Swifts digest horror show as Fever lock in grand final
NSW were simply no match for the minor premiers, trailing 46-20 at halftime en route to the embarrassing 32-goal loss.
Sunday's result means the second-placed Swifts will now need to lick their wounds and defeat the Melbourne Vixens in next weekend's home preliminary final to stay in the title hunt.
The Vixens secured their preliminary final spot with a 58-56 win over two-time defending champions Adelaide in the minor semi-final.
West Coast, who are on a Super Netball record 13-match winning streak, have now qualified for the August 2 grand final in Melbourne.
The Swifts made a perfect 8-0 start to the season but have lost five of their past seven games since then.
Their loss to the Fever was the worst of the lot, with star goal shooter Grace Nweke simply devoid of confidence as Fever defender Sunday Aryang ran riot with seven gains and two intercepts.
Nweke finished with just 23 goals from 28 attempts, and the star NZ shooter committed a whopping nine turnovers in a performance that resulted in her benching.
But Swifts defender Maddy Turner is urging her teammates to keep their heads high, pointing out how NSW were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title.
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