Australia looks likely to claim its first major soccer title since 2010 when the Asian Cup kicks off in Perth next month.
Among the 26 players charged with the task of securing continental glory is Wiradjuri Yorta Yorta star Jada Whyman.
The 26-year-old made her name as one of the A-League women’s best keepers, starring for Sydney FC, and the Western Sydney Wanderers across 8 seasons, before making the bold move to Europe in 2024.
Since jumping ship to AIK Fotboll in Sweden, Whyman has impressed locally: last campaign she notched 5 clean sheets in 19 appearances, before injury ended her season prematurely.
However, those stats were enough to impress Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro, who rewarded Whyman's big move with her first call up to a senior Asian Cup squad.
She’s one of eight competition debutants named in the Australia side, along with Clare Hunt, Winonah Heatley, Kahli Johnson, Jamilla Rankin, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, and Kaitlyn Torpey.
They'll be led by Sam Kerr, who famously was forced onto the bench with injury during Australia’s World Cup campaign back in 2023.
Mary Fowler’s inclusion took some by surprise: the Papua New Guinean-Australian injured her ACL playing for Manchester City in England last year, but Montemurro says she has won the race to be fit in time for the tournament.
The inclusion of Fowler and Kerr are a huge boost for the Matildas, with many billing the home tournament as the last chance for Australia’s ‘Golden Generation’ to win a major trophy.
The Matildas get their campaign underway on March 1 against the Philippines in Borloo Perth, before games against Iran and South Korea.
The final will be held in Warang Sydney on March 21.
