In what has now been dubbed ‘the Matildas effect’ women and girls' sports across Australia have seen an increase in players following the Women’s World Cup and it’s a responsibility Mackenzie doesn’t take lightly.
“[We’re bringing] awareness of women’s sport,” she explains, "[we’re showing] there is a pathway to professional football.”
“There hasn’t always been a clear pathway but there has been so much work being done behind the scenes, from grassroots to professional level, and the visibility of these opportunities is so impactful.”
Mackenzie’s rapid ascent into the public eye and the inspiration it offers future generations is a responsibility she does not take lightly and the significance of the spotlight on female athletes is not lost on her.
"Growing up, I never tended to look at anyone as a role model or inspiration,” she explains. “As far as women in sport go, it was never really on show for me to take inspiration from, especially in football. But now, seeing different women excel in their own area is always so special to see.
“If there’s anything I could tell young aspiring female soccer players, as cliché as it is, it would be to never give up. I think looking back on my career, there are so many times where I asked myself if this was worth it or if it’s what I wanted to keep doing just because times got tough. Looking back now, everything that happened, good or bad, led me to this place and I feel like those challenges made me the player I am today.”
With the growing visibility and popularity of women's football, Mackenzie eagerly anticipates the future of soccer, envisioning how the sport will evolve in the years ahead, both on club and international stages.
“There’ll be more options for girls to participate, more Clubs to play at, more coverage, more investment into the game,” she enthuses. “New paths will continue to open for Club and International levels because of the opportunities that participation will create.”
“You only have to look back 10 or so years ago to see the growth the sport has had. It’s such an exciting time for women in sport, paths have been forged so that the future generation can embrace these opportunities.”
Mackenzie’s own soccer career was complicated by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a condition that affects her ability to hear certain frequencies and sounds.
Amidst the pandemic, her worsening hearing loss led the athlete to obtain her first pair of hearing aids. Whilst initially hesitant about the change, Mackenzie, Audika’s new ambassador, has embraced a new perspective on life.
“The biggest change I’ve noticed since doing something about my hearing loss is being more comfortable in social settings, such as team meals or restaurants with louder environments,” she shares with WHO.
“I used to find myself a little withdrawn from conversations where the background noise was quite loud as I couldn’t keep up with what was being said but now, I’ve found I’m able to cope with that a little bit better.”
The change to her on-field game hasn’t been too dramatic though, with the goalkeeper admitting her hearing loss didn’t affect her approach to football.
While her on-field game hasn't undergone significant changes, Mackenzie says her hearing loss occasionally affects her communication with coaches and teammates, particularly in loud environments or when they're far away.
“As a goalkeeper, I don’t have to worry too much about hearing people as it’s usually me doing most of the talking,” she admits. “But sometimes I’ve had difficulties hearing my coach from the sidelines or sometimes my teammates from far away, especially when the crowd is louder.”