Vincy Jewels head to Netball World Cup in Australia after win over St Lucia 

Vincy Jewels Return to Netball World Cup After 24 Years

By Admin. Updated 9:11 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

St Vincent and the Grenadines will play at the Netball World Cup for the first time since 2003, after the Vincy Jewels edged Saint Lucia 55–53 in extra time on Monday night to secure second place at the Americas qualifier in Barbados.

It was a nervy finish. The two sides were level at the end of regulation time, forcing extra time, before the Jewels held on for the two-goal win that sealed their ticket.

The match was played on the final day of the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 Qualifier Americas at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. 

The result sends the Vincentians to Sydney, Australia, next year, alongside Trinidad and Tobago. Eight teams started the week-long tournament, but only the top two earned a place at the World Cup.

The timing could hardly be better. The result arrived on the eve of the nation’s 47th anniversary of Independence.

The Jewels finished with six wins from seven matches. Their only defeat came on day two, a heavy 73–41 loss to an unbeaten Trinidad and Tobago side. They recovered well.

The campaign opened with a tight 50–48 win over the United States. After the setback against Trinidad and Tobago, the team beat Canada 51–41 and then routed the British Virgin Islands 91–13. On Saturday night they beat the hosts, Barbados, 49–43 in front of a large home crowd, which lifted them into second place. A 77–52 victory over Grenada on Sunday left them one win away from qualifying. Against Saint Lucia, they needed extra time to get it done.

St Vincent and the Grenadines, ranked 18th in the world, have played at three previous World Cups: 1979, 1995 and 2003. Their best finish was 10th place in 1995. For most of the current squad, Sydney will be their first time on netball’s biggest stage.

Head Coach Natasha Baptiste-Samuel had kept faith in her players throughout. Speaking to a local media outlet after the Grenada game, she said the team came into the tournament confident because of the work they had put into their preparation, while also warning that Saint Lucia would not make the final game easy. She was right.

Baptiste-Samuel was supported by Assistant Coach Akeil Matthews, Manager Juovannie Roberts, primary care person Javed Marksman and masseuse Zanelle James.

The team is due to land at Argyle International Airport at 11:40 am on Tuesday, Independence Day, to a heroes’ welcome. The Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Sports, First Vice-President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Sylvorn Lewis-Harry and members of the association’s executive are expected to meet them.

The public is invited to join the celebration at the airport from 12 noon.

END