MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The 2nd World University Netball Championship was considered a tremendous success by all of those involved. The event organizers, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and Netball America, praised the accommodations provided by St. Thomas University.

"The overall experience at St. Thomas University was wonderful," said Sonya Ottaway, President and Co-Founder of Netball America. "The preparations that went into the facilities prior to our arrival were extraordinary." 

The organizing committe was impressed by the total atmosphere of the Fernandez Family Center. In particular, they were pleased by the sunken Netball posts which were the first of its kind to be used in the United States. Crystal Morvant, the Facility Manager of the Fernandez Family Center, led the preparations as the event host.

Netball America, the premier national Netball organization in the USA, provided the staff that ran the day-to-day operations of the event. From day one, the Netball America staff ensured that the tournament ran smoothly. They handled all facets of operations, including ticket sales, merchandise, concessions, umpiring, and more. 

Vamos Deportes, a sports network dedicated to promoting international sport, provided the Livestream broadcast of the event. They presented the game to viewers around the world with a well polished broadcast. The broadcast included multiple camera angles, live commentary, on-screen graphics, an interactive Twitter feed, pre- and post-game interviews, and video profiles of the teams involved. 

Seven countries and one university from England made up the field for the 2016 World University Netball Championship. For the USA Netball Team, this was their first international competition. Despite some tough results, they kept a positive attitude throughout the tournament. The USA Netball Team could be seen in the stands at the majority of the games, learning as much as they could from the more experienced teams.

The most experienced teams proved to be South Africa, Jamaica, and Australia. South Africa and Jamaica both reached the finals with undefeated records. The matchup proved to be even with the largest lead of the game being six points. South Africa ended up beating Jamaica in the end, 43-39, and claiming the gold medal.  Jamaica then recieved the silver medal, leaving the bronze medal for Australia to claim. Australia earned the bronze in exciting fashion with a 42-41 victory over Uganda that was decided in the final seconds.

WUNC 2016 Final Standings:

-30-