We are focused on the process and not results – Shadine van der Merwe

By Liam Maconi
22nd April 2026

SPAR Proteas and Loughborough Lightning player, Shadine van der Merwe says although the team is yet to lose this season they are focused on the process and not results.

Loughborough Lightning occupy pole position on the Netball Super League standings with eight wins from eight games and have collected 24 points.

Speaking exclusively to SABC Sport, van der Merwe says the second round of the season is much tougher. However, the team’s mantra this season has always been to take each game as it comes.

“Yeah, I think obviously it’s going really well with us, the fact that we are eight from eight and last weekend we just passed halfway.

“It’s always a bit more difficult because teams would know more of what you come with in the second round,” said van der Merwe

“I think for us at Loughborough Lightning, we are a very solid team and we have a lot of experience, and I think our mindset for this year is to take each game and each week as it comes and really focus on the process, because we still feel like, after a win, there’s always room for improvement which is good because we don’t want to come to a stage where we are stagnant.”

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Speaking on what that process entails van der Merwe said that the vision for the team at the beginning of the season was to lift the trophy in the end and in order for that to be realised the team has adopted a different dynamic in terms of doing a lot of off-court activities in order to build a stronger team culture.

She also credits the intensity of the training sessions which has intensified this season, which as a result pushes the players to give their best performances.

Loughborough Lightning will take on LexisNexis Dragons next on Sunday 26 April at Utilita Arena.