Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
2 weeks ago
New Zealand 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.
Sam Winders has partnered with ACC and Netball New Zealand through the NetballSmart injury prevention program, which has been in place since 1997. Her involvement focuses on educating the next generation of athletes about injury prevention in netball.
Born in Rotorua in 1995, Samantha Winders, formerly known as Samantha Sinclair, demonstrated exceptional talent in netball from an early age, excelling at secondary school and age-group levels. She attended John Paul College in Rotorua, serving as deputy head girl and receiving coaching from former New Zealand international Coral Palmer. Her foundation in netball was further solidified while representing Bay of Plenty in the Lois Muir Challenge tournament. This early promise led to her gaining a spot in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team in 2014, marking her entry into semi-professional netball right after high school. During her early years with Magic, she was also part of the Waikato Bay of Plenty teams that secured Netball New Zealand’s national under-23 tournament titles in both 2013 and 2014.
Winders’ career progressed significantly, characterized by her determination and athletic style. She became known for her potent presence in both attack and defense, combining a robust and energetic playing style with solid distributing skills from the center position. A notable turning point came in 2015 when she was named in the Silver Ferns Development Squad and toured with the NZA team, playing warm-up matches ahead of the Netball World Cup. In 2016, she was selected for the Netball World Series-winning FAST5 Ferns, leading to her first selection in the Silver Ferns squad in 2017. She made her full senior international debut in the first series of 2017, further cementing her place at the elite level.
Her leadership qualities were recognized when she captained Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic between 2020 and 2022, and notably, she captained the New Zealand national netball team for a test against England in the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series. Her consistent performance and leadership earned her the prestigious 2021 Silver Fern Player of the Year award. After a decade with Magic, she moved to Southern Steel for the 2023 ANZ Premiership season and later joined Giants Netball for the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season, where she made her club debut and achieved her 150th National League cap before deciding to return to New Zealand. Throughout her career, Winders has been a prominent figure, contributing to significant team achievements and earning individual accolades.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
