Lois Pearson says she is ready to embrace a “dream” moment when she makes her Commonwealth Games debut for England this summer. The Bury attacker hopes her domestic success can translate onto the international stage after a standout season with AO Manchester Thunder, who won the Netball Super League title for a fifth time.
Pearson’s Path to the Commonwealth Games
Pearson’s performances were central to Thunder’s success and earned her a place in England’s 12-player squad for the Glasgow 2026 Games. She is joined by three other Thunder teammates: Eleanor Cardwell, Amy Carter, and Nat Metcalf. Pearson expressed confidence heading into the tournament, noting the existing connections with her clubmates. “It's nice that I'm with a few players I've played with at Thunder as well, so we already have those connections. That helps coming into this environment when we've only got a few weeks together,” she said.
Pearson has enjoyed a whirlwind two years since making her England debut in August 2024. The 26-year-old attacker, who can play both goal attack and wing attack, has become an invaluable part of the Roses set-up and will play a key role in any success this summer. “It's been a dream since I was younger, so I'm very excited. I'm a bit nervous, and I'm sure I'll be more nervous once we're inside the environment, but they're good nerves,” she added.
Reflecting on the Journey
Pearson acknowledged the surreal nature of her rise, recalling watching England win gold in 2018. “I don't think younger me would quite believe it, and that's pretty cool. It's probably only been in the last few years that it has felt like a realistic dream and something that has become more of a goal that I'm actively working towards. If I look back a few years ago, all of this feels a bit surreal now. I remember watching England when they won gold [in 2018], and seeing that looked really special. That feels like a very long time ago now. To be in those shoes and have the opportunity to be part of something similar is really exciting,” she said.
National Lottery Support
The National Lottery has invested more than £9 billion into sport across the UK from grassroots to elite level, via 143,155 grants. National Lottery funding is the single largest source of investment underpinning the preparations of the home nation teams for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, enabling training camps, essential equipment, and performance services. Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33 million is raised every week for good causes, supporting sport, arts, heritage, and community projects.
Debutants and Team Dynamics
Pearson is one of nine Commonwealth debutants in the squad, with only Cardwell, Metcalf, and former Thunder teammate Imogen Allison boasting previous Games experience. Pearson sees this as a positive, saying, “A lot of us are in the same position because it's our first Commonwealth Games, so that helps as well. We've had similar experiences and now we get to experience this together. We've been able to lean on the players who have been there before. They've told us a lot about what to expect, which has been really nice.”
