GRP2 - NSW Preview - Nationals 2026 Podcast
The GRP2 podcast is back for the 2026 Nationals!
WBIP founder Amy McCann is teaming up with fellow Emeralds alumni Amy Cannington to bring you all the nationals news via our "Girls Are Players Too" podcast series.
The series will count down to the 2026 Australian Women’s and Australian Youth Women’s Championships which will take over Melbourne Ballpark from April 12-18.
Absolutely. Here’s a NSW version in the same style, structure and rough length as the South Australia article:
New South Wales PREVIEW
Defending champion New South Wales heads into the 2026 Australian Women’s National Championships with a powerful core returning, alongside another exciting group of young talent.
On the latest Girls Are Players Too podcast, hosts Amy McCann and Amy Cannington were joined by NSW players Maddi Heath and Isobel Lambert to chat about the team, their journeys in the sport and what lies ahead at Melbourne Ballpark.
The 2026 squad features strong continuity, with 14 players returning from last year’s title-winning team. That includes stars such as Claire O’Sullivan, Ticara Geldenhuis, Mackenzie Jackson, Maddison Erwin, Lisa Nakashio, plus Lambert and Heath, giving NSW one of the most grounded line-ups at the event.
At the same time, the Blues have added more young talent to the mix. 2025 Golden Glove winner Ivy White, Emily Ninnes and Tamryn Love come straight out of the youth competition, while former Youth Award winner Olivia Bonello also joins the squad.
Heath said the side’s depth and balance across age groups is one of its biggest strengths.
“It’s really good to have those younger players coming in. They’re good enough to do the job, and they’re only going to keep getting better. Their future is really bright. They can come into the game at any point and do their job. That’s what’s exciting about this group.”
Four players are out, most notably Emerald Maddie McGuire, who was one of the standout players of the 2025 tournament and played a major role in NSW’s championship win with the bat and on the mound.
Her absence leaves a significant hole, both on the field and within the team dynamic.
“There’s no one that can replace Maddie,” Heath said. “She’s just such a presence. You can’t take someone and say, ‘you’re the new Maddie’. It doesn’t work like that.”
Lambert, who made her women’s Nationals debut at just 15, said the NSW environment had helped fast-track her development and showed what was possible for younger players coming through.
“My first Nationals in 2022 was my first real introduction to women’s baseball,” Lambert said. “I’d mostly come through boys baseball, so to suddenly be around players like Laura Neads, Jordie Richardson and Claire O’Sullivan, it was pretty special. You learn so much just being in that environment.”
She also believes that exposure to high-pressure environments early has shaped the way she now approaches the game.
“Playing in big moments when you’re younger helps a lot. You learn to stay calm and treat it like any other game.”
NSW will also head into the tournament under new leadership, with Laura Neads taking over as head coach and becoming the first woman to lead the NSW women’s team in its history.
Both players highlighted her impact.
“She knows the game inside and out,” Heath said. “She’s done it all, and you learn something every time you’re around her.” Lambert added: “She’s been around the program for so long and knows the women’s game so well. It’s great to have her leading us.”
The challenge for NSW will be backing up in a year where the competition looks even stronger, with Victoria and Western Australia both shaping as major threats.
But within the group, there is a clear understanding of what it takes.
“It’s championship baseball,” Heath said. “It’s about making the right moves at the right time and trusting everyone to do their role.”
If NSW have shown us anything over their 25 year history, it is that they know how to handle pressure and rise in the big moments and they’ll be looking to do it again in Melbourne.
GIRLS ARE PLAYERS TOO RANGE
The podcast series shares its name with the special “Girls Are Players Too” WBIP fundraising initiative, which aims to raise money for the 2025 Championships campaign.
The shirts are available in all state team colours, with $5 from each shirt and $10 from each hoodie sale going directly to the state teams.
Where you get your podcasts
Tune in via https://womensbaseballinsidepitch.podbean.com/ or Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more!
