelaide.
They'll be drawing on that experience this weekend, even though they haven't hit finals in their best form.
The big challenge for the Vixens will be handling the momentum shifts the Thunderbirds create so well.
When these teams met in Round 12, the Vixens controlled plenty of possession but couldn't make it count.
They finished with 21 general play turnovers to the TBirds’ 12. The Thunderbirds also dominated defensively, doubling the Vixens’ gains and converting 69 per cent of them.
Turnovers and defence aside, if this one goes down to the wire, expect the Suncorp Super Shot to play a major role.
Elmeré van der Berg has been one of the signings of the season and showed exactly why in Round 12, sinking three Suncorp Super Shots in addition to 49 one-point goals.
The league's leading goal scorer has lifted the TBirds’ attack to another level, while Georgie Horjus, Kayla Graham and Lauren Frew give the Thunderbirds plenty of other scoring options as well.
At the other end, the Vixens have their own weapon in Kiera Austin.
No player has landed more Suncorp Super Shots this season and the Vixens enter the Finals Series with the competition's best Suncorp Super Shot accuracy.
When Austin gets going, the Vixens tend to lift around her which means the Thunderbirds’ defenders will be doing everything they can to make life difficult for her on Sunday.
Austin leads the league for Suncorp Super Shots.
The last time these sides met, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson combined for 10 gains and made every attacking possession hard work for the Vixens.
While Round 12 ended in a 19-goal Thunderbirds win, neither side will be putting too much stock into that result.
Earlier this season it was the Vixens who came away six-goal winners, proving just how quickly things can change between these two teams.
That's what makes finals so good.
Form only gets you so far, with a Grand Final spot on the line, it'll come down to which team handles the moment best.
Can the Mavericks rise to the occasion?
The Minor Semi Final comes with a simple equation.
Win and stay alive, lose and its season is over.
West Coast Fever secured hosting rights in dramatic fashion last weekend and now welcome a Melbourne Mavericks side preparing for their first finals match in the club’s history.
The Mavericks stunned Fever in Perth only a few weeks ago, but expect RAC Arena to be packed with the Green Army on Sunday.
Fever haven't been at their best at home this season, but there's no bigger motivation than keeping a premiership campaign alive.
The Mavericks have already shown they can bring down the Fever fortress, but can they do it twice?
Their win in Perth proved they have the belief to challenge Fever, but finals netball is a different beast and handling that pressure will be the next test.
There's plenty riding on this one for Fever too.
The Mavericks have already defeated Fever in Perth once this season.
After last year's heartbreaking Grand Final loss, this is the first step in their bid to go one better.
A dominant final-round win over the reigning premiers means they'll enter the finals with plenty of confidence.
Romelda Aiken-George will be central to Fever's plans.
Her strength and finishing ability make her one of the toughest match-ups in the league, but the Mavericks will be looking to cut off supply before the ball reaches the goal circle.
The Mavs have been one of the competition's best intercepting teams this season and it was Amy Parmenter who caused all sorts of problems the last time these sides met.
Parmenter finished with seven gains, five intercepts and four deflections in a standout performance and she'll be looking to bring that same intensity into her first finals appearance since 2022.
Her battle with Alice Teague-Neeld could have a huge say on the result.
Teague-Neeld's connection with Aiken-George is one of Fever's biggest weapons and if she's able to control the midcourt, Fever's attack becomes incredibly difficult to stop.
The battle between the coaches could be just as important.
Dan Ryan and Gez Murphy have both shown they're not afraid to bring in players off their benches and in a final those decisions can change everything.
If the game is still tight heading into the Power Five, expect both teams to back their long-range shooters.
But they’ll need to use the Suncorp Super Shot smartly to weigh up the risk vs reward.
Fever will be fighting for their shot at redemption.
Sasha Glasgow showed what she can do from distance against the Vixens last weekend and while Fever also have flexibility through Liv Wilkinson and Teague-Neeld.
Plus, Aiken-George herself has put up a few long bombs this season.
The Mavericks have rotated several shooting combinations throughout the season, with Shimona Nelson, Uneeq Palavi, Reilley Batcheldor and Sacha McDonald all spending significant time in the goal circle.
That versatility could prove crucial in a game where every possession matters.
These sides both walked away with a win during the regular season and just 0.21 per cent separated them on the ladder at the end of Round 14 highlighting how little there is between them.
With a Preliminary Final spot on the line and no second chances, expect both teams to come out firing from the opening centre pass.
One season continues. The other ends in Perth.
Everything you need to know about the SSN Finals Series including broadcast and ticketing can be found on the SSN Finals Hub.
