BBC to show Lightning v Dragons in NSL

Reigning champions Loughborough Lightning face struggling Cardiff Dragons in the Netball Super League on Saturday, and you can watch live on the BBC.

A surprise defeat by East Midlands neighbours and NSL newcomers Nottingham Forest last week has left Lightning with two wins from their opening four games.

Cardiff have yet to win in their three completed fixtures so far, the only team still to collect a league table point.

One match per round in the regular season is being broadcast on the BBC as part of a two-year deal with the NSL.

Matches are available to watch live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app, as well as on demand.

The season began on Friday, 14 March and ends with the Grand Final at London's O2 Arena on 6 July.

The 2025 campaign marks a relaunch for the league as it moves towards full professionalisation.

Eight teams make up the division - reduced from 10 last season - with the top four progressing to the semi-finals in June.

Forest and Birmingham Panthers are making their NSL debuts after Team Bath, Surrey Storm, Severn Stars and Strathclyde Sirens were left out of the revamped league.

New rules have also been introduced for 2025 to create closer competition and more thrilling matches, including the super shot - an opportunity to score two-point goals from a certain area of the shooting circle in the last five minutes of each quarter - and tactical timeouts.

Broadcast selections have been announced until round seven and the remaining seven rounds will be announced at a later date.

Sky Sports will broadcast three matches every week, meaning all four matches in each round will be available to watch live.

Netball Super League fixtures on the BBC

Round one - Sunday, 16 March

Watch again: London Pulse v Nottingham Forest

Read round-up: Pulse and Lightning win Super League openers

Round two - Saturday, 22 March

Watch again: Loughborough Lightning v London Pulse

Read round-up: Pulse upset champions Lightning for two wins from two

Round three - Friday, 28 March

Watch again: Manchester Thunder v Nottingham Forest

Read round-up: Thunder beat Forest for second straight win

Round four - Sunday, 6 April

Watch again: London Mavericks v Birmingham Panthers

Read round-up: Mavericks claim tense one-point win over Panthers

Round five - Saturday, 12 April

Loughborough Lightning v Cardiff Dragons (18:00 BST)

Round six - Friday, 18 April

London Pulse v Manchester Thunder (19:00 BST)

Round seven - Monday, 28 April

Manchester Thunder v London Mavericks (19:00 BST)