Steph CATLEY

Having finished second in their group, Australia beat Brazil 1-0 in the round of 16 before suffering a loss to 2011 champions Japan in the quarter-finals by the same scoreline. Catley started and played every minute of Australia’s FIFA World Cup campaign.

She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, where the Matildas topped their group to set up a quarter-final clash with Brazil. However, despite the defence restricting Brazil to a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes, the Matildas were edged out 7-6 in the ensuing penalty shootouts.

Following the World Cup, Catley returned to Australia to captain Melbourne City between 2016 and 2018 while also going abroad to play for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) sides Orlando Pride and Seattle Reign FC in the United States of America.

She returned to Melbourne City on loan and led the side to back-to-back championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and lifted the title again in 2020 thanks to her winning goal against Sydney FC. She also won the Premiership title twice with Melbourne City in 2015-16 and 2019-20.

Ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she was appointed the vice-captain of the Matildas squad. This time, she was asked to play in central defence to cover for injured teammates Clare Polkinghorne and Laura Alleway.

At the World Cup in France, Australia progressed from their group only to lose to Norway on penalties in the round of 16 after a 1-1 draw. Catley scored the only penalty for the Matildas in that match.

Steph Catley was named the PFA Women’s Player of the Year and later that year, signed with three-time Women’s Super League winners Arsenal FC.

With the Aussie in their line-up, Arsenal finished runners-up in the 2021-22 season, losing the title to Chelsea by just a single point. However, Catley won the FA Women’s League Cup with Arsenal the following season, beating Chelsea 3-1 in the final.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she helped Australia reach the semi-finals. After finishing second in the group, Australia beat Great Britain 4-3 in the quarter-finals thanks to goals from Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler in extra time.

However, they went on to lose 1-0 to Sweden in the last four before suffering a 4-3 loss to the USA in the bronze medal playoff.

In January 2022, Catley registered her 100th cap for Australia in a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Korea in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asia Cup quarter-finals.

The Matildas secured fourth place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after beating Denmark 2-0 in the round of 16 and France on penalties in the quarter-finals.

They suffered a 3-1 loss to eventual runners-up England in the last four before losing the third-place playoff match to Sweden 2-0. Catley, the vice-captain of the Matildas for the tournament, scored two goals in the tournament, both from the penalty spot.

Catley was instrumental once again when the Matildas defeated Uzbekistan in home and away Olympic qualifiers in February 2023, ensuring their spot at the Paris Olympics. She will be appearing in her third Olympic games in Paris.