The 2025 Telkom Netball League (TNL) kicked off in spectacular style at Sun City, and KwaZulu-Natal’s Kingdom Stars and Kingdom Queens delivered a week of highs, lows, and thrilling netball action in Division II.

Day 1 – KZN Derby Drama

The tournament opened with an all-KZN battle under the lights of the Sun City Superbowl. The Kingdom Queens shrugged off a slow start to defeat the Kingdom Stars 47–36, drawing first blood and claiming early bragging rights.

Day 2 – Roles Reversed

The Stars bounced back strongly, overpowering the Northern Cape Diamonds 57–23 in a commanding display. Meanwhile, the Queens faltered against a fired-up Tornados outfit, falling 51–23 and needing to regroup quickly.

Day 3 – Momentum Builds

The Stars looked unstoppable, cruising past the Comets 48–31 in a confident performance. The Queens also returned to winning ways with a solid 59–47 victory over Sonoblomo, showing improved court synergy and finishing power.

Day 4 – Resilience on Display

The Stars kept their foot on the pedal with a 62–44 win over Sonoblomo, extending their streak. The Queens, meanwhile, staged a dramatic comeback to force a thrilling 44–44 draw against the Comets, refusing to go down without a fight.

Day 5 – Statement Win and Setback

The Stars stunned the previously unbeaten Tornados with a spirited 46–37 win—arguably their best performance of the week. But the Queens stumbled again, falling 53–37 to a disciplined Tshukudu side.

Day 6 – Different Outcomes

The Stars proved their consistency by edging Tshukudu 45–41 in a tightly contested encounter. The Queens, however, endured another difficult outing, losing 53–37 to a clinical Sunbirds team.

Day 7 – Turning the Tide

The Queens reignited their campaign with a morale-boosting 52–44 win over Lilies, keeping their top-four hopes alive. In contrast, the Stars suffered a narrow 41–39 loss to Sunbirds in a match they largely controlled but let slip in the final stretch.

Day 8 – Back in Control

Only the Kingdom Stars featured on Day 8—and they made it count. A 45–36 win over Lilies saw them solidify their position among the top four.

Day 9 – Strong Finish

The Queens closed off Power Week 1 with a dominant 49–23 victory over the Diamonds—ending their campaign on a high and keeping them within reach of the frontrunners.

Division II Log Standings (After Week 1):

Kingdom Stars: Played 8 | Won 6 | Lost 2 | 12 points (Position: 4th)

Kingdom Queens: Played 8 | Won 4 | Lost 3 | Drawn 1 | 9 points (Position: 5th)

Looking Ahead

With Power Week 2 set for 13–17 June at Sun Park, both teams will be eager to carry momentum forward. Both teams will be aiming to solidify their spots at the top of the standings in Power Week 2—and perhaps make better use of the Telkom Supershot, a game-changing weapon they’ve yet to fully unleash.