Netball's Uniform Problem Shows Bigger Issues for Women in Sports

By Kate O'Halloran

Topic: Sport

Thursday, 6 August 2026, at 9:19 am

Thursday, 6 August 2026, at 10:41 am

The Australian netball team had uniform issues during the Commonwealth Games.

The team's campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games may be remembered for the wrong reasons, including a surprise loss to Jamaica and uniform problems.

After a big win over Tonga, the focus was on the players' ill-fitting dresses, not the game.

Some players said the dresses were fine, but others noted that adjusting them during games was a distraction.

Poor-fitting uniforms are not just a performance issue for top women athletes.

Research shows that many young girls quit sports because of body image concerns, and uniforms can be a part of this problem.

These issues are not limited to young people or local sports.

A recent survey of top Australian women athletes found that 25% have negative body image and 44% have had eating disorders.

This is much higher than the general population, where 17% of people have eating disorders.

Netballer Teigan O'Shannassy wants women and girls to feel comfortable in their bodies while playing sports.

O'Shannassy has struggled with eating disorders and disordered eating throughout her career.

She thinks that talking more about these issues is key to helping women athletes.

Dresses were also an issue during the Super Netball season.

O'Shannassy had problems with her team's dress and saw teammates adjusting them during games.

She said that when you're playing in front of thousands, you want to focus on the game, not your dress.

O'Shannassy has played for several teams, including the Canberra Giants and the Sydney Swifts.

At 27, she has been open about her struggles with anorexia nervosa and how it affected her career.

If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available.

O'Shannassy was once told to stay behind and work on her health instead of playing.

She was grateful for this decision, which helped her get the support she needed.

She had to re-evaluate her priorities and focus on her health.

O'Shannassy decided to leave her team and focus on her well-being.

She has since become an advocate for women's health and body positivity in sports.

She said that something needed to change, and she's working to make that happen.

O'Shannassy felt stuck in a cycle of injuries and under-fueling, which affected her performance.

Talking about these issues can help, she says.

Given her experience, O'Shannassy was not surprised by the results of a recent survey on women athletes.

She thought she was the only one struggling, but talking about it has helped her realize she's not alone.

O'Shannassy now teaches other women about nutrition and health.

She's passionate about building a community that supports athletes' unique challenges.

In team sports like netball, there's pressure to conform to certain body types.

O'Shannassy remembers being compared to other players and feeling like she didn't measure up.

She was told to lift a certain amount of weight and look a certain way, which affected her self-esteem.

O'Shannassy wanted to be like other netballers who were strong and athletic.

But she felt like she didn't fit the mold, and that affected her confidence.

O'Shannassy started playing netball in her late teens and has since become an advocate for body positivity.

The requirement for body composition testing also contributed to unhealthy comparisons.

O'Shannassy remembers hearing about other players' body fat percentages and feeling anxious.

Social media can expose athletes to further body scrutiny.

Danni Rowlands, a former netballer, shares a similar story to O'Shannassy.

Rowlands was diagnosed with an eating disorder at 21 and remembers how skin fold testing affected her body image.

She was told to reduce her body fat to make the state team, which led to a stress fracture from under-nourishment and over-training.

Rowlands now works to shift sporting cultures and promote positive body image.

She heads the BodyKindSports initiative, which supports athletes in their early careers.

The goal is to protect athletes from the pressures of sport and help them thrive.

Rowlands is concerned about the impact of social media on contemporary women athletes.

She thinks that the constant scrutiny and criticism can add to the pressure and make it harder for athletes to cope.

When athletes have issues with their uniforms, it can generate further unwanted attention on their bodies.

Rowlands notes that women's bodies are often exposed more than men's in sports, which can be problematic.

She asks why this is the case and whether it's really necessary for performance.

Studies show that many girls drop out of sports during their teenage years, and uniforms can be a contributing factor.

O'Shannassy admits that being in the spotlight and constantly photographed can be daunting for those with body image issues.

As an athlete, the highs are high, but the lows can be very low, and it's not always easy to cope.

Athletes are not immune to body image issues, and it's essential to talk about it.

Moving forward, both O'Shannassy and Rowlands share messages of support for women in sports.

Rowlands encourages athletes to seek help if they're struggling and to be kind to themselves.

O'Shannassy hopes that sharing her story will inspire others who may be experiencing similar struggles.

She says that acknowledging the challenges and talking about them can help.

It's essential to find what motivates you to keep going, whether it's your sport or something else.

For O'Shannassy, it was always netball, and she knew she had to take care of herself to pursue her passion.

She realized that if she didn't eat or fuel herself properly, she wouldn't be able to play the sport she loves.

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