Shadine van der Merwe is a South African netball international known for her defensive skills and leadership, having played in both domestic and international leagues. After demonstrating exceptional leadership by captaining both UP-Tuks to their first Varsity Netball title in 2017 and Gauteng Jaguars to consecutive Brutal Fruit Netball Cup titles in 2017 and 2018, Shadine van der Merwe quickly established herself as a formidable force in netball. Her athletic capabilities were evident early, having played for the junior South Africa women’s national softball team and earning a bronze medal in javelin at the 2010 Junior SA Track and Field Championship. Van der Merwe pursued her netball career professionally, playing for UP-Tuks from 2014-2017 and Gauteng Jaguars from 2014-2018, while also completing a Masters in Education at the University of Pretoria.

Expanding her expertise within the sport, she took on an assistant coaching role for UP-Tuks in 2024, demonstrating her ability to contribute both on and off the court. In a testament to her continued demand at the elite club level, in September 2024, Shadine van der Merwe joined Loughborough Lightning for the highly anticipated 2025 Netball Superleague season. She is poised to bring her formidable defensive skills, proven leadership, and extensive international experience to her new team, continuing her impactful career at the forefront of professional netball.