Firebird No.120, the 29-year-old Taranaki native swept the club's end-of-season awards in her very first year, claiming four gongs including the 2026 Laura Geitz Medal as the Firebirds' Most Valuable Player.
Across 13 games in the Purple dress, the towering 192cm defender recorded 35 intercepts - third-best in the entire league - along with 55 deflections and 17 rebounds, quickly establishing herself as one of the competition's most disruptive defenders.
Jackson's brilliant domestic form translated seamlessly to the international stage, with the star defender travelling to Glasgow where she was a key member of the Silver Ferns' 2026 Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning team.
A highly decorated Silver Fern, Jackson brings a wealth of international experience and leadership to the Purple Family.
Since making her New Zealand debut in 2017, she has earned over 90 caps and is a key member of the Silver Ferns program.
Her honour roll includes three Dame Lois Muir Supreme Awards as New Zealand's best netballer and the 2022 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year title.
She spent five seasons with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic before joining the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in 2020, where she claimed two ANZ Premiership titles (2020, 2022) and the Katrina Rore MVP award three times (2021, 2022 and 2025).
Firebirds Head Coach Kiri Wills said securing Jackson's signature for another season was a huge result for the club.
“Kelly's impact in her first season with us was simply extraordinary,” Wills said.
“To sweep our end-of-season awards in your debut year and then go on to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal with the Silver Ferns tells you everything about the calibre of player and person we have in Kelly Jackson.
“She brings elite defensive skill, enormous international experience and genuine leadership to our environment every single day, and we couldn't be more excited to have her back in Purple for 2027.”
Jackson herself can’t wait to return to Queensland.
“I’m really excited to re-sign with the Firebirds in 2027,” she said.
“I loved my first season with the club, and I can’t wait to get back out there in the purple dress next year.”
Want to be part of the Purple Family in 2027? Register your interest to be the first to know when memberships launch: 2027 Queensland Firebirds Membership - Register Your Interest
