Loughborough Lightning’s Jess Shaw is focused on securing both Netball Super League success and a place in the England squad for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer, as she prepares for the season opener against LexisNexis Dragons on Saturday.
Shaw, 29, has returned to Lightning after a four-year absence, having previously played for the club before spells with Team Bath, Severn Stars and Birmingham Panthers. She believes her latest move will be crucial in her bid for international recognition.
“With it being a Commonwealth Games year, for me, coming to Lightning is going to aid me perform,” Shaw told Sky Sports. “I’ve got the team behind me and if I am performing, I’ll be out on that court.”
Lightning reached the Netball Super League final in each of the last five seasons and Shaw is aiming to help them proceed one step further this year. “This squad is really exciting,” she said. “They’ve been in finals now for five consecutive years, so hopefully we get into that final again this year.”
Shaw is also looking to play in both the wing attack and centre positions this season, believing versatility will enhance her chances of selection for the Commonwealth Games. “Coming into a Commonwealth Games year, it’s really important that I am at the top of my game and playing across both positions, so hopefully I can get that this season,” she explained.
Her return to form has already begun positively, with Lightning winning the Super Cup earlier in the year. Shaw’s journey to the top of the sport has been made more remarkable by her diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes as a teenager.
“I still identify it really challenging living with Type 1 diabetes,” Shaw said. “It still catches me off guard depending on different games and things. But over the years I have started to get a bit more to grips with what works for me on gamedays, and training around that. But again, some days it’s just out of my control and I’m really struggling to kind of get it in that range.”
Shaw hopes her experiences can inspire others living with the condition. “For me, it’s just doing it for the ones that are younger and look up to me as a role model, to know that even living with Type 1 diabetes, it doesn’t stop you and when you do get to the top it’s actually a lot sweeter.”
The Netball Super League season begins on Friday, February 27, with a match between London Pulse and Manchester Thunder. Loughborough Lightning’s game against LexisNexis Dragons will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Saturday.
