Loughborough Lightning produced a brave performance but were ultimately edged out 53-45 by London Pulse in the Netball Super League (NSL) Grand Final at the 02 Arena.
Lightning Captain, Nat Panagarry
Appearing in their fifth Grand Final in a row – and eighth overall – defending champions Lightning showed incredible spirit, desire, and intensity, but fell agonisingly short in their pursuit of becoming the first side to win three back-to-back championship crowns.
However, there was something to celebrate with the Loughborough Lightning Under 23 team getting to lift the NSL NXT Gen trophy at half time after being crowned champions in June.
Speaking about the Grand Final result Vic Burgess, Head Coach at Loughborough Lightning, told Sky Sports: “I'm pretty devastated. Credit to Pulse, they came out and did a great job. There was always going to be a massive battle, and they came out on top. That's the nature of sport."
Lightning Captain, Nat Panagarry said: "It'll sting for a long time, but I think as you get a little bit older, you also realise that someone wins, someone loses and you’ve got to be on the back of it sometimes.
"I'm a bit disappointed with the stuff that we put out, but hopefully the fans enjoyed it and it was a good final. For me, stepping out and hearing those fans was just incredible, to say I've done that at The O2 is something that I'll never forget.”
Professor Jo Maher, Loughborough University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, added: “I’m so proud of the players and staff. They are a credit to the University and the sport. I know this is not the result they wanted, but all season they have been inspirational role models – paving the way for the next generation of netball superstars and leaders.”
Loughborough Lightning’s starting 7:
GK: Alice Harvey
GD: Shadine Van Der Merwe
WD: Beth Cobden
C: Nat Panagarry
WA: Hannah Joseph
GA: Berri Neil
GS: Sammy Wallace-Joseph
For more information on Loughborough Lightning netball visit: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/performance/lightning/netball/
Notes for editors
Press release reference number: PR 25/110
About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.
Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
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