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• Latanya Wilson’s ascent to netball stardom paved with hard work, stubborn determination

  Adversity often serves as the catalyst for greatness, and Latanya Wilson’s path to being a formidable force for Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League franchise Adelaide Thunderbirds and, by extension, Jamaica, is a testament to that.

  Wilson’s journey has been one of perseverance, talent, and an unyielding drive for success as being told she wasn’t good enough, coupled with tragic losses along the way, shaped her ascent in netball to the point where she is now a force to be reckoned with.

  The rangy wing defence, who possesses the ability to both hunt and find the loose balls, recently celebrated her 50th game milestone in the SSN, and as she reflected on the path to achieving the feat, Wilson is even more determined to add another chapter to that legacy.

  “Reaching 50 games in the SSN is truly surreal. It feels like a huge accomplishment, especially considering what the journey was like and the dedication and hard work it took to get here. To say it was rough would be an understatement, you know, the setbacks and obstacles that I faced along the way, but I was always focused on the bigger picture,” Wilson told SportsMax.TV from her base in Australia.

  “I am grateful for everyone who supported me in overcoming those challenges to make it this far, and I'm excited to see what the future holds because I still have so much more to give, and so it is just about pushing even harder from here to accomplish even more,” she added.

  

  Latanya Wilson produced a Player of the Match performance on her 50th outing.

  Having worked her way through the ranks of Jamaica’s netball teams, Wilson’s career initially took flight when she was drafted by Cardiff Dragons in England’s Vitality Netball Superleague in 2020, which is where she first paraded her prowess to create turnover balls, as well as her impressive vision and take off speed.

  However, it wasn’t until she arrived in Australia a year later that Wilson really honed her craft as a defensive powerhouse. The 23-year-old’s agility, keen sense of positioning, and ability to read the game have made her an indispensable asset to the Thunderbirds team.

  “The growth has been immense because Australian netball is incredibly fast-paced and strategic. Moving here forced me to refine my skills, improve my decision-making under pressure, and develop a deeper understanding of the game.  The competition is fierce, and playing alongside and against some of the best players in the world has pushed me to become a more well-rounded and confident athlete,” Wilson shared.

  Despite her consistency and resilience, the Mico University alumna attributed her success to the support of her coaches and teammates, her Sunshine Girls compatriots Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Romelda Aiken-George in particular.

  

  Latanya Wilson (left) share a light moment with compatriot Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.

  “My success is a combination of factors.  My unwavering passion for the sport keeps me motivated to train hard and push my limits, and that along with having dedicated coaches who believe in my potential and provide constant guidance has been instrumental. Additionally, the unwavering support system of family, friends, and teammates fuels my drive to succeed,” Wilson noted.

  “Playing alongside Shamera and Romelda is truly an honour. They're not just exceptional players, but also big sisters to me who share their knowledge and experience. Also, having other familiar faces like Shanice [Beckford] and others in the league fosters a sense of camaraderie and competition,” she reasoned.

  Besides her 50th game milestone, Wilson also boasts another significant achievement of assisting Thunderbirds to the title last year. But for every remarkable feat, the soft-spoken player pointed out that there were lessons that she had to learn.

  “Winning the SSN championship with my team was a dream come true, and the feeling of celebrating with my teammates is unforgettable. There have also been personal achievements, like being named in the team of the year twice in a row, but there have been low moments as well. Being away from my loved ones and missing out on family celebrations are among them, but it taught me resilience and the importance of mental strength. Both the highs and lows have made me a stronger and more resilient player and so I relish each when they come,” Wilson revealed.

  

  Wilson and her Adelaide Thunderbirds teammates.

  Looking ahead, Wilson remains grounded and motivated by the support of her family, fans, and teammates. For her, the road ahead is filled with promise and challenges, but she is undeterred and is unflinching in her desire to help the Thunderbirds secure another SSN crown.

  With seven games gone in the season so far, Thunderbirds sit third on five wins and two losses and Wilson is eyeing more improvements heading into round eight.

  “There's always room for improvement, but overall, I'm happy with how the team is gelling. We're building momentum, learning from each game, and finding our rhythm.  It’s still early days, but every team is strong, and the competition is fierce. We are focusing on each game one at a time and hopefully that will land us in the finals,” the bubbly personality stated.

  “Personally, my ultimate goal is to continue contributing to my team's success and also to maintain my high standard when I’m representing my country at the international level.  I'm constantly striving to improve my skills, develop new strategies, and become a beast on court, as I hope to inspire young athletes and show them that hard work and dedication can lead to achieving their dreams,” she ended.

