The British Virgin Islands (BVI) women’s netball team is set to be officially ranked among World Netball’s top 48 teams after a strong showing at the recent Battle of the Saints tournament in St. Maarten.
The team finished as runners-up, winning three of their six matches against St. Eustatius but conceding three to host nation St. Maarten, which currently ranks 35th globally.
This year’s tournament, usually featuring five teams, was scaled down due to financial constraints that prevented Guadeloupe and St. Kitts from participating. BVI’s success against St. Eustatius, World Netball’s newest full member, further bolstered their standing in the regional netball circuit.
Head Coach Mandi Atack highlighted that the BVI’s official placement in the rankings will be updated in early 2025, following World Netball’s quarterly ranking adjustments.
Coach Mandi also expressed pride in her team’s performance, noting that they faced tough matches but consistently rose to the challenge.
Looking forward, the BVI team is preparing for more tournaments through the remainder of 2024, with exciting prospects for 2025, including plans to host a regional competition in the Virgin Islands. Coach Atack shared her optimism.