2025 Netball World Youth Cup Results

Data last verified: May 2026

Australia won the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup on 28 September 2025, defeating New Zealand 63–48 in the final at Europa Sports Park, Gibraltar. 

The victory delivered Australia’s fifth World Youth Cup title and denied New Zealand a historic third consecutive championship. 

Head Coach Cathy Fellows guided a squad dominated by Suncorp Super Netball Reserves players to the gold medal across 57 matches played over nine days.

Key Takeaways

• Australia defeated New Zealand 63–48 in the final on 28 September 2025 at Europa Sports Park, Gibraltar.
• Lily Graham, Melbourne Vixens goal attack, was named Player of the Tournament after a decisive performance that included a buzzer-beating goal to seal the first-quarter lead.
• A dominant 20–9 third quarter was the turning point — Australia led 47–34 at the final break and never relinquished control.
• England finished third, defeating South Africa in the bronze-medal match after losing 51–49 to New Zealand in the semi-finals.
• The 2025 edition is likely to be the final Netball World Youth Cup for the foreseeable future, with World Netball restructuring its event portfolio.

Missed the tournament or want a full breakdown of every result? Explore the complete netball competition results and fixtures on NetballOne.

What Is the Netball World Youth Cup and Why Does It Matter?

The Netball World Youth Cup is a global under-21 tournament organised by World Netball, contested by national teams from its five regional bodies: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

 First held in 1988, the tournament runs every four years and serves as the primary international pathway for players aged 21 and under transitioning toward senior international competition.

The 2025 edition — the ninth in the tournament’s history — ran from 19 to 28 September 2025 across two venues: Europa Sports Park and Tercentenary Sports Hall in Gibraltar.

 Eighteen nations competed after World Netball withdrew Sri Lanka and Zambia on 21 September 2025, following unresolved participation issues that prevented both teams from arriving for their opening fixtures.

The tournament carries additional significance because World Netball announced a restructured event calendar, confirmed on the official World Netball events page, which increases the frequency of the Women’s World Cup to every two years.

 The World Youth Cup is expected to be paused as a direct result, making this edition a milestone moment for the under-21 game globally.

How Did Australia Win the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup?

Australia won the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup by combining superior through-court speed, long-range shooting from goal attack Lily Graham of the Melbourne Vixens, and a defensive system built around full-court pressure.

The tactical foundation Head Coach Cathy Fellows, Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant coach, and Australia’s 21U national team coach, had prioritised throughout the preparation period, so that Australia could win possession consistently and convert under pressure.

Fellows guided Australia through the group stage and knockout rounds without defeat, dispatching South Africa 55–32 in the semi-finals before facing New Zealand in the final. 

New Zealand, the defending champions having won consecutive titles in 2013 and 2017, entered the final aiming to become the first team in the competition’s 37-year history to win three successive titles.

How Did Each Quarter of the Final Unfold?

New Zealand opened the final aggressively, forcing early Australian errors through defensive pressure and building a 9–4 lead in the opening minutes. Graham’s long-range shooting gradually pulled Australia back into contention, and a Graham goal on the final buzzer edged Australia to a narrow 15–14 lead at the first break.

Australia won the second quarter 12–11, with goalkeeper Charlotte Sexton producing composed work under the post while New Zealand captain Amelia Walmsley continued to threaten from the shooting circle. Australia held a two-goal advantage at half-time, 27–25.

Fellows introduced Hope White at wing attack for the third term, and the tactical substitution transformed the match.

 Australia outscored New Zealand 20–9 in the third quarter alone, opening a 47–34 lead at the final break, and entered the fourth quarter with a 13-goal cushion that New Zealand’s personnel changes could not close.

Australia scored the opening four goals of the fourth quarter, eventually winning 63–48. The 15-goal margin reflected a second-half performance that New Zealand had no answer to.

Quarter	Australia	New Zealand	Running Score
Q1	15	14	AUS 15–14 NZL
Q2	12	11	AUS 27–25 NZL
Q3	20	9	AUS 47–34 NZL
Q4	16	14	AUS 63–48 NZL

Who Were Australia’s Key Players in the Final?

Lily Graham, goal attack and Melbourne Vixens Suncorp Super Netball player, was named Player of the Tournament, a recognition she earned through long-range shooting that consistently pressured opposing defences across the group stage, knockout rounds, and the final itself.

Charlotte Sexton, Australia’s goalkeeper, neutralized much of New Zealand’s shooting threat in the middle quarters. Sexton’s work with the Australian defensive unit reflected the full-court pressure system that Fellows had built throughout the preparation period.

What Was New Zealand’s Path to the Final?

New Zealand reached the final by defeating England 51–49 in a tightly contested semi-final in Gibraltar on 27 September 2025.

 Captain Amelia Walmsley drove New Zealand’s campaign, providing consistent scoring output from the shooting circle across every stage of the tournament, so that New Zealand arrived in the final as a genuine threat to deny Australia.

New Zealand’s path through the tournament was disrupted by Zambia’s withdrawal, resulting in a 2-point win by forfeit without a competitive match, leaving New Zealand with one fewer game than Australia before the final. New Zealand’s midcourt maintained pressure that troubled Australia throughout the opening half,  yet the tactical changes Fellows made at half-time ultimately proved decisive.

