The A-League Women's 2022/23 season kicks off this week and is bigger and better than ever, featuring a host of CommBank Matildas players.
For every Australian player, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand looms large. With a 20-round season and more teams than ever before, both current and aspiring CommBank Matildas will have plenty to play for this season.
The action kicks off with a triple-header on Saturday at 3 pm. New kids on the block Western United will be looking to get their first points on the board against star-studded Melbourne Victory.
Western United’s Marquee signing Chloe Logarzo will be looking to impress her coach and new teammates in what is hopefully her first club minutes since injuring her knee back in September.
However, she will come up against a Victory midfield featuring Alex Chidiac and new signing Elise Kellond-Knight.
Brisbane Roar will play host to Newcastle Jets as they seek to build momentum for the season with an opening-round win. The Roar will be hoping that the likes of Jamilla Rankin and Larissa Crummer, their leading goalscorer last season, can help them with that aim. Katrina Gorry will be sitting out the early weeks of the season to rest after non-stop months of football, but will be cheering from the sidelines.
Canberra United will host the third game of the triple header, playing hosts to a Perth Glory team stacked with young talent. After finishing fifth last season, the Glory will be hoping to go one better this time around. Keep an eye on Young Matildas Sasha Grove for Canberra, and Hana Lowry for Perth – both are young superstars with a lot of talent.
It’s a historic occasion on Sunday as Wellington Phoenix have the opportunity to play in New Zealand for the first time. They will welcome Melbourne City across the ditch, another team stacked with young talent.
Holly McNamara remains on the sideline after her ACL injury back in January, but centre back and captain Emma Checker has been named in the squad. A number of Young Matildas also feature in their squad including Bryleeh Henry and the exciting 16-year-old Daniela Galic.
Speaking of teams stacked with talent, Sydney FC will be looking to bounce back from their grand final defeat last season, travelling to Adelaide in one of the biggest games of the round. Jada Whyman will hope to recreate the heroics of last season between the sticks, when she and her team broke the longest consecutive clean sheet record in the league.
Cortnee Vine will undoubtedly build on her explosive form from the past few international windows for her club. However, standing in their way is an impressive Adelaide United featuring last season’s outstanding front two of Fiona Worts and Chelsie Dawber, as well as the exceptional Dylan Holmes in midfield.
The Western Sydney Wanderers are the team with the bye in the first round of the season.
You can catch all of the action from the CommBank Matildas in the A-League Women's live and free on 10Play, or on Paramount+.