# Ama Agbeze

Ama Agbeze MBE (born 12 November 1982) is an England netball international. She was captain when England won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2019 she received an MBE for her services to netball. She was also a member of the England team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. As of 2020, Agbeze has played for at least sixteen different club teams in England, Australia and New Zealand.

## Early life, family and education

Agbeze was born to Nigerian parents in Birmingham. She has two older sisters and a younger brother. She was educated at Kings Norton Girls' School and Monkton Combe School. Between 2004 and 2007 she attended Loughborough University where she gained an MSc in Finance and Management. She also studied Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Leicester and is a qualified lawyer. In 2016 she married Fred Donovan, a New Zealander, in Auckland.

## Playing career
### Super Cup

During the Super Cup era, between 2001 and 2005, Agbeze played for Team Bath, Birmingham Blaze, Northumbria Flames and London Hurricanes.

### Netball Superleague

Between 2005 and 2007, while attending Loughborough University, Agbeze played for Loughborough Lightning in the Netball Superleague. She would return to Lightning for a second spell in 2016. She also played for Leeds Carnegie during the 2008–09 season.
Agbeze spent the 2019 Netball Superleague season at London Pulse, then joined up with Saracens Mavericks for the 2019 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship before joining Severn Stars for the 2020 season.

### Australia and New Zealand

Agbeze played for three franchises in the ANZ Championship. In 2008 she was one of several England internationals to join the new league. Together with Karen Atkinson, she signed for West Coast Fever. She subsequently moved to the Melbourne Vixens for the 2009 season and then to Central Pulse for the 2010 season. In 2011 she returned to West Coast Fever. During 2012 Agbeze served as a player-coach for West Coast Falcons, helping them win the West Australian Netball League. She was also awarded the Jill McIntosh Medal. In 2013 she played for Territory Storm in the Australian Netball League, then rejoined Central Pulse for the 2014 and 2015 ANZ Championship seasons. She subsequently played for Adelaide Thunderbirds during the 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season and for Northern Stars during the 2018 ANZ Premiership season. She played for Northern Mystics during the 2021 ANZ Premiership season.

### England

Agbeze made her senior debut for England in 2001. She was a member of the England team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2016 she was appointed England captain She subsequently captained England as they won the 2016 European Netball Championship, the 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series and the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In October 2018, Agbeze made 100th senior appearance for England during a series against Jamaica. In 2019 she received an MBE for her services to netball.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 2006 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2007 World Netball Championships | 4th |
| 2011 Taini Jamison Trophy Series | 2nd |
| 2012 Netball Quad Series | 3rd |
| 2014 Commonwealth Games | 4th |
| 2014 Taini Jamison Trophy Series | 2nd |
| 2016 European Netball Championship | |
| 2016 Netball Quad Series | 3rd |
| 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series | 4th |
| 2017 Netball Quad Series (January/February) | 3rd |
| 2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September) | 3rd |
| 2017 Taini Jamison Trophy Series | 2nd |
| 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series | |
| 2018 Netball Quad Series (January) | 2nd |
| 2018 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2018 Netball Quad Series (September) | 2nd |
Source:

## Honours
### England

* Commonwealth Games
** Winners: 2018: 1
* Fast5 Netball World Series
** Winners: 2017: 1
* European Netball Championship
** Winners: 2016: 1
* Netball Quad Series
** Runners up : 2018 (Jan), 2018 (Sep): 2

### Melbourne Vixens

* ANZ Championship
** Winners: 2009

### Northern Mystics

* ANZ Premiership
** Winners: 2021