In 1999, a handful of teams hit the court of Awabakal Country to set the foundations of what would grow into one of the state's biggest annual netball gatherings.

The Koori Netball Tournament returns to the Charlestown Netball Association this weekend, with well over 100 teams competing across juniors, mixed and senior draws in its 26th year.

More than 5,000 people are expected to come from all corners of the state to take part in the two days, with more than 1,500 games are scheduled.

Kahlia Saunders has played every KNT for the best part of two decades.

The Gunditjmara and Boandik woman moved to Newcastle from Melbourne close to 20 years ago.

Her pedigree in the sport includes representative netball, in both NSW and Victoria, state league competition and around national side setups.

Ms Saunders, 40, says "this is the one and only thing that ever pulls me out of retirement".

She'll captain her group again in 2025, an unofficial honour she takes pride in, after claiming the B grade grand final last year.

Di Di's are a memorial family team Ms Saunders holds a close connection to.

For her, the Koori Netball Tournament is on par with the Koori Knockout - often called one of Australia's largest annual sporting carnivals and the biggest gathering of Indigenous people in the country.

"You can be sore and you're tired and you're beat up, but you're still having a laugh," Ms Saunders told National Indigenous Times.

"I've been playing for such a long time that more often than not, before I start playing you're giving the (opposition) girls a kiss and a cuddle.

"There's that friendly banter and that connection that we have with mob.

"They call the Koori footy Knockout, a giant corroboree. I genuinely feel that this netball tournament is the same. It has that same feeling for us netball fanatics."

Dianne Pascoe has been along for the tournament's entire journey.

A non-Indigenous woman, Ms Pascoe stepped away from her 35-year tenure as Charlestown Netball Association president earlier this year, "but still kept some of the little bits that I love, and the thing that I love most of all is the Koori Netball Tournament", she said.

"We started off with nine teams. And we've got 125 teams playing this weekend."

Over the journey, Ms Pascoe has seen it grown from it's humble beginnings to between eight and 29 teams in each age group from age ten to opens mixed and women's.

Koori gala days run around the state each season, though the largest tournament returns to Charlestown every year.

"You cannot get accommodation," Ms Pascoe, who remains organiser, said when the carnival comes around year, and the 28 courts at the site "choc-a-block" all weekend.

For her, she said, the sense of community and pride and positive play is hard to put into words.

Netball NSW General Manager of Communities Trish Crews said annual engagement at KNT is second only to State Titles, and is growing with each year.

Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west alone will bring nine teams to Charlestown.

"It's about celebrating culture, creating opportunity, and building connections that last long after the final whistle. Every time we see communities come together for this event, it's a reminder of the power of sport to unite and inspire," Ms Crews said.

Koori gala days and the Koori Netball Tournament also allow for invitations to players to attend a Netball NSW First Nations camp.

Ms Crews said the idea behind the camp is, in addition to high-level training and skill building, is cultural celebration, education and awareness.

"Our hope is it will keep those kids engaged in the game and prepare them for their local association, representative teams and trials," she said, "ultimate goal is, really, to bring home that joy of netball".

Up from 40, including both boys and girls, 120 netballers are expected to attend the next camp.

In August, the state under 23 Indigenous team, the NSW Waradas, took home the gold menal at Netball Australia's First Nations Tournament.

The side have been nominated for online platform and popular podcast Female Athlete Project's Team of the Year category in their 2025 public-voted awards.

Local State MP and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said the Koori Netball Tournament "is a highlight for our local area each year" and "shows how sport can really unite".

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper added the carnival "is a great example of how sport can enhance reconciliation by bringing people together in a healthy, positive environment".

The tournament is set for this weekend, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October.