Following the outstanding performance of the Matildas at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australians have felt both inspired and energised by the unifying success of Australia’s Women’s National Football Team.
As the team continued to find the back of the net throughout their World Cup campaign, so too did they find themselves in the hearts of many fans with a newfound love for Australian sport.
WATCH: Matildas Sam Kerr Scores Goal at FIFA Women’s World Cup. Article continues after video.
With the Matildas now on a break until their 2024 Olympic Games Qualifiers this October, many fans are now beginning to feel the void of an evening without their beloved Tillies on the field.
Fortunately, Australia is well represented by many talented and trailblazing women across a number of sporting disciplines. As we continue to support women in sport, here are seven trailblazing Australian women’s teams to rally behind in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic Games.
Wallaroos – Rugby Union
The Wallaroos have competed in the Women’s Rugby World Cup for 25 years, with the squad achieving a bronze medal at the 2010 World Cup tournament.
The Australian Women’s National Rugby Union Team consists of 31 players aged between 18-30 from across Australia’s state-level teams.
The team, which is currently fifth in the world standings, have also recently taken to social media to address Rugby Australia’s lack of financial investment and support towards Women’s Rugby.
“We’ve seen the impact that women’s sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape, thanks to the Matildas. It’s time for the chairman, board, and CEO to prioritise the future of Australian Women’s Rugby and allocate adequate resources. It’s time to acknowledge that we are not promoted equally, even on a free platform,” read the Wallaroos’ letter.
The statement by the Wallaroos is believed to be in response to a video posted by Rugby Australia that showcases the wives and girlfriends of the Wallabies being flown business class to Sydney to farewell their partners before the Wallabies head to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Following the targeted social media campaign, Rugby Australia released a brief statement in which they revealed they were “taking steps” towards professionalism.
“Rugby Australia will continue to involve the Wallaroos playing group, through RUPA (Rugby Union Players Association), in all planning and developments regarding investment in Women’s Rugby,” the statement read.
“We are taking steps towards a fully professional future for the Wallaroos and investing more broadly in women’s rugby across national and community competitions – and we know we have a way to go.”
Opals – Basketball
Following their debut at the 1957 FIBA World Championships, the Opals have gone on to become trailblazers of women’s basketball in Australia.
The Opals have seen great international success since the team’s inception, with Australia earning two bronze and three silver Olympic Games medals between 1996 and 2012.
The Australian Women’s National Basketball Team was also once home to Liz Cambage, who in 2012 became the first woman in Olympic history to successfully slam dunk a basketball.
The team recently won the bronze medal at the 2023 Women’s Asia Cup; earning their place in the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Gliders – Wheelchair Basketball
Debuting at the 1992 Paralympic Games, the Gliders are one of the world’s most successful wheelchair basketball teams, with the squad placing within the medals at four consecutive Paralympic Games.
The 13-strong team finished in the top spot at the 2022 IWBF Asia Oceania Championships, with their next competition set to take place in September 2023 against the United States.
Diamonds – Netball
Following their historic win at the 2023 Netball World Cup, the Diamonds have solidified their position as one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams.
The Australian National Netball Team have been intrinsic to the international success of netball, with the Diamonds playing the first international netball match against New Zealand in 1938.
The team have also taken home the gold medal at 12 of 16 Netball World Cups, with the team now ranking number one in the world.
Hockeyroos – Field Hockey
The Hockeyroos are one of Australia’s longest-standing women’s sporting teams, with the team first taking to the pitch in 1914.
Since the Hockeyroos’ first Olympic Games appearance in 1984, the team has played their way to three Olympic gold medals, four Commonwealth Games gold medals, and two Hockey World Cup gold medals.
The team also achieved an almost two-decade-long winning streak from the late 1980s until 2000, with the team being consistently ranked world number one for all but one tournament.
Australian Women’s Cricket Team
The success of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup has had a positive impact on Australian women’s cricket, with Cricket Australia reporting a registration spike of over 50,000 women and girls across the country.
The Australian Women’s Cricket Team are currently number one in the world rankings, with Australia also winning the 2023 Women’s Ashes Test.
Australia’s current team captain Meg Lanning is Australia’s most successful women’s cricket captain, with Lanning leading the team to two Women’s Cricket World Cup wins and five ICC Women’s World Twenty20 titles.
AFL Women’s
Founded in 2016, the AFL Women’s is Australia’s national semi-professional Australian Rules Football League for female players. The first season began in February 2017 and comprised eight teams. The league has been a major success and expanded to ten teams in 2019. BY 2022 there are 18 teams competing.
In August 2023, the AFL announced they will award equal prize money for the men’s and women’s competitions for the first time ahead of the Women’s season launch.
A total pool of player prize money for both the men’s and women’s competitions will be $1.1 million – almost double what was previously on offer to AFLW players.
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