Former Training Partner Ashlee Unie was promoted to Lightning’s senior side ahead of season 2021. The defender made her debut for Lightning in 2020 as part of the extended squad allowed to compete as part of the Queensland hub. The Sunshine Coast local has impressed at Wing Defence and Goal Defence across her three seasons at the Club (taking a one year hiatus in 2018 to complete her Physiotherapy degree in Brisbane).

Unie possesses strong leadership qualities, captaining Lightning’s affiliated USC Thunder team in the Sapphire Series in the past two seasons, as well as being named Captain of Territory Storm in the Australian Netball League in 2019. In previous seasons, Unie has been elevated to the main squad both as injury cover in 2017 as well as part of an extended squad post the Netball World Cup in 2019.