Brisbane Roar standout Laini Freier is poised to earn her first international cap, while Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara may feature in a Matildas squad for the first time in three years, after the CommBank Matildas confirmed their lineup for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup.
Freier and McNamara are part of a six-player contingent from the A-League, named in the 23-player squad for the prestigious four-nation tournament, marking Australia’s inaugural participation in the United States.
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Also included in Tom Sermanni’s selection are Canberra United icon Michelle Heyman, Roar captain Tameka Yallop, Newcastle Jets defender Tash Prior, and Western United goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, as the Matildas gear up to take on Japan (February 21), the USA (February 24), and Colombia (February 27).
For Laini Freier, whose twin sister Sharn is sidelined with an ankle injury, this call-up marks her first selection for the Matildas after an outstanding entry into professional football, netting seven goals in her first ten matches.
McNamara, who received a call-up in November 2023 but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, has not been part of a Matildas squad in nearly two years. With three caps gained during the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, her inclusion now comes on the back of three goals in the 2024-25 season.
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“The SheBelieves Cup provides an excellent opportunity for us to test ourselves against some of the world’s elite teams, and it’s a crucial step as we aim to build a strong base for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup,” stated interim Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni.
“Competing against three quality nations, each with distinctive styles, in a tournament format will enable us to further assess the squad and identify areas for improvement over the coming year.”
“We’ve assembled this squad with the specific aim of winning the tournament. While there were challenges with players returning from European winter breaks and the commencement of the USA and Scandinavian leagues, these circumstances also brought new opportunities. It’s vital that we continue to introduce emerging talent to high-level tournament football early on.”
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“Our technical staff have been closely monitoring A-League matches throughout the summer to ensure we have a comprehensive view of player performance and fitness. Selection is always highly competitive, and we’ve curated a squad that reflects this. It’s essential to have depth and balance in our group as we prepare for the challenges ahead.
“It’s crucial to maintain stability within this team, which means delivering our best performance each time we take the field. We aspire to play the Australian way—dynamic, attacking football, consistently seeking ways to win. This tournament is another chance to reinforce that playing style and gain momentum.”
“With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup approaching, internal competition within the squad is vital. Every player understands the need to earn their spot, and this tournament provides another opportunity to evaluate how they respond under pressure.”
“SheBelieves will yield valuable insights as we refine our preparations going forward.”
Match schedule
Japan vs CommBank Matildas
Date: Thursday, 20 February 2025 (local) / Friday, 21 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 4:05pm CT (local) / 9:05am (AEDT)
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston (TX)
Broadcast: Paramount+
United States vs CommBank Matildas
Date: Sunday, 23 February 2025 (local) / Monday, 24 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 3:05pm MST (local) / 9:05am (AEDT)
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale (AZ)
Broadcast: Paramount+
CommBank Matildas vs Colombia
Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 (local) / Thursday, 27 February (AEDT)
Kick-off: 4:30pm PST (local) / 11:30am (AEDT)
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego (CA)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Matildas squad
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB | ‘A’ CAPS (GOALS) | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie ARNOLD | Goalkeeper | Portland Thorns | 57 (0) | Burleigh Heads SC / Football QLD |
| Ellie CARPENTER (VC) | Defender | Olympique Lyon | 84 (4) | Cowra and District JSC / Football NSW |
| Steph CATLEY (C) | Defender | Arsenal WFC | 132 (7) | East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football VIC |
| Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Midfielder | Arsenal WFC | 52 (1) | Bli Bli United FC / Football QLD |
| Caitlin FOORD | Forward | Arsenal WFC | 130 (38) | Warilla Wanderers FC / Football NSW |
| Mary FOWLER | Forward | Manchester City WFC | 58 (15) | Leichhardt FC / Football QLD |
| Laini FREIER | Forward | Brisbane Roar | 0 (0) | Moreton Bay United FC / Football QLD |
| Daniela GALIC | Midfielder | FC Twente | 4 (0) | Lidcombe Waratah FC / Football NSW |
| Katrina GORRY | Midfielder | West Ham United | 112 (17) | Mount Gravatt Hawks FC / Football QLD |
| Charlotte GRANT | Defender | Tottenham Hotspur WFC | 28 (1) | Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football SA |
| Winonah HEATLEY | Defender | FC Nordsjælland | 4 (0) | Douglas United FC / Football QLD |
| Michelle HEYMAN | Forward | Canberra United | 74 (28) | Illawarra Stingrays FC / Football NSW |
| Clare HUNT | Defender | Tottenham Hotspur WFC | 28 (1) | Grenfell Junior SC / Football NSW |
| Alanna KENNEDY | Defender | Angel City FC | 131 (11) | Campbelltown Cobras SC / Football NSW |
| Chloe LINCOLN | Goalkeeper | Western United | 1 (0) | Northern Inland Football / NNSW Football |
| Holly McNAMARA | Forward | Melbourne City | 3 (0) | Ermington United Sports and Recreation Club / Football NSW |
| Teagan MICAH | Goalkeeper | Liverpool WFC | 18 (0) | Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football QLD |
| Natasha PRIOR | Defender | Newcastle Jets | 3 (2) | Manly United FC / Football NSW |
| Hayley RASO | Forward | Tottenham Hotspur WFC | 92 (20) | Palm Beach SC / Football QLD |
| Kaitlyn TORPEY | Forward | San Diego Wave | 10 (1) | Olympic FC / Football QLD |
| Emily VAN EGMOND (VC) | Midfielder | Birmingham City WFC | 153 (31) | Dudley Redhead United FC / NNSW Football |
| Clare WHEELER | Midfielder | Everton WFC | 26 (2) | Adamstown Rosebud / NNSW Football |
| Tameka YALLOP | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar | 130 (14) | Mudgeeraba SC / Football QLD |
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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