Women Sport Australia announce the 2025 Women in Sport Photo Action Award finalists.
Women Sport Australia (WSA), the national advocacy body for Women in Sport are delighted to announce the finalists for the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (WISPAA) for 2025.
After successfully trawling through close to 500 images, the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards judges, Shane Tohl, Michelle Escobar, Michael Willson and Chloe Dalton, have narrowed down their best picks for the finalists of the 2025 competition.
Track and field, netball and all codes of football feature prominently in the bunch of professional, amateur and female photographer entries.
President of Women Sport Australia, Helena Wurf said “It was great to see the myriad of entrants and sports represented this year. The finalists not only depict some of Australia’s most popular sports but others like BMX and rodeo and the amazing female athletes participating and showing other women and girls what is possible.”
From the Swifts Sarah Klau and Mary Cholhok of the Firebirds full stretch competing for the netball, to NRWL Newcastle Knights, Abigail Roache delivering a strong fend at full speed, and Jemma Stapleton taking out the Beachside Gift 70m final in the Victorian Athletics League, there are an incredible array of images that have made the final round.
#WISPAA aims to generate greater recognition and respect for the power and athleticism of women actively participating in sport. The images are conversation starters and a direction of travel for the discourse surrounding women’s sport being athlete skill and talent first, lifestyle and other details second.
This year, Women Sport Australia also made the decision to include a female photographer category among the professional and amateur categories.
“In 2025, we decided to include a new category to create a welcoming space for female photographers who may be new to photography or hadn’t taken the next step in a formal competition yet. The new category has been a great success seeing over 35 female photographers, from students to new grads and seasoned hobbyists, participating in WISPAA for the first time and showcasing their work. I commend everyone who entered and encourage them to continue to hone their craft whether featured in the finalists or not”, said Helena Wurf.
All of the finalists images will be on display at the WISPAA exhibition and awards evening taking place at Palangi Gallery in Surry Hills, Sydney on Thursday 17th July 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.
The winners of the professional, amateur, female photographer and people’s choice awards will also be announced at the WISPAA exhibition and awards evening.
AMATUER FINALISTS
Anthony Caffery - Charity Shield
Robert Artola - Gives You Wings
Stuart Westmore - Hot Pursuit
Tim Bowman - Through the Line
Fred Etter - Eleanor I See You
Tim Bowman - Sunny Mile
Montanna Bailey - Slipping Through
Daisy Nitsch - Scorpion Tackle
Matthew Clarkson - Faces
FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS FINALISTS
Marina Neil - NPL Women
Marina Neil - NRLW
Jodie Dent - State of Origin
Mel Faull - Night Flight
Maya Thompson - On Your Marks...
Nardia Mulkerrins - The Race Pack
Georgia Paul - Eyes For The Ball
May Bailey - Sarah Klau vs Marry Cholhok
Montanna Bailey - Slipping Through
Daisy Nitsch - Scorpion Tackle
PROFESSIONAL FINALISTS
Ian Hitchcock - NRLW Rd 7 - Cowboys v Tigers
Marina Neil - NPL Women
Marina Neil - NRLW
Andrew Robinson - Falling
Maya Thompson - On Your Marks...
May Bailey - Sarah Klau vs Marry Cholhok
Darrian Traynor - Diving Dog
Albert Perez - Georgia Gall of the Demons and Lucy Wales of the Hawks
Col Boyd Photography - Ladies Barrels
Daniel Pockett - Dream Stretch
