Westfield Matildas defender and Brisbane Roar Westfield W-League captain Clare Polkinghorne can hardly contain her excitement ahead of a second stint in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Polkinghorne last week confirmed she would play out the remainder of the NWSL season in the United States with Houston Dash, alongside fellow Westfield Matilda Kyah Simon.
The Brisbane skipper is now the seventh player from the Roar’s Westfield W-League premiership-winning squad to have signed overseas during the cooler months.
“I’m really excited. Obviously there are quite a few Australians playing over there at the moment, and to be able to play in some high-quality games during this period is exciting. I’m just really looking forward to being over there and starting with the team,” Polkinghorne told brisbaneroar.com.au.
Polkinghorne last played in the NWSL back in 2015 with the Portland Thorns and says she can’t wait to take the field again in what’s regarded as one of the world’s best women’s football leagues.
“There aren’t many other leagues that have the standard and the international interest that the NWSL has. I experienced it a few years back with Portland and I’m excited to get back into the league,” Polkinghorne continued.
“They [Houston] have good support – Portland is still probably the benchmark for support – but the Dash definitely have a strong following.”
Don’t fear Roar fans, our games record holder is set to return to Brisbane in time to league the charge in Westfield W-League Season 11.
“We hit some new levels as a group last season and we’re looking to build on that again – we didn’t achieve everything we wanted to and we have some unfinished business.”
Roar Women abroad
- It was a long time coming but exciting attacker Hayley Raso finally made her first appearance of the NWSL season for the Portland Thorns, following a lengthy injury layoff. Raso played the final 14 minutes of the Thorns’ 1-1 draw against the Chicago Red Stars – the fourth stalemate of the campaign for the defending champions who sit in fifth.
- The Red Stars are the next challenge for Katrina Gorry’s Utah Royals who jumped the Thorns into fourth spot with a stoppage-time winner against North Carolina. Gorry featured in the Royals Starting XI yet again in the newest franchise’s fourth win of their maiden campaign.
- In Norway, Mackenzie Arnold’s Arna-Bjørnar fell 1-0 to Avaldsnes with a second-half penalty proving to be decisive.
- Also in the Norwegian Toppserien, Tameka Butt started for the seventh time for Klepp IL who were outmatched by table toppers Lillestrøm, falling to a 2-0 defeat.