“Exciting talent” Ané De Wet wins national U19 NPL Player of the Season award after stellar campaign with Blue & Gold

Emerging Team Bath Netball talent Ané De Wet has been named as the national U19 Player of the Season for the 2024-25 Netball Performance League (NPL) campaign.

The versatile attacking player made an impressive step up from the U17s, scooping six out of a possible 10 Player of the Match accolades – as voted for by the opposition – as she helped Team Bath place third in the U19 NPL standings.

Natalie Roddy, Academy Head Coach at Team Bath, said: “Well done Ane, this is truly deserved recognition for an exciting talent who performs game in and game out. Not only does Ane shoot over 90 per cent every game, she works hard to constantly be available through court and to win ball in defence.

“Ane has come through the Team Bath pathway and truly optimises our values with her hard work, dedication and her support and encouragement of others.”

De Wet – who plays goal shooter, goal attack or wing attack – featured in more than 35 quarters across the season for Team Bath. She was Player of the Tournament in last summer’s U17 NPL competition and has gained international experience during the past season as part of the 2024-25 Roses Academy programme.

This is the third time in as many seasons that a Team Bath star has won a NPL Player of the Year accolade. Lily Rutland, a current team-mate of De Wet, was the standout U17 player in 2022-23, the same season that Daisy Harrison – now starring in Team Bath’s NXT Gen League campaign – won the U19 honour.

All three players have honed their talents in the Team Bath Academy Development Centres, De Wet with the Salisbury ADC and Harrison and Rutland with Exeter.

There are 10 ADCs based across the South West of England, one in each region, and applications are now open for the 2025-26 programme. Trials will take place in the first two weeks of June 2025 and more information can be found at netball.teambath.com/athlete-development.