NWC2015 Announces Commentary Team

Some of the sport’s biggest names will gather behind the microphone when netball’s pinnacle event starts in Sydney on August 7.

Headlined by legendary players Liz Ellis, Sharelle McMahon and Temepara Bailey and broadcast leaders in netball Kelli Underwood, Mel McLaughlin, Anita Navin and Jenny Woods the power house  commentary team will work across two playing venues calling the Netball World Cup for a variety of rights-holders across the world.

This commentary group will bring NWC2015 into more homes than ever before with the broadcast going out to Africa, Australia, Oceania and Europe. Their NWC2015 call can also be accessed via live streaming through the Netball Live app subscription across the world excluding England and New Zealand.

NWC2015 broadcasters include FOX SPORTS (Australia), Network Ten (Australia), SKY Sport (New Zealand) and Sky Sport (UK).
For NWC2015 Chief Executive Marne Fechner the group offers a great mix of broadcast and playing experience and talent.

“The NWC2015 commentary team have a wide range of experience and deep understanding of the sport and I have no doubt their call of NWC2015 will be insightful, engaging and knowledgeable.”

The talent team will also take other roles across the event including corporate hosting, sports presentation, leading coaching and umpiring seminars and workshops and master of ceremony roles in FanFEST – the event’s social hub.

Commentary Team biographies: 

Temepara Bailey (NZL) 
A former Silver Ferns vice-captain, Temepara Bailey’s career included 89 Test Caps, a World Title and two Commonwealth Games Medals. After the mid-courter retired from professional netball, she took up a commentary position with SKY Sport, working across the ANZ Championship as well as International matches.

Liz Ellis (AUS)
Australia’s most capped player with 122 caps to her name, Liz Ellis is regarded by many as one of the greatest defenders to play the game. With three World Titles, two Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, four national league titles and MVP awards, Ellis retired from the sport having achieved every individual and team accomplishment possible. Since then Ellis has enjoyed a successful broadcast career calling the ANZ Championship since the competition started in 2008 on FOX Sports and Network TEN

Mel McLaughlin (AUS)
An experienced broadcaster, Mel McLaughlin has worked on a wide variety of sports including cricket, Formula 1, swimming and football. Covering some of the biggest events last year, McLaughlin hosted Big Bash League, travelling to Sochi to cover Winter Olympics who then jetted back to Australia for Formula 1 Grand Prix. She also covered Australian Swimming Championships, she then travelled to Brazil as Network Ten’s correspondent for the FIFA World Cup who later hosted the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Sharelle McMahon (AUS) 
With 118 Test Caps to her name, Sharelle McMahon’s playing accolades include two Commonwealth Gold Medals, three World Titles and an ANZ Championship title with the Melbourne Vixens. The goal attack was also given the honour of being Australia's Flag Bearer at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Since retiring McMahon has worked as a commentator and sports presenter.


Kelli Underwood (AUS)
Kelli Underwood is an award-winning radio and television sports broadcaster and journalist, specialising in netball, AFL and tennis. Underwood has called the ANZ Championship and Australian Diamonds test matches since 2009 and has hosted and commentated the last five ANZ Championship Grand Finals for FOX Sports and Network TEN

Jenny Woods (NZL)
Jenny Woods is a broadcast journalist who first called netball at the 2007 Netball World Championships, continuing to call the game in the inaugural season of the ANZ Championship in 2008.  A SKY Sport commentator, Woods has called the 2007 and 2011 World Championships as well as the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.