Want to understand how national rankings shaped the seedings for this tournament? Check the World Netball Rankings guide for a full breakdown.

How Did England Claim Bronze at the 2025 World Youth Cup?

England claimed the bronze medal at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup after defeating South Africa in the third-place match, having lost 51–49 to New Zealand in the semi-finals.

The two-goal semi-final margin underlined how competitive the top four sides were at this tournament.

England’s campaign delivered consistent squad depth and defensive intensity throughout. Umpires Lizzie Saunby and Sophia Wilson, both England-affiliated match officials, were appointed to key roles across the tournament, reflecting the depth of English expertise across both the playing and officiating dimensions of the event.

Position	Team	Result
1st	Australia	Defeated New Zealand 63–48 in the final
2nd	New Zealand	Defeated England 51–49 in the semi-final
3rd	England	Lost to New Zealand 51–49 in the semi; won bronze
4th	South Africa	Lost to Australia 55–32 in the semi

Why Is This World Youth Cup Historically Significant?

Australia’s 2025 title carries three layers of historical weight. First, the victory delivered a fifth World Youth Cup title for Australia, matching New Zealand’s four-title haul and moving Australia ahead in the all-time standings.

 Second, the win prevented New Zealand from completing a three-peat, which would have been unprecedented in the competition’s 37-year history. 

Third, World Netball’s confirmed restructuring of its event calendar means this edition is expected to be the last World Youth Cup for several years, making the Gibraltar tournament the final chapter of the under-21 game’s flagship event in the near term.

The 2025 event was the first, and likely only, World Youth Cup hosted in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory with a population of approximately 34,000. 

Individual matches exceeded 400,000 views on the official World Netball YouTube channel across the nine competition days, according to figures published by the tournament host committee.

Interested in the full history of the senior World Cup? Read the complete Netball World Cup guide on NetballOne.

What Does This Mean for Australian Netball’s Future?

Australia’s 2025 World Youth Cup title reinforces the depth of talent flowing through the Suncorp Super Netball pathway.

Ten of the twelve athletes Fellows selected had experience in Super Netball training environments, and six had logged significant senior-level court time before arriving in Gibraltar, so that the squad entered the final with a competitive maturity that showed most clearly in the decisive third quarter.

Fellows described Super Netball exposure as “more than we had anticipated when we picked the squad at the end of last year.” Graham had already played a pivotal role in the Melbourne Vixens’ Preliminary Final campaign in the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season before Gibraltar.

 Kayla Graham and Sophie Casey, both Adelaide Thunderbirds players, also featured in the 12-strong squad alongside West Australian defender Scarlet Jauncey, who had captained the First Nations national team.

The pipeline from under-21 international competition to senior Diamonds selection has been documented over four previous World Youth Cup cycles.

 The 2025 title gives five squad members World Cup gold-medal experience at the under-21 level, a credential that has consistently accelerated their consideration for the senior squad across previous generations of Australian players.

For more on how Australia’s elite pathway produces international talent, explore the player profiles section on NetballOne.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup?

 Australia won the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, defeating New Zealand 63–48 in the final on 28 September 2025 at Europa Sports Park, Gibraltar. The win delivered Australia’s fifth World Youth Cup title and ended New Zealand’s bid for a historic third consecutive championship.

Where was the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup held? 

The 2025 Netball World Youth Cup was held in Gibraltar from 19 to 28 September 2025 across two venues: Europa Sports Park and Tercentenary Sports Hall. Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, became the first and likely only host of a World Youth Cup on the Rock.

Who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2025 World Youth Cup? 

Lily Graham, goal attack for the Melbourne Vixens in the Suncorp Super Netball competition, was named Player of the Tournament. Graham’s long-range shooting and consistent scoring were decisive throughout Australia’s campaign, including a buzzer-beating first-quarter goal in the final that gave Australia a 15–14 lead. 

How many teams competed at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup?

Eighteen teams competed after World Netball withdrew Sri Lanka and Zambia on 21 September 2025, following unresolved participation issues. The original draw included 20 nations across four pools representing World Netball’s five regional bodies: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. 

What happened in the third quarter of the 2025 World Youth Cup final?

 Australia outscored New Zealand 20–9 in the third quarter, the decisive shift in a match level at 27–25 at half-time. Head Coach Cathy Fellows introduced Hope White at wing attack, and the substitution produced an immediate scoring surge that gave Australia a 47–34 lead at the final break. 

Will there be another Netball World Youth Cup? 

World Netball has announced a restructured event portfolio that increases the Women’s World Cup to every two years, meaning the Netball World Youth Cup is expected to be paused in the foreseeable future. World Netball has not confirmed a date for the next edition as of May 2026. 

Who coached Australia at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup?

 Cathy Fellows, assistant coach at the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Suncorp Super Netball competition and Head Coach of Australia’s 21U national program, led Australia in Gibraltar. Fellows built the squad’s game plan around full-court defensive pressure, producing a decisive 20–9 third-quarter performance in the final.

Who was New Zealand’s captain at the 2025 World Youth Cup? 

Amelia Walmsley captained New Zealand at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup. Walmsley operated as the cornerstone of New Zealand’s shooting circle throughout the tournament and remained a consistent threat even during Australia’s dominant 20–9 third quarter in the final.

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