From new tennis stars winning their first title, to current and former Matildas continuing to make herstory, we've wrapped up the stories that captured us in the month of May.
Ilona Maher visits Australia
International Rugby superstar visited Australia's shore this month, as USA's Women's Rugby team played against the Wallaroos on May 17 in Canberra. The Wallaroos got the win 27 - 19, but the highlight was Maher swapping jersey with our own Charlotte Caslick post game.
Bree Rizzo wins gold in Tokyo
Fresh from her Stawell Gift victory, Bree Rizzo took down a star-studded field that included Sha'Carri Richardson with a dominant 100m performance to win gold at the Tokyo Grand Prix - a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meet.
Melbourne City win in Wuhan
Melbourne City created history, booking a place in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League Final after a dramatic 1-0 win over Hyundai Steel Red Angels in Wuhan on Wednesday night. Young Matilda Shelby McMahon netted the winning goal with just 30 seconds left in the match. Shelby is only 17 years old and is still studying school whilst juggling football at Melbourne City.
World first research underway into women's health and women's sport
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is leading a world-first project to address the gap in women's sport research, following the formation of the Global Alliance for Female Athletes. The findings are set to be published mid-2026, with the aim to understand the gaps in research when it comes to women's health. Read more from the AIS here.
Matildas star in Champions League final
Matildas stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross have helped Arsenal to a 1-0 win over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon, Portugal.
Women's State of Origin continues meteoric rise
Game 1 drew a record-breaking crowd of 26,022 at Suncorp Stadium and topped TV ratings in Sydney and Brisbane, leading across key demographics. Game 2, despite the rain, saw 16,026 fans pack Allianz Stadium to watch NSW clinch the series, and it doubled the viewership of competing AFL broadcasts. Women’s Origin is not just growing, it’s dominating.
WNBL launch new brand
The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) launched its re-imagined brand identity in a bold statement that women’s basketball in Australia is Ready to Rise. Fueled by purpose and progress, their new tagline Ready to Rise, symbolises power in motion, where elegance meets intensity and flight becomes a form of expression reflecting the talent, passion and energy of the league’s athletes. The new logo is a nod to the net and hoop and transforms into a winged icon: part spirit, part future.
Maya Joint wins maiden WTA title
Australia's newest tennis star, Maya Joint, won her maiden WTA title (and a matching doubles title) in Rabat, Morocco, just days ahead of her Roland-Garros debut. The 19 year old defeated Jaqueline Cristian 6-3, 6-2. Joint went on to play fellow Aussie Aijla Tomljanovic in Paris, going down 6-1 6-3 in the first round.
Grace Gill becomes first Matilda to commentate international match
Grace Gill is a familiar face on the field, and just made history off it, when she became the first former Matilda to commentate an International game. Gill went behind the mic for the Tillies match against Argentina in Melbourne, watching as Australia defeated Argentina 2-0.
Tillies play to sold out crowd in Canberra
The Matildas continue to break records, playing to a sold out crowd of 25,125 in the Nations Capital. Amy Sayer scored a double in the 4-1 victory, that also served as a send off to coach Tom Sermani.
Drop us your stories of women in sport to media@womensportaustralia.com.au
