Wilson’s MVP proves mettle – Murdock
Published:Sunday | July 21, 2024 | 12:09 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
THE YEAR 2023 was possibly one of the most testing times for national netball representative Latanya Wilson. The highly rated player lost the majority of her personal belongings when her Rum Lane home was ravaged by fire.
One year later, the now 23-year-old Adelaide Thunderbirds defender is celebrating being crowned regular season MVP in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball league, while also etching her name on the team of the tournament alongside Jamaican teammates Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Romelda Aiken-George, who was named as a reserve.
Former assistant coach of the Sunshine Girls, Shawn Murdock, said this only shows the mental toughness of Wilson.
“Absolutely amazing mental fortitude shown by Latanya Wilson following the rough incident last year, which saw her losing her home. This year she’s in a space where no other wing defence in the league has gone in terms of the stats that she’s been able to produce,” he said.
Wilson managed to attain 30 MVP votes, to finish ahead of her Sunshine Girls teammates Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who finished second and third respectively with 19 and 15 votes.
Aiken-George was also in the mix, finishing seventh with four votes.
Australian netball reporters Georgia Doyle and Elly McNerney called Wilson’s defensive ability “a scary sight for her opponents”.
“Quite possibly the best wing defence we’ll see this era, with the ability to both shut down players and peel off to take intercepts. Her aerial work around the circle at wing defence, and over the shot at goal defence is something to be marvelled and puts the league’s best attackers on notice,” said Doyle.
“One of the best players in the world right now. Her ability to cause utter chaos for the opposition attack line is something special,” said McNerney.
According to Murdock, Wilson’s achievement is nothing to scoff at because she was able to do it in the best league in the world.
“The Suncorp league is the best netball league in the world currently. The tournament has the best players and this is where the heat is, the other leagues are pretty good as well, but I think the best of the best are playing in Australia’s Suncorp league,” said Murdock.
Murdock explained this might be the start of a period of dominance for Wilson, who he believes hasn’t reached her peak yet.
“That is the scary part. She’s just 23, nowhere near her peak. We can look at Romelda Aiken who is in career-best form at the age of 35. I think there’s no limit to where Latanya can, and will go once she stays focused and grounded. She’s a superb human being and a great player having been around her in the Sunshine Girls set-up. She’s clearly one that doesn’t allow her upbringing in the inner city to define who she is as a person.”