As the CommBank Matildas prepare to kick off their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ campaign on home soil this week, get to know the squad representing Australia.
Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position. Next up, the defenders.
#2 Courtney Nevin
Debut: 10-June-2021 v Denmark (in Horsens) International Friendly (L3-2) age 19
Matildas Cap Number: 211
Jersey Number: 2
Appearances (goals): 39 (1)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 & 2026, Olympic Games 2024.
Current Club: Malmö FF
Junior Club: Oakville Ravens SC (Football NSW)
Nevin will play in her fifth major tournament for Australia, having played in two Olympic Games, one FIFA Women’s World Cup and one AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Since making her debut back in 2021, the defender has been a mainstay of the Matildas’ defence. Nevin is a versatile defender who can play left-back, her traditional position, but has also been deployed as a centre back.
The defender has been plying her trade in Sweden since signing for Malmö FF in August 2025 after spending two and a half years in the WSL with Leicester City.
Nevin’s first goal for Australia came in 2025, whipping in a dangerous free-kick from just outside the box against Wales, which evaded everyone in the box and snuck into the corner.
#3 Wini Heatley
Debut: 28-Oct-2024 v Germany (in Duisburg) International Friendly (W2-1) age 23
Matildas Cap Number: 230
Jersey Number: 3
Appearances (goals): 13 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Current Club: AS Roma
Junior Club: Douglas United FC (Football QLD)
Heatley will play in her first major tournament for Australia, one of eight players in the squad who have been called up to their first AFC Women’s Asian Cup squad.
Since making her debut against Germany in 2024, Heatley’s time with the national team has truly been one of growth. Despite having notched up only 13 appearances for Australia, two of these games saw her named Player of the Match.
The defender has made the move from Norway to Italy to ply her trade, playing with AS Roma, which has seen her notch up minutes in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
#4 Clare Hunt
Debut: 16-Feb-2023 v Czechia (in Gosford) Cup of Nations (W4-0) age 23
Matildas Cap Number: 224
Jersey Number: 4
Appearances (goals): 39 (1)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, Olympic Games 2024.
Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Junior Club: Grenfell Junior SC (Football NSW)
Hunt is another one of Joe Montemurro’s 26-player squad that will be looking to make their AFC Women’s Asian Cup debut on home soil.
The defender’s time with the national team has been a whirlwind since making her first appearance in green and gold. After making her debut for Australia in 2023, picking up an assist in her first cap, Hunt went on to be named in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 squad. She was one of three players who played every single minute of our 2023 campaign.
She then went on to be named in the 2024 Olympic Games squad and had the honour to captain Australia for the first time at the end of 2024.
The centre-back is calm, confident and composed on the ball, and is a true leader in defence for Australia.
#5 Jamilla Rankin
Debut: 25-June-2022 v Spain (in Huelva) International Friendly (L7-0) age 19
Matildas Cap Number: 221
Jersey Number: 5
Appearances (goals): 7 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Current Club: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Junior Club: Eureka FC (Football QLD)
Rankin has also been named in her first major tournament squad for Australia and will be looking to make her debut in the tournament on home soil.
Hailing from Lismore in Northern NSW, the defender made her first appearance for Australia in 2022 after impressive performances with the CommBank Young Matildas at the 2022 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After making her debut, the defender made the move overseas to Germany in 2024, biding her time before she was recalled once again into the senior set-up at the end of 2024.
The defender made her starting debut for Australia against the Korea Republic in April 2025 and has gone on to make 7 appearances for Australia.
#7 Steph Catley
Debut: 24-June-2012 v New Zealand (in Wollongong) International Friendly (D1-1) age 18
Matildas Cap Number: 177
Jersey Number: 7
Appearances (goals): 141 (7)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2014, 2018, 2022 & 2026, FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, 2019 & 2023, Olympic Games 2016, 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: Arsenal
Junior Club: East Bentleigh, SE Cougars (Football VIC)
Catley has been named in her fourth AFC Women’s Asian Cup squad for the upcoming tournament, looking to bring her wealth of experience to the heart of defence.
Since making her debut in 2012, the defender has been a mainstay in the Australian defence, featuring at nine major tournaments for her country.
One of our two vice-captains, Catley, will no doubt have a statue made in her honour one day after featuring in almost every major tournament involving the Matildas over the past decade.
The versatile defender started playing football when she was just six years old, unfazed by being the only girl on the team and embracing the skills she learnt from her brother and fellow teammates, “I fell in love with the game and with the idea of making myself the best footballer that I could be.”
This mentality has shaped Steph’s career. Although only 32 years old, Steph’s presence in the footballing scene transcends time as the then-teenage prodigy debuted for her hometown club, Melbourne Victory, at just 15 years of age.