• Nashville SC v New England Revolution: Porter still seeking improvements in Rev's final third

  Caleb Porter has praised New England Revolution's performances in recent weeks but admitted they are still working hard to improve their finishing, as they prepare to travel to Nashville SC.

  New England sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with seven points having won just two of their 13 games so far this season.

  More worryingly, the Revolution have scored just nine goals this campaign, and have failed to score in either of their last two defeats.

  Porter said he is pleased with the progress his team are showing in their performances, but it would not matter if they could not hit the back of the net.

  "It's easier when you can show them the film and there are a lot of positives, but it's tough when you're not getting results because the confidence isn't sky high," the Revs head coach said.

  "These guys have had a great mentality and great attitude. They've come every day to training to work and improve, and we've focused a lot this week on the final third. I really feel that's the missing piece right now.

  "The players know we're playing well from box-to-box, but to win games, you have to actually score a goal."

  Nashville, meanwhile, sit in ninth, occupying one of the playoff spots after a four-game unbeaten run.

  Interim head coach Rumbani Munthali earned his first win in charge with a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in midweek.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

  The Revolution are one of just five teams Hany Mukhtar has faced but never scored against in MLS.

  He has only played more games against Cincinnati (six) and Philadelphia (five) without scoring against them than he has against New England (four).

  New England – Carles Gil

  New England's goal difference dropped to -17 following their defeat to New York City FC last Saturday.

  The Revs have scored just nine goals all season, split among four players, with Gil their top scorer on four.

  MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE SC WIN

  Nashville defeated New England 3-2 in the last meeting between the sides in October 2023. The first five encounters featured five total goals - also split 3-2 - in favour of the Boys in Gold.

  Nashville are unbeaten in four straight MLS matches (won two, drawn two) following a 2-0 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday.

  It has been nearly a year since the Coyotes have won consecutive league matches, last doing so during a four-match winning run between May and June last season.

  The Revolution are the fifth team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to lose 10 of their first 13 matches of a season, and the first since Montreal in 2018.

  No team in the post-shootout era has recorded 11 defeats in their first 14 matches of a season.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Nashville – 51.2%

  Draw – 24.8%

  New England – 24%

• Vancouver Whitecaps v Colorado Rapids: Sartini relishing preparing for Rapids after morale-boosting win

  Vanni Sartini enjoys being able to take a different approach to their match against Colorado Rapids, as he does so following a win.

  The Whitecaps snapped a six-match winless run in MLS last time out, seeing out a 2-1 victory against Sporting Kansas City in midweek.

  It moves them up to sixth in the Western Conference, where they will have the chance to keep their name in the mix at the top with another win.

  Sartini was upbeat following their victory, but was quick to point out they would not be thinking about that result for too long.

  "The good vibes [after the win] ended on Friday morning. Then we start thinking about Colorado, but we think about it in a completely different way after a win," Sartini said.

  "If we beat them, we get away from them [in the table] and it would put us in a good position going into the [international] break. It's a completely different feeling, but we're very happy to approach the game in this way."

  Colorado are also on 26 points, only behind Vancouver due to their inferior goal difference.

  The Rapids have won only one of their last five outings, and head coach Chris Armas admits there is still work to be done if they want to get back to winning ways.

  "We're a work in progress," he said. "We're going to make mistakes, we have a fairly young squad, so we will make mistakes, and we need to work on that."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

  Gauld scored his fourth regular-season brace in Vancouver's win at Kansas City on Wednesday.

  That saw him equal Eric Hassli, Fredy Montero, and Pedro Morales for the second-most multi-goal games for the Whitecaps, behind only Camilo Sanvezzo (eight).

  Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic

  Mihailovic has been involved in a goal in five of his last six MLS appearances (two goals, three assists), including the last three in a row.

  The American has recorded a goal contribution in four straight appearances once before in his MLS career, doing so with CF Montreal between September and October 2021.

  MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

  The Whitecaps have lost only one of their last nine matches against the Rapids in Vancouver (won four, drawn four) dating back to October 2014, including going unbeaten in the last three at BC Place (won one, drawn two).

  However, Vancouver have lost two of their last three home matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami on Saturday.

  The Whitecaps have suffered back-to-back home defeats in MLS only once since returning to BC Place in 2021, doing so in July 2022 against Minnesota United and Chicago Fire.

  Colorado have lost their last two away matches, conceding eight goals along the way. The Rapids had lost only one of their previous six on the road (won three, drawn two), allowing a total of six goals in those games.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Vancouver Whitecaps – 50.3%

  Draw – 25.1%

  Colorado Rapids – 24.5%