Saracens Mavericks have announced their squad ahead of the 2024 Netball Superleague season - with eight retained from last year.

The 12-strong squad will be looking to better their fifth-placed finish in 2023 and make the end of season play-offs.

Among those returning to the Hatfield outfit is players' player of the season, Razia Quashie, and coaches' player of the season Jodie Gibson.

They form a formidable defensive pair but it is the four new signings that has got head coach Camilla Buchanan excited.

 

In comes Peace Akinyemi, Loughborough Lightning's Emma Thacker, Ellie Rattu, who moves back to the Mavs from London Pulse, and last season's Netball Superleague players' player, Vicki Oyesola.

Buchanan said: "I really believe that Vicki is one of the most exciting NSL signings this season.

"She was one of the best defenders across the league last year and no attacker wanted to come up against her.

"She’s coming home to London and we believe that her style will really complement our defensive line-up.

"Peace is another future England star. She’s a defender with so much raw talent.

"She’s got an incredible understanding of the game and I know she’s going to grow and learn from the really experienced players we have in the group.

"Ellie will give our group a real added spark. She is such a natural talent and is a really mature head in attack.

"She’s also got that real defensive edge you need from a centre. It’s so good to have her back home.

"I know Emma is going to go on to gain many caps for England. She’s got a really unorthodox style at goal attack and that’s something we want to embrace.

"We want to unlock her magic in that attacking third."

Aliyah Zaranyika also returns for another season, alongside Lisa Mather and Georgia Lees.

In the attacking third, Ine-Mari Venter returns for another season, after impressing for South Africa in the Netball World Cup, while Kira Rothwell will look to continue her fine form from last season that saw her named as supporters’ player of the season.

They are joined up top by Britney Clarke, who proved herself to be a formidable weapon in the shooting circle in 2023.

The new season may still seem a long way away, but there is fresh optimism within the Mavericks squad that they can achieve great things this season.

And Buchanan admitted that she was already itching to get back out on the training court herself.

She said: "When you can’t wait to get out on court for the first training session, you know you’re in a good place.

"We can’t wait for our supporters to feel that same buzz when they come to [the Hertfordshire Sports Village] this season.

"We’ve got a really great balance across the board and more importantly, we’ve got a group of great people in the squad that want to give their all.

"It’s a really exciting time for us."