By Kieran Yap 4/2/25
Above: Holly McNamara in action at the 2022 Asian Cup. Photo: Football Australia
The Matildas have announced the squad to take on Colombia, The United States and Japan at the She Believes Cup this month.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni remains in charge of the team as the search for a full time manager continues and has chosen a squad featuring a few new or returning faces among the familia names.
Headlining the changes is the much welcomed return of Holly McNamara. The Melbourne City striker has been in sparkling form since recovering from a third knee reconstruction. She will look to showcase her prodigious talents against some of the world’s best after her promising international career was previously stalled by two long term injuries.
While one of the stars of the last window Sharn Freier is absent due to an ankle injury, her twin sister Laini has been called into camp for the first time. Until this season, the highest level of football that the Brisbane Roar forward had played was the NPLW QLD.
After making a strong impression in the A-League Women including two consecutive hatricks, the striker will hopefully add pace and composed finishing to a strike force still looking for new options ahead of 2026.
“We’ve selected a squad with the clear objective of winning this tournament,” Sermanni told the media.
“While some challenges came with players returning from European winter breaks and the restart of the USA and Scandinavian leagues, these realities also created opportunities. It’s important to carry on exposing emerging players to high-level, tournament-style football early.
“Our Technical Staff have been watching Ninja A-League matches all summer, ensuring we get a full picture of player form and fitness. Selection is always competitive, and we’ve built a squad that reflects that. It’s crucial to have depth and balance in the group as we prepare for the challenges ahead.
“We know how important it is to keep this team on a stable footing, and that means performing at our best every time we step onto the pitch. We want to play the Australian way — aggressive, front-foot football, always looking for ways to win. This tournament is another opportunity to reinforce that style and build momentum.
“With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon, internal competition within the squad is key. Every player knows they need to push for their place, and this tournament gives us another chance to see how they respond in a high-pressure environment. SheBelieves will provide valuable insights as we fine-tune our preparations moving forward,” Sermanni concluded.”
The challenge that Sermanni referred to includes the fact that some players selected are short of recent match minutes.
Stalwarts such as Emily Van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy and rising stars like Kaitlyn Torpey have not played since before Christmas, while Caitlin Foord is currently sidelined with a leg injury.
A lack of match fitness was a concern at The Paris Olympics, but with Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mary Fowler both in the first XI at their clubs, The Matildas look to be in better condition heading in to this tournament.
Natasha Prior’s inclusion comes after some eye catching performance in the last window and Winona Heatley returns once again after playing in all four matches during the previous international break. The versatile defender’s passing ability and positional flexibility are welcome attributes to the side.
Steph Catley will once again wear the armband while Sam Kerr continues to rehab from her knee injury. The Arsenal defender will be deputised by Ellie Carpenter.
The Matildas campaign begins on February 19 against Japan, and will be continued with matches against the United States on February 23 followed by Colombia on the 26th
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