Alicia Scholes hit back at social media critics after London Pulse narrowly defeated LexisNexis Dragons 51-50 in a bruising Netball Super League clash. The 24-year-old wing attack felt targeted for a single push against Victoria Booth while ignoring the game's 96 penalties and sustained physical play. Scholes took to Instagram, posting Mario Balotelli's 'Why Always Me?' message and defending her actions.

Last season's treble winners needed every point to edge last year's bottom side in what became a flashpoint for the sport's growing physicality. Throughout the match both teams pushed the boundaries of 'non-contact' rules, with Dragons' Georgia Rowe also drawing attention for grabbing Darcie Everitt's ankle late in the game. Former Australia coach Lisa Alexander joined the debate, arguing online criticism unfairly focused on Scholes.

The incident highlights how netball's physical evolution has sparked controversy. As former England coach Tracey Neville noted on Sky Sports' Off The Court podcast, modern players embrace the physical challenge, with teams incorporating grappling and contact drills into their preparation. With such intensity now standard, Scholes' frustration reflects a wider tension between traditional non-contact ideals and the sport's increasingly physical reality.