Catley’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign was a remarkable one. After a late injury to skipper Sam Kerr on the eve of the opening game, Catley stepped into the captain role for Australia’s clash with the Republic of Ireland.
The defender scored a memorable penalty against Ireland, her first goal in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, to help secure Australia's win in the opening game and was named Player of the Match.
Catley’s leadership on and off the field has been gushed about by her teammates, with younger defenders, like Jamilla Rankin, talking about how much she has learnt from playing alongside her.
#14 Alanna Kennedy
Debut: 24-June-2012 v New Zealand (in Wollongong) International Friendly (D1-1) age 17
Matildas Cap Number: 178
Jersey Number: 14
Appearances (goals): 142 (12)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2014, 2018, 2022 & 2026, FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, 2019 & 2023, Olympic Games 2016, 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: London City Lionesses
Junior Club: Campbelltown Cobras SC (Football NSW)
Kennedy has been named in her fourth AFC Women’s Asian Cup squad and brings a wealth of experience on the international stage to Australia’s defence.
The defender provides a great aerial presence in defence and is composed on the ball when called into action.
Since making her debut in 2012, making her first appearance for her country alongside Steph Catley and Hayley Raso, the defender has gone on to feature in nine major tournaments for her country.
A versatile defender, Kennedy can be deployed at centre-back or in defensive midfield. She has made a habit of scoring in major tournaments, having found the back of the net in Australia’s last two tournaments, scoring against the USA and Zambia in the 2024 Olympic Games and finding the back of the net against Nigeria during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Kennedy’s aerial presence in the box has seen her score some pivotal goals for Australia. During the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-final against Thailand, Australia was staring down the face of a shock loss to Thailand. Up stepped the defender to score in the 91st minute to send the game to extra time and penalties, which Australia eventually won 3-1.
#21 Ellie Carpenter
Debut: 02-Mar-2016 v Vietnam (in Osaka) AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (W9-0) age 15
Matildas Cap Number: 197
Jersey Number: 14
Appearances (goals): 93 (5)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2018, 2022 & 2026, FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, 2019 & 2023, Olympic Games 2016, 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: Chelsea
Junior Club: Cowra and District JSC (Football NSW)
Carpenter will feature in her third AFC Women’s Asian Cup and eighth major tournament for Australia.
The defender made her debut during the side's 2016 Olympic Qualification campaign, becoming the first international to be born in the 21st century, a milestone which has now been broken numerous times by the current squad.
She was the youngest-ever female footballer to compete at the Olympics, making her debut at just 16 years old at the Rio 2016 Games.
The two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner has impressed on the international and club scene since bursting onto the scene in 2016.
The defender is one of a large cohort of the team to be raised regionally, leaving her hometown of Cowra at the age of 12 to pursue a career in football, after regularly making an 8-hour round trip to Sydney and Canberra to ply her trade.
Carpenter was named the AFC Asian International Player of the Year in the 2024 season, picking up the inaugural trophy after helping her then club Olympique Lyonnais to the UEFA Women's Champions League final and to a record-breaking 17th Division 1 Féminine title.
The defender has now made the move to the WSL with defending champions Chelsea, linking up with fellow Australian Sam Kerr with the Blues.
#24 Charlie Rule
Debut: 01-Dec-2023 v Canada (in Victoria, BC) International Friendly (L0-5) age 20
Matildas Cap Number: 225
Jersey Number: 24
Appearances (goals): 1 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026.
Current Club: Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Junior Club: Queens Park FC (Football NSW)
Rule has also been named in her first major tournament squad for Australia and will be looking to make her debut in the tournament on home soil.
The defender was first called into a senior camp at the end of 2021 for a two-match international series against the USA, but would not make her debut until the end of 2023.
Her debut came against Canada in December 2023, alongside her “best mate” and long-time teammate, Sarah Hunter, both starting in the game against the reigning Olympic Champions.
Rule made the move to the WSL in 2023, signing with Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. after three years with Sydney FC.
The defender has impressed with the Seagulls, regularly starting for Dario Vidošić’s side and helping them to their highest ever finish on the table during the 2024/25 season, finishing in 5th place.
Her form with Brighton has seen her recalled to the Australian team, named as an injury replacement for Australia’s two-match series against New Zealand to finish 2025.
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
CommBank Matildas v Philippines
Date: Sunday, 1 March 2026
Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth
Time: 5:00pm AWST/8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
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IR Iran v CommBank Matildas
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Venue: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast
Time: 7:00pm AEST/8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
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CommBank Matildas v Korea Republic
Date: Sunday, 8 March 2026
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Time: 8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
Buy Tickets