Impetus’ Ben Gilby hears from the latest member of Western United‘s inaugural squad, Sydney Cummings, and head coach Mark Torcaso (29/9/22).
Artwork: Western United.
Towering international centre-back Sydney Cummings has signed for Western United ahead of its inaugural season in the Liberty A-League Women.
The 23-year-old arrives having been a member of the San Diego Wave FC squad that currently leads the league in the United States National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Standing at 5’10” tall, Cummings graduated from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. having spent her first three years in College at Brown University.
Cummings was drafted by Racing Louisville FC in the 2022 NWSL draft before later signing for San Diego, where she has featured on the bench on multiple occasions in a team including USWNT star Alex Morgan and Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond.
A multi-capped Guyana international, the US-born Cummings brings incredible experience at such a young age and is relishing a fresh challenge in a new country and at an inaugural club.
“The league in Australia has always been talked about so highly, and I felt like it was such a great opportunity for me to try to elevate myself as a player,” she said.
“I’m really excited for that aspect and that challenge of being in Australia and learning more from the people there. Having the opportunity to be a part of the inaugural season is very meaningful. It’s a great honour and a fantastic opportunity, especially because what Mark and the staff at Western are creating has the potential to be something really special.”
Western United head coach Mark Torcaso said Cummings’ attributes will make her a near immovable force at the back.
“Sydney is incredibly tall, incredibly strong, and athletic and will be a physically dominant force in the A-League,” he said.
“In addition to those strengths, she also reads the game superbly well and has all of the top-level awareness and ball-playing skills that you want in a centre-back. Even though she is only 23 years of age she has great experience under her belt, so she will be brilliant in helping lead our younger players at the back and contribute from the start.”
Cummings will be a threat from attacking set pieces with her height and determination in aerial duels but is equally adept on the ground with strength and pace at the back.
She joins a defensive line that includes young Victorian talents Silver Bell Morris and Natasha Dakic, as well as more experienced A-League Women players in Tyla-Jay Vlajnic and Julia Sardo.
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