Samantha Winders

Samantha Winders has established herself as a formidable netball player, transitioning from a standout secondary school athlete to an international representative, bringing extensive experience and leadership to the sport. After securing the Netball World Series-winning title with the FAST5 Ferns in 2016, Samantha Winders had already established herself as a significant talent in netball. She first entered semi-professional netball in 2014, joining the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team directly after high school. Her early career saw her contribute to the Waikato Bay of Plenty teams that clinched Netball New Zealand’s national under-23 tournament titles in both 2013 and 2014.

Her consistent, athletic style of play led to further recognition and leadership opportunities within the sport. Her leadership qualities were soon highlighted, as she took on the captaincy for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic between 2020 and 2022. During this period, she was instrumental in securing the 2020 Taini Jamison Trophy Series and the 2021 Constellation Cup for New Zealand. Demonstrating her elevated stature, Winders notably captained the New Zealand national netball team for a test against England during the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series.

During her time with Giants Netball, she achieved a significant career milestone by reaching her 150th National League cap before deciding to return to New Zealand.