McNamara is back, Fowler returns, and Sermanni remains in place for SheBelieves Cup.
A host of regulars will lead the Matildas into the SheBelieves Cup, with Holly McNamara also returning after an ACL tearand Tom Sermanni still in place, six months into the hunt for a full-time coach.
Melbourne City attacker Holly McNamara has reached another milestone in her recovery from an ACL rupture after being named in a strong Matildas squad for this month’s SheBelieves Cup in the United States, alongside returning figures such as Mary Fowler and Katrina Gorry as well as debutant Laini Freier. And, yes, Tom Sermanni remains caretaker, more than six months on from Tony Gustavsson’s exit.
McNamara, 22, returned to the pitch for club Melbourne City in December last year and, after slowly building up in her return from the third ACL injury of her young career, has made back-to-back starts for Michael Matricciani’s side in recent weeks. The attacker, who described herself as being in the right headspace to return to the national fold ahead of last week’s Melbourne Derby, logged 74 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Victory and has been playing in a more central, striking role since resuming her career; credited with three goals and an assist across her 351 minutes of match time.
"I want players in the local competition to make me stand up and select them," Sermanni said.
"Holly's just come straight back in, and she's already showing those kinds of signs - she's dynamic, aggressive and she's a winner."
After missing the fixtures against Brazil and Chinese Taipei in November and December with a hamstring complaint, former teammate Kaitlyn Torpey will join her in the squad, as will fellow absences Gorry, Fowler, and Clare Wheeler. As it tends to be in these windows, getting the most out of Fowler, who was rested for the last window, will be key for the Matildas; the attacker’s strong recent form seeing her net a brace and grabbing an assist in Manchester City’s 4-3 loss to Arsenal over the weekend.
"I think she still has some ways to go from what I would call reaching her prime," Sermanni said.
"She is already a world class footballer … I want her to really step up in the national team, and lead by how she plays in the games."
Jetting back to their clubs following the Brazil portion of the last window, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, and Hayley Raso are all back in the squad and after being present for all four games, so are Temeka Yallop, and Emily van Egmond — the latter having just signed with English Championship side Birmingham. Teagan Micah and Mackenzie Arnold have both been named as they battle to seize the number one role heading into the Asian Cup, with Western United’s Chloe Lincoln named as the third choice.
Putting something of a handbrake on her rapid rise, an ankle injury suffered with Brisbane Roar means soon-to-be Wolfsburg attacker Sharn Freier drops out. However, she’s set to be replaced by her sister, Laini; the 23-year-old has only played 10 professional games in her career but has made a blistering first impression in netting back-to-back hat tricks in her first two starts and registered seven goals and two assists in her first three. And while she’s yet to add a goal involvement since then, her strong opening foray impressed Matildas’ decision-makers enough to secure her a spot in the side as her twin's replacement.
Elsewhere, despite recent troubles with injury, Michelle Heyman will once again feature in the squad but there is no place for Melbourne Victory striker Emily Gielnik, who after a red-hot start to 2024-25 has only found the net once since the last window. The attacker is arguably the most notable of those who featured last time out that hasn’t made this 23-player squad – a level of attrition guaranteed, given the 40-odd players that were in camp across the four games. Victory teammate Alex Chidiac, Western United skipper Chloe Logarzo, and Central Coast Mariners defender Jessika Nash also dropped out.
However, after impressing in her debut and following the international retirement of Clare Polkinghorne, Tash Prior retains her place in Sermanni’s plans, with Winonah Heatley and Daniela Galic also named once more. The latter, however, is one of several players that — be it due to injury, midseason winter breaks, offseasons, or peripheral status at their clubs — come into the camp without much in the way of regular recent football. Galic is yet to feature for FC Twente in 2025, Charlotte Grant has made just four appearances for Tottenham in 2024-25, Kennedy last featured for Manchester City in November and recently moved to NWSL side Angel City, those in the NWSL and Scandinavian leagues our of action since their seasons ended last year.
The Matildas will face Asian powers Japan in their opening game of the SheBelieves Cup on February 20 local time in Houston, Texas. They will then meet 2024 Olympic Gold Medalists the United States on February 23 in Glendale, Arizona before facing Linda Caicedo, Mayra Ramírez and their Colombian teammates on February 26 in San Diego, California. The Matildas are unlikely to be favoured in any of the games, providing an important acid test for the side in their efforts to prepare for next year’s Women’s Asian Cup on home soil — a tournament that shapes as perhaps the last chance to secure major international silverware with the core of its current Golden Generation of players.
But the importance of the coming games also throws the spotlight back on Football Australia and the ongoing, increasingly risible search for a coach for the Matildas following the exit of Gustavsson following the Paris Olympics over six months ago.
With no official, competitive fixtures until the opening of the Asian Cup, federation officials have been insistent that they have plenty of time to find the Swede’s successor – and Sermanni has said he’ll be available to help serve as caretaker for as long as needed – but after more than half a year of searching with no decision made any permanent appointment will now have, at most, five international windows and 15 games between their unveiling and the start of the continental showpiece.
Gustavsson would often bemoan the lack of contact hours he had with his side and how this hampered his efforts. And the longer the search for his permanent replacement continues, any new mentor will increasingly face similar problems when they confront a reduced period to bed in their principles, approach, and preferred personnel before the Asian Cup.
“To play three quality nations, all with differing styles, in a tournament-style format will allow us to continue assessing the squad and identify the areas that we will need to continue to invest in improving over the next twelve months,” Sermanni said.
“We’ve selected a squad with the clear objective of winning this tournament. