While the Matildas Abroad have been smashing it across the globe, it is almost time for the Australian-based players to return to the pitch!
Season 2021-22 will be Katrina Gorry’s 10th in orange, but her first as a mum. After playing the opening rounds of last season while in the early stages of pregnancy, Gorry has since given birth to her daughter, Harper.
The 78-time Commonwealth Bank Matilda is slowly working her way back to being match ready and is set to be as crucial as ever to Brisbane’s success.
With over 100 appearances in the A-League Women, the midfielder nicknamed 'Mini' will offer both experience and creativity as the Roar look to better their semi-final exit.
Melbourne City’s Emma Checker is back in blue for a third season. With over 100 appearances in the national competition across a decade, Checker is set to lead the group for the second season in a row.
After spending the early part of 2021 in Iceland with Selfoss, the central defender added to her Commonwealth Bank Matildas caps with game time against Germany and the Netherlands in April this year.
With eight caps to her name, Checker will look to put in another solid season in the A-League Women.
In 2021 Courtney Nevin has made her Commonwealth Bank Matildas debut, gone to an Olympics, and has swapped the red and black for navy blue in the A-League Women’s.
Linking up with Australian team mate Kyra Cooney-Cross at Melbourne Victory, the full-back has so far made five appearances for the Commonwealth Bank Matildas.
Nevin will look to help fill the hole by Victory captain and fellow national team player Angie Beard at club level.
In what will be her fourth A-League Women’s season, more games are only set to help this young full-back.
Last season’s grand final winner is back with the reigning champions and aiming for more silverware. In season 2021-22 Kyra Cooney-Cross was a young star, growing into the season, and proving to be integral to Melbourne Victory’s title.
She now returns a year older, but with 12 Commonwealth Bank Matildas caps to her name – all amassed this year – and Olympic experience under her belt. The talented midfielder has been deployed across the centre of the park for club and country, with a great passing range and plenty of creativity.
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Jada Whyman was a late call up to the Commonwealth Bank Matildas squad when Brazil came to town. But after a player of the match performance in the 2021 A-League Women’s grand final, it was obvious that if called upon, she would deliver.
The Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman has yet to make her senior debut for the national team but another strong season in the A-League Women’s will only add to her already compelling case.
The excellent shot stopper is set to make her 50th appearance in the top flight during round one.
Remy Siemsen and Bryleeh Henry became Commonwealth Bank Matildas 216 and 217 when they were both substituted into the game against Brazil last month.
While they are connected by making their joint debuts and both play up forward, that is where the similarities end. They will be on opposite sides of Sydney during the A-League Women’s season.
Siemsen is now in her fifth season with the Sky Blues and sixth season overall.
She was one third of Sydney’s sensational attacking trio last season, contributing seven goals to the team’s top of the table finish.
Henry, meanwhile, was at Western Sydney Wanderers in her first A-League Women’s season in 2021-22. She got off the mark with a double in the final rounds of the season and will look to add to her tally.
Jessika Nash made her debut against the USA in front of a record-breaking crowd in her hometown, becoming cap 218.
Nash will be in the centre of defence for Sydney FC this season, after making this switch from Canberra United after her debut season.
The young defender impressed last season in Canberra green, making 13 appearances.
Another youngster from Sydney FC that was included in our recent squad to face the USA was forward Charlize Rule.
While Rule still waits for her debut for the Commonwealth Bank Matildas, she is looking to get her first professional goal this year.
Rule has shown promising sides already at scoring her first goal, on the scoresheet in Sydney's 2-0 pre-season win over new side Wellington Phoneix.
For Brisbane Roar’s Jamilla Rankin, a standout season meant she was on the radar of the national team.
The Young Footballer of the Year nominee has been called into multiple Commonwealth Bank Matildas camps, acclimatising to the environment and learning plenty.
While she has yet to make her senior debut, another strong campaign with Brisbane won’t go astray.
Karly Roestbakken returns to Canberra United for the upcoming 2021/22 A-League Women season, re-signing with her hometown club.
The defender returns to Canberra United on a loan agreement from her team in Norway LSK Kvinner and will be available for her side in their opening round clash with Melbourne City tonight.