Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) is proud to announce that Ellie Carpenter has been voted as the recipient of the 2026 Austraffic PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year, recognising an outstanding year for the Matildas and Chelsea defender.
The prestigious player-voted award is determined exclusively by PFA members and honours the player who, in the eyes of their peers, has delivered the most outstanding performances at club and international level.
Carpenter received the most votes ahead of five of her Matildas teammates including previous winners Steph Catley and Sam Kerr, along with AFC Asian Women’s Cup MVP Alanna Kennedy, Winonah Heatley and Holly McNamara.
This award caps off a fantastic season for Carpenter, who had already been voted by her peers as part of the 2026 PFA (Professional Footballers Association) Women’s Super League Team of the Year and FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Team of the Tournament – Australia 2026.
“I’m very honoured to receive this award,” Carpenter said.
“It’s always special when you get voted by your peers, your teammates. It’s a very special award to win and I’m proud of my 25-26 season.
“There were amazing nominees within the national team so I’m very proud to have won.
“In the last 12 months, I moved to Chelsea, we had the Asian Cup for Australia. For me personally, it was about adapting to a new league here and a major tournament during a season [which] was quite tricky to navigate sometimes.
“But I’m proud of how I adapted and also learn and grew as well in the last year.”
The 26-year-old starred in her first season for Chelsea, making 29 appearances and scoring three times in all competitions and quicky establishing herself as one of the Women’s Super League’s star full-backs.
Carpenter continued her fantastic club performances with the Matildas, starting in every match during their run to the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Furthermore, Carpenter also became the 18th player and the second-youngest player to make 100 appearances for the Matildas in their June friendly against Mexico.
This is the fourth PFA Footballer of the Year award Carpenter has won throughout her illustrious career, having won the Women’s Footballer of the Year award in 2021 and the Young Women’s Footballer of the Year on two occasions (2021, 2020).
PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year winners:
Ellie Carpenter (2026, 2021) Steph Catley (2025, 2024, 2020), Sam Kerr (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013), Lydia Williams (2016, 2012), Elise Kellond-Knight (2015, 2011), Katrina Gorry (2014), Servet Uzunlar (2010)
About the Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards
The Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year Awards have been awarded annually since 2009, when former Socceroo Tim Cahill won the inaugural PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year. The PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year was introduced the following season, which was won by Servet Uzunlar in 2010.
About Austraffic
Founded in 1983 (as Australasian Traffic Surveys), Austraffic has undertaken thousands of traffic, transport and pedestrian studies in all states and territories of Australia and New Zealand. Austraffic’s systems and expertise delivers quality data that meets the customer’s needs. Their offices are located throughout Australia, and their traffic engineering and information technology specialists assist customers with the design, analysis and presentation of surveys. For more information visit austraffic.com.au
