Team Bath defender Daisy Harrison named NXT Gen League Player of the Year as scholar Jayda Pechova sweeps Super League honours
Team Bath Netball star defender Daisy Harrison says she is “grateful and honoured” after being named as the NXT Gen League Player of the Year for 2026.
University of Bath sporting scholar Jayda Pechova also swept the board in the Netball Super League awards, winning the Players’ Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year accolades.
Harrison, who plays goal keeper, was voted by the NXT Gen clubs as that competition’s standout star after a stellar campaign in which she featured prominently in the rankings for interceptions, deflections and gains.
She was presented with her award in the Fan Zone during Saturday’s Netball Super League Grand Final at Manchester’s Co-op Live, which saw AO Manchester Thunder narrowly defeat a London Pulse side featuring Bill Whiteley Scholar and Management student Sophie Kelly.
“I am incredibly grateful and honoured to be recognised for this award, it’s such a nice way to end an incredible season,” said Harrison, who has excelled since returning from a long-term ACL injury in April 2025.
“I am happy with how my confidence developed throughout the season, that definitely played a huge role in my performance. My ability to adapt my game to each shooter I come up against has really improved too.
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“The support I’ve received from my team-mates and coaches has been invaluable. The environment we have created has been incredible and makes me want to put my best foot forward in every training session and match.
“My team-mates constantly push me in training to be better and my coaches have provided valuable guidance and feedback, I have learned so much from them this season. I challenged myself to keep improving each week, and I am proud of how I took on feedback from my coaches and made an impact when I was on court.”
Harrison, who had previously been named as U19 NPL Player of the Year in 2023, is a graduate of the Team Bath Athlete Development Centre in Exeter and has represented the Blue & Gold across all age groups.
A Sports Science student at the University of Exeter, Harrison is looking forward to continuing her netball education with the Blue & Gold during the 2027 campaign.
“I’m really excited to see what we can do next season,” she said. “As a player, I want to continue building my consistency and ability to make an impact in crucial moments of the game. As a team, I think we can continue to build on connections and the culture we have created, as well as the ability to put out consistent 60-minute performances.”
Former Team Bath defender Pechova has also excelled defensively during 2026, her 88 gains and 75 deflections helping Nottingham Forest achieve a top-four finish in only their second Super League season.
Pechova is graduating this summer from her Sports Performance undergraduate degree course at the University of Bath, where she has been supported in her dual careers by a Trendell Sports Scholarship.
“I definitely didn’t expect it,” said Pechova after receiving her three awards. “Especially the Players’ Player award – that one probably means the most because it’s voted for by the people you’re playing against. To have that recognition from them really means a lot.”
Find out more about how Team Bath Netball develops young talent from across the South West of England by visiting netball.teambath.com/player-pathway.
Picture credit: Morgan Harlow
