Silver Ferns beat Diamonds 52-49 in Sydney to win 2026 Constellation Cup
New Zealand's Silver Ferns came from behind in the final quarter to beat Australia 52-49, taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the four-match netball series and closing in on the world No.1 ranking.
At a glance
- New Zealand beat Australia 52-49 at the Sydney SuperDome on Sunday, October 25, to win the 2026 Constellation Cup.
- The Ferns trailed 41-39 at three-quarter time but won the last quarter 13-8, helped by Australia's 51 penalties and eight turnovers.
- New Zealand lead the four-match series 3-0 after wins of 56-50 in Auckland and 62-50 in Christchurch.
- The Ferns will at least draw level with Australia at world No.1 and can take top spot outright with a 4-0 sweep in Melbourne on Wednesday.
New Zealand's Silver Ferns won the 2026 Constellation Cup on Sunday, October 25, beating Australia's Diamonds 52-49 at the Sydney SuperDome. Trailing by two goals at three-quarter time, the Ferns won the final quarter 13-8 to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the four-match series. The result also lifts New Zealand to at least a share of the world No.1 ranking.
Match details
| Quarter | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| After Q1 | 15 | 11 |
| Half-time | 26 | 26 |
| After Q3 | 41 | 39 |
| Final | 49 | 52 |
Australia made the faster start and led by four after the first quarter, but New Zealand pulled level by half-time. The Diamonds edged back in front through the third quarter, before the Ferns scored seven goals in a row after the break to open a five-goal lead. Australia fought back to 47-47 with about five minutes left, but turnovers and penalties let New Zealand close it out.
| Key stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sophie Garbin (AUS) | 47 goals from 63 attempts |
| Penalties | Australia 51, New Zealand 44 |
| Turnovers | New Zealand scored from all eight Australian turnovers |
| Defence | Kelly Jackson dominant in goal defence for New Zealand |
| Intercepts | Jessie Grenvold had both of Australia's intercepts |
Australia's Kate Moloney aggravated a hand injury during the match but returned to the court.
Series results
| Game | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | New Zealand 56–50 Australia |
| 2 | Christchurch | New Zealand 62–50 Australia |
| 3 | Sydney | New Zealand 52–49 Australia |
| 4 | Melbourne, Wed Oct 28 | To be played |
Background
The Constellation Cup is the annual series between the world's two leading netball nations. Australia dominated it for most of its history: before Stacey Marinkovich became Diamonds coach in 2020, New Zealand had won only one of the previous ten series. In the six series since, the Ferns have now won three.
New Zealand arrived in form after winning Commonwealth Games gold in August, when Australia took bronze. Discipline has been Australia's biggest problem in this series: they have conceded 145 penalties across three games compared with New Zealand's 100.
Reactions
Ferns coach Noeline Taurua described the win as a chance for her team to "write the next chapter" of their story. Marinkovich said her side had to be sharper at the start of each quarter, pointing to the runs of goals the Ferns scored after breaks.
Why it matters
This was Australia's last home gathering before the Netball World Cup, which Sydney hosts next August, making the defeat a worrying sign for the hosts. For New Zealand, the series win confirms them as the team to beat heading into the World Cup year.
What happens next
Game four is on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:30pm AEDT at John Cain Arena in Melbourne. A New Zealand win would complete a 4-0 sweep and take the world No.1 ranking outright; Australia will be playing for pride and to keep a share of top spot.
Questions people are asking
Who won the 2026 Constellation Cup?
New Zealand's Silver Ferns won the 2026 Constellation Cup, beating Australia 52-49 in Sydney on October 25 to lead the four-match series 3-0 with one game left.
When is the last Constellation Cup game in 2026?
Game four is on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:30pm AEDT at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.
Are the Silver Ferns world number one in netball?
The win means New Zealand will at least draw level with Australia at No.1 in the next world rankings, and a 4-0 series sweep would give the Ferns top spot outright.
