Jaz Brown didn’t take the traditional route into professional netball. She began as a tennis player and only switched to netball at 17, trading her tennis skirt for a netball dress. Last month she reached the top of the national game, making her England debut against New Zealand and playing all three games in the series.
“It’s been a journey and a half, to say the least,” Brown said. “It’s been highs and lows of injuries, COVID, I’ve even been told I’m not good enough and things like that. My coach back in the day said that I wouldn’t make it to be a professional netballer. I do think it’s hard, with the English league, as well as in the juniors, it’s more of if you age out of the under-21s and your name’s not made it, then you’re not in the running for much.”
Having grown up in tennis, Brown realised she did not love the sport enough to keep committing the time and stopped playing. Wanting to stay active led her to a local netball league, where she filled in at whatever position was needed before settling as a defender. She progressed quickly into the Netball Super League with Charnwood.
“Luckily I have a mindset where I feel like regardless of who tells me anything, I’m still going to do it anyway,” Brown added. “I feel like looking back and if I was still in that position, I would definitely say just to keep on going and don’t give a c**p about what anyone thinks or says and just prove them wrong. That goes to any young girl or boy out there that’s in a similar position to me, just prove them wrong and laugh at them when you’re up there.”
At Charnwood she met Jo Tripp, who took her under her wing and eventually gave Brown her first Super League contract in 2023 at Severn Stars. Brown moved to Birmingham Panthers for the 2025 season, with Tripp as Panthers coach; both left at the end of that season. In 2026 Brown will play for NIC Leeds Rhinos.
Brown’s England debut had her matched up against formidable Kiwi shooter Grace Nweke, and she held her own alongside Funmi Fadoju. The over-six-foot goalkeeper said her debut “couldn’t have gone any better” and believes if she can perform like that as a rookie, there’s more to come. She partly credits her tennis background for helping her cope in uncomfortable on-court situations, drawing on individual-sport experience when needed while enjoying the team aspects of netball.
As the Roses continue Commonwealth Games preparation, Brown could face Jamaica this weekend in the Vitality Netball Horizon Series. The first two Jamaica games originally scheduled to be played in Jamaica were cancelled because of Hurricane Melissa, so the series will now consist of two games, both played in London:
Saturday December 13: England vs Jamaica, 2.15pm – Copper Box Arena, London
Sunday December 14: England vs Jamaica, 2pm – Copper Box Arena, London
(Times subject to slight change due to broadcast requirements)
