Donnell Wallam will return to Australia's elite domestic netball competition next year after signing with Sunshine Coast Lightning for the 2026 Super Netball season.
The Diamonds shooter played the 2025 season in Aotearoa with ANZ Premiership side Northern Mystics, helping clear the club to another grand final appearance.
Wallam departed the Queensland Firebirds at the end of the 2024 season after three years in Brisbane before opting for a move across the Tasman.
At the Lightning, she'll join national side goaler Cara Koenen in the squad alongside rising competition star and Wakka Wakka midcouter Leesa Mi Mi.
Mi Mi re-signed with the Lightning for 2026 last week.
Koenen is a confirmed squad member for next year - sharing the club's 2025 player of year honours with former Diamonds vice skipper and shooting circle pairing Steph Fretwell, who as of Tuesday is yet to be locked in on the Sunshine Coast.
"Donnell has had an outstanding season with the Mystics in New Zealand. She's an exciting player to watch, and her strength and accuracy are unmatched," Sunshine Coast Lightning coach Belinda Reynolds said.
"I am thrilled to welcome Donnell to the Lightning environment and I look forward to her joining the group and getting settled in on the Sunshine Coast.
"I know Lightning's Members and fans are going to get around Donnell and I can't wait to see what she can achieve with this group next season."
WELCOME, DONNELL 🤝⚡
Shooting superstar, Donnell Wallam has signed with Sunshine Coast Lightning for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season.
ðŸ"°: https://t.co/qsh9j0rc7I pic.twitter.com/a3YTIghrpZ
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) August 12, 2025
Speculations that Wallam could be on the move back to Australia for 2026 picked up when the Mystics posted to their social media at the weekend fair-welling a trio of players, including the Noongar goal shooter.
In the club video Wallam broke out in emotion during a haka performed by clubmates.
The Lightning have made some shooting space in their squad with Reilley Batcheldor moving to Melbourne Mavericks during the current signing period.
"I'm really excited to return to SSN next season, I feel like I still have more to give and more to learn from the league," she said.
"Lightning have a good mix of experience and youth and I'm looking forward to seeing how I fit into the team. I'm also loving the idea of living so close to the beach again!
"I play with a lot of passion and flare, and I'm excited to showcase that on the SSN stage again and in front of Lightning's passionate home crowd at UniSC Arena."
Last month, Donnell Wallam missed out on the Diamonds core squad for 2025-26, though was included as an invitee.
Her move back to Australia will strengthen her chances at adding to six Tests played in the national strip.
Wallam became the third Indigenous Diamond in the side's history when she scored a final-moment winner in a fairytale debut against England in 2022.
