# Liz Watson (netball)

Elizabeth Watson (born 30 March 1994), commonly known as Liz Watson, is an Australia netball international. Watson was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth games, and at the 2023 Netball World Cup. She also won silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2019 Netball World Cup. In 2018 and 2022 she received the Liz Ellis Diamond award. She captained Australia during the 2021 Constellation Cup. Since 2014, Watson has played for Melbourne Vixens, initially in the ANZ Championship and later in Suncorp Super Netball. She was a member of the Vixens' teams that won premierships in 2014 and 2020. Watson moved to the Sunshine Coast Lightning for the 2023 season.

## Early life, family and education

Watson is originally from Melbourne. She was born in Carlton and raised in Pascoe Vale South. She is the daughter of Manuela and Neil Watson. Her mother's family are Italian. Her two uncles, Anthony and Steven Alessio, and her older brother, Matthew Watson, are all former Australian rules footballers. She attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School and La Trobe University, studying health science at the latter. As of 2022, Watson is currently studying for a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Deakin University.

## Playing career
### Netball Victoria

Watson began playing netball seriously from the age of 12. Her mother was a netball player and Watson credits her for teaching her how to play. She subsequently went on to represent Victoria at under-12, under-15, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2012 she was a member of the Victoria under-19 team that won the Australian National Netball Championships. In 2013 she was a member of the Victoria under-21 team that were runners-up.

### City West Falcons

In 2013, Watson played for City West Falcons in the Victorian Netball League, where she was coached by Nicole Richardson. She helped Falcons win the 2013 VNL title and was named Player of the Grand Final.

### Victorian Flames

In 2013, Watson also captained Victorian Flames in the Australian Netball League. She was the Flames MVP for the season, helping them finish third in the ANL.

### Melbourne Vixens

Between 2014 and 2023, Watson had played for Melbourne Vixens, initially in the ANZ Championship and later in Suncorp Super Netball. She was called up for the Vixens team after Elissa Kent had to dropout due to pregnancy. Watson was a member of the Vixens' teams that won the 2014 ANZ Championship and was subsequently named Vixens' Rookie of the Year. In 2017, Watson was a member of the Vixens team that finished the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball regular season as minor premiers. She was also named the 2017 Young Star. Between 2017 and 2020, Watson was named as the wing attack in the Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year on four successive occasions. In 2017 and 2018 she was also named the Vixens' MVP, winning the Sharelle McMahon Medal. In 2020, Watson, alongside Kate Moloney, co-captained Vixens when they finished the season as both minor premiers and overall champions. Watson missed the 2021 season due to a long-standing foot injury that needed surgery. She successfully returned to play following her injury in the 2022 season.

### Sunshine Coast Lightning

Following the 2023 season, Watson confirmed her exit from the Melbourne Vixens, having signed a three-year deal with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. She debuted for her new club in round one of the 2024 season.

### Australia

Watson made her senior debut for Australia on 20 January 2016 during an away series against England. Watson was a member of the Australia teams that won the silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2019 Netball World Cup. In 2018 she was awarded the Liz Ellis Diamond award and was named Australian International Player of the Year. Watson captained Australia during the 2021 Constellation Cup. In September 2021 she was confirmed as Australia's captain. Watson was a member of the Australian teams that won gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and at the 2023 Netball World Cup.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 2016 Netball Quad Series | |
| 2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September) | |
| 2018 Netball Quad Series (January) | |
| 2018 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2018 Netball Quad Series (September) | |
| 2019 Netball Quad Series | |
| 2019 Netball World Cup | |
| 2019 Constellation Cup | |
| 2021 Constellation Cup | |
| 2022 Netball Quad Series | |
| 2022 Commonwealth Games | |
| 2023 Netball Quad Series | |
| 2023 Netball World Cup | |
| 2023 Constellation Cup | 1st |
| 2024 Netball Nations Cup | 1st |
| 2024 Australia England netball series | 1st |
| 2024 Constellation Cup | 2nd |

## Honours
### Australia

* Netball World Cup
** Winners: 2023
** Runners up: 2019
* Commonwealth Games
** Winners: 2022
** Runners Up: 2018
* Constellation Cup
** Winners: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
** Runners Up: 2021, 2024
* Netball Quad Series
** Winners: 2016, 2018 (September), 2018 (January), 2019, 2022, 2023
** Runners Up: 2017 (August/September)

### Melbourne Vixens

* Suncorp Super Netball
** Winners: 2020
** Minor Premierships: 2017, 2020
* ANZ Championship
** Winners: 2014
** Minor Premierships: 2014

### City West Falcons

* Victorian Netball League
** Winners: 2013

### Victoria

* Australian National Netball Championships
** Winners: Under-19 (2012)
** Runners-up: Under-21 (2013)

### Individual Awards

| Year | Award |
| 2013 | Victorian Flames Most Valuable Player |
| 2014 | Vixens' Rookie of the Year |
| 2017 | Sharelle McMahon Medal |
| 2017 | Suncorp Super Netball Young Star Award |
| 2017 | Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year |
| 2018 | Sharelle McMahon Medal |
| 2018 | Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year |
| 2018 | Liz Ellis Diamond |
| 2018 | Australian International Player of the Year |
| 2019 | Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year |
| 2020 | Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year |
| 2022 | Liz Ellis Diamond |
| 2022 | Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year |
| 2022 | Australian International Player of the Year |
Sources: