For generations female athletes were an afterthought in Australia but now the women’s national soccer team is the most popular in the country
One Easter, this writer attended church in Melbourne to support a friend working there and expected the priest to open with a standard message that Christ had risen. Instead his opening gambit was encouraging his congregation to enter the parish’s upcoming Australian Football League prediction competition.
Popular Australian team sports, such as rugby league, Australian Football and soccer had female participants, but they remained at best, a curiosity, or at worst completely ignored. Sam Kerr of Australia poses with fans after winning the Cup of Nations match against Jamaica at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia.The Chelsea star is one of Australia's most popular sporting heroes. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The Perth native also graced the cover of EA Sport’s Fifa 2023 video game with Kylian Mbappe. At the Tokyo Olympics, 2.32 million Australian viewers watched the Olympic semi-final against Sweden. The Matildas are undoubtedly a beloved brand in Australian sport. Similarly, one of the country’s most famous cricketers, Ellyse Perry regularly represented the Matildas at the start of her career, supports the Sydney Swans in the AFL, and is a strong public advocate for female participation and support across all sports.Tayla Harris suffered derogatory and sexist abuse
Erin Philips, a two-time women’s NBA champion, had always dreamt of playing Australian Football like her father, a decorated player for Port Adelaide, but she had to stop the game at 14 due to a lack of opportunities, turning instead to basketball.
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