The Matildas took the country by storm last year with an all-star team that clinched a historic fourth place win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. If you’ve missed the Matildas mania from last year, fear not because we’ll be seeing the girls on the pitch very shortly as qualifying matches for the Paris 2024 Olympics kick off. You most likely already know who Sam Kerr and Cortnee Vine are, but here are all the other Matildas players bidding for a spot in Paris that you need to know about.
Lydia Williams
Lydia Williams is the longest-serving player on the Matildas team. Since starting back in 2005, the goalkeeper has been a mainstay on the field and stood alongside her teammates through the 2015 equal pay strike and other adversities. She recently announced her retirement from the sport, officially hanging up her Goalie gloves.
Sam Kerr
Sam Kerr captained the Matildas team to their historic fourth place win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. She also plays as a forward for the UK-based Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League. Whilst she’s easily one of the most recognisable players on the team, due to rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), she won’t be playing in the Paris 2024 Olympic team.
Mackenzie Arnold
Mackenzie Arnold is the star goalkeeper who impressively saved a number of shots throughout the World Cup. When she’s not playing with the Matildas, Mackenzie is also a Goalie for the English West Ham team.
Ellie Carpenter
Ellie Carpenter is a defender with the Matildas as well as the French city of Lyon’s sporting club. She was the youngest-ever female soccer player to compete at the Olympics when she debuted alongside the Australian national team at just 15 years old.
Steph Catley
Steph Catley is also a defender for the Matildas as well as for the UK-based Arsenal team. She’s played for a number of soccer clubs across Australia and around the world and has previously represented us in the Olympics.
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Kyra Cooney-Cross is a rising talent in the soccer world. She made her World Cup debut alongside the Matildas last year and is in the running to make her Olympics debut for Paris 2024.
Caitlin Foord
Caitlin Foord plays the position of forward for the Matildas as well as in the FA Women’s Super League club Arsenal. She was the youngest Australian to play in a World Cup when she made her debut at just 16 years old for the 2011 competition.
Mary Fowler
At just 21 years old, Mary Fowler is another rising star in the Matildas. She proved herself to be a crucial member of the team during the World Cup in 2023 by scoring a number of impressive goals.
Katrina Gorry
Katrina Gorry is a midfielder with the Matildas. She previously played in the A-League for Brisbane Roar but has since moved to the UK to play for West Ham alongside Matildas teammate Mackenzie Arnold.
Cortnee Vine
Cortnee Vine became another breakout star in the Matildas following the World Cup. With an impressive kick, Cortnee scored a number of crucial goals throughout the tournament. She currently plays for Sydney FC in the A-League.
Charlotte Grant
Charlotte Grant plays as a defender for the Matildas as well as Tottenham in the UK. Previously, she played for Vittsjö GIK in the Damallsvenskan which is the Swedish women’s league.
Michelle Heyman
Michelle Heyman has been a prominent figure in the Australian soccer world and has played with the Matildas for a number of years scoring 20 goals during her time on the team. She has recently stood in for Sam Kerr while she continues to recover from her ACL injury.
Clare Hunt
25-year-old Clare Hunt plays as a defender for the Matildas. She previously also played the same position for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League but has since moved on to play for Paris Saint-Germain in France.
Alanna Kennedy
Alanna Kennedy is quite the all-rounder. Though she primarily plays defence, she also excels on the field being a midfielder and a fullback. She played with the Matildas in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has also represented the country at two Olympics.
Aivi Luik
Aivi Luik is another Matildas veteran. The defender represented Australia in over 30 different tournaments, competitions and Olympic games. When she’s not with the Matildas, Aivi is a midfielder for Swedish club BK Häcken FF.
Teagan Micah
Teagan Micah is a goalkeeper for the Matildas who is known for impressive shot-stopping abilities. She is also a goalkeeper for Liverpool in the English Women’s Super League.
Courtney Nevin
Courtney Nevin has become a regular face in the Matildas team. The defender made her debut back in 2021 at just 19 and has since played as a full back for English Women’s Super League club Leicester City.
Clare Polkinghorne
Clare Polkinghorne is a stalwart player with the Matildas, playing with the team for a number of years and even captaining them on a number of occasions.
She plays as a central defender in the Matildas as well for the Swedish Damallsvenskan club Kristianstads DFF.
Hayley Raso
Hayley Raso is a winger for the Matildas as well as Real Madrid’s women’s squad. She became well-known after she scored a number of pivotal goals throughout the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Amy Sayer
Midfielder Amy Sayer is a contender for Australia’s Paris 2024 team. The 22-year-old currently plays as a midfielder for Kristianstads DFF in the Damallsvenskan alongside Clare Polkinghorne.
Kaitlyn Torpey
Kaitlyn Torpey primarily plays as a defender and is set to potentially join the Matildas in Paris later this year. She played for Melbourne FC in the A-League but was poached by a San Diego team for a sum of $75,000 – which is a record for the women’s league.
Emily van Egmond
Emily van Egmond is a midfielder with both the Matildas and San Diego Wave. She’s previously played with the Matildas in a string of international tournaments including the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Clare Wheeler
Clare Wheeler is another player gunning for a spot on the Paris 2024 Olympics team. She made her debut in 2015 with the Young Matildas before debuting in 2021 with the senior team.
Jada Whyman
Goalkeeper Jada Whyman is also hoping to join the Matildas in Paris. The 24-year-old also plays as a goalkeeper for Sydney FC alongside Cortnee Vine after spending the last 12 months being sidelined by a shoulder and knee injury.
Tameka Yallop
Tameka Yallop is a midfielder with the Matildas as well as for Brisbane Roar in the A-League. She’s also represented Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Olympics, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the Algarve Cup.
