Loughborough Lightning claimed the Netball Super Cup title with a dramatic 18-17 victory over London Pulse in Sheffield. The win marks a significant turnaround for Lightning, who were defeated by Pulse in last season's NSL Grand Final. Head coach Vic Burgess praised his team's focus and determination throughout the one-day tournament.

Lightning's triumph comes exactly 12 months after Pulse won this event en route to their first NSL championship. The Super Cup featured all eight NSL teams competing in 14-minute matches - a stark contrast to the standard 60-minute games. Loughborough co-captain Nat Panagarry revealed the team's motivation stemmed from their Grand Final defeat last July, describing a sense of "feeling sorry for yourself" that fueled their performance.

While Lightning celebrated their victory, other teams showed mixed results. Leeds Rhinos and Cardiff Dragons, who finished bottom two in the NSL last season, reached the semi-finals, demonstrating their improvement. However, Nottingham Forest, preparing for their second NSL season, exited in the group stage. The tournament also highlighted the impact of international commitments on pre-season preparations, with teams like Manchester Thunder struggling to find their rhythm. Thunder coach Karen Greig acknowledged the need to improve connections on court as they prepare for their season opener against Pulse at the Copper Box, where more than 5,000 tickets have already been sold.