Netball might be the most Australian sport America hasn’t discovered yet. Netball America is working on that, one school gym at a time.
The 2026 US Open Netball Championships® run November 6–8 at Henderson Sport & Social in Henderson, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. Women’s and mixed teams from more than 25 states and Australia will compete for the national titles. This year, the work starts weeks before the first whistle.
Taking netball into American schools
Before a single game is played, Netball America (https://www.instagram.com/netballamerica) is bringing the sport, and a bit of Australian and British culture, to American kids.
During the week of October 26, the program reaches about 170 young people in Orlando, Florida. The following week, Australian and British teams join more than 20 volunteers in Henderson to introduce netball to over 600 students through PE classes and cultural activities.
Netball America CEO Sonya Ottaway describes the whole program as sports diplomacy: connecting cultures, communities and countries through the game.
On Saturday, November 7, 20 students from a local Henderson school choir will sing the national anthem before play.
Two Australian netball greats at the US Open
The championships have serious Australian pedigree this year. Two of the biggest names in the Australian game will be there as VIPs.
Catherine Cox AM played 108 Tests for Australia between 1997 and 2013. She won World Championship gold in 2007 and 2011 and Commonwealth Games gold in 2002, and she was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2022.
Julie Fitzgerald is one of Australia’s most successful club coaches. She won multiple premierships with the Sydney Swifts, took the NSW Swifts to the first ANZ Championship title in 2008, and later coached Giants Netball. She also served as an assistant coach with the Australian national team.
Seeing either of them courtside in Nevada is a rare thing. Seeing both is a real treat for anyone who grew up watching the Diamonds.
How to play at the US Open Netball Championships
The tournament is open to women’s and mixed/co-ed teams. Here’s how the weekend runs:
- Friday, November 6: afternoon meetings, clinics and training
- Saturday, November 7: games start at 8:20 a.m.
- Sunday, November 8: the tournament wraps up at 3:00 p.m.
Team applications are on the US Open Netball Championships event page. If you’re keen to play but don’t have a team, email Netball America at [email protected] and ask about joining one.
Volunteering at the championships
An event like this runs on volunteers, both at the tournament and in the school program the week before. Check the “Get Involved” section of usopennetball.com for details. For anything else, contact [email protected].
Sponsoring the US Open Netball Championships
This is where businesses in the US come in. Sponsors put their name in front of a community of netball players and families from across the country, and back the school program that brings the sport to hundreds of American kids.
Netball America offers several sponsorship packages. To ask about them, email [email protected] with “US Open Sponsorship” in the subject line.
For an Aussie business looking to reach the expat community and do some good at the same time, it’s hard to think of a more fitting place to put your logo.
Find your local netball club
The US Open is the biggest weekend on the American netball calendar, but plenty of clubs play all year round. To find a team near you, check your state page on Australians in the USA, where local netball clubs are listed alongside AFL, cricket and community groups. You can also browse Netball America for clubs and programs.
