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Live sport on SN this weekendSilver Ferns set for Jamaica final after Diamonds’ shock semi loss
Joanna Guelas, AAP • August 2nd, 2026 7:00 am
Teammates rushed to young gun Sophie Dwyer after the Diamonds' dramatic semi-final loss in Glasgow | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
The Silver Ferns will face Jamaica for Commonwealth Games gold after the Sunshine Girls stunned Australia in a dramatic semi-final, with Diamonds debutant Sophie Dwyer missing an after-the-siren shot in a nightmare 46-45 loss.
With their gold medal defence on the line, Australia set the stage for a thrilling finish in Glasgow with a three-goal blitz that reduced Jamaica's lead to one goal with 36 seconds remaining.
A frantic finish ended with Jamaica penalised and the ball in the hands of goal attack Dwyer, who had a chance to push the game to overtime.
But Jamaica prevailed 46-45 after Dwyer's after-the-siren shot bounced off the ring and missed, with teammates rushing to support her as Australia were consigned to a bronze-medal match against England.
Jamaica celebrated jubilantly after their upset win | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
The result means Jamaica will now meet New Zealand in the final, after the Silver Ferns defeated England in Saturday's other semi-final to move within one win of snapping their 16-year Games title drought.
Dwyer had come off the bench for the final quarter, with vice-captain Kate Moloney adamant the whole squad was responsible for Australia's first ever semi-final loss at a Commonwealth Games.
"We shouldn't have been in a position where we had to shoot a goal after the siren," Moloney said.
"We'll wrap our arms around her like we will everyone. Everyone will be disappointed.
"It's a full team loss today, it's not on one person."
Sophie Dwyer cut a shattered figure after Australia's semi-final loss | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
The 2022 Birmingham champions had walked into Saturday's semi-final as the overwhelming favourites after bulldozing their way through five pool matches without breaking a sweat.
But the world No. 1 outfit was left shellshocked in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Hydro that included William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Diamonds crumbled under relentless pressure brought by the Sunshine Girls, who will now turn their attention to a gold-medal showdown with the Silver Ferns.
Australia trailed by three goals at quarter-time before playing catch-up to make it level at 35-35 at the final break.
The two nations went goal for goal until a bad pass from Kiera Austin near the edge of the circle opened the door for Jamaica's ascendancy.
There was plenty of rubbernecking at the Hydro as word spread about William and Kate's attendance | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
The Diamonds' all-star attacking partnership of Melbourne Vixens pair Austin and Sophie Garbin struggled to hit top gear against Jamaican defenders Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson.
Just as she did in last month's Super Netball grand final, Adelaide Thunderbirds star Sterling-Humphrey nullified Vixens shooter Garbin (four goals/four goal attempts).
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich pulled the pin after the first break, putting veteran Cara Koenen (18/20) in Garbin's place.
"I knew that that would be the start, and I knew that once I took out Sophie (Garbin), it would be Cara that's coming on," Sterling-Humphrey said.
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey worked tirelessly to put the Diamonds under pressure in the semi-final | Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP
Sterling-Humphrey also felt for Giants netballer Dwyer.
"Sophie (Dwyer) came on into the pressured moments of the game, and that must have been very hard for her," the Jamaican captain said.
"Super grateful that she missed the shot.
"I feel like in that moment, I didn't panic at all, because I knew that we had it."
At the other end, goalkeeper Courtney Bruce gave away a whopping 14 contact penalties and five obstruction penalties against West Coast Fever veteran Romelda Aiken-George (29/32) before being subbed off for Sarah Klau in the second half.
Jamaica will vie for their maiden gold medal against New Zealand, while Australia fall short of the decider for the first time since the sport joined the Games program in 1998.
The Silver Ferns, buoyed by their semi-final win over England, are now one victory away from ending a 16-year Commonwealth Games title drought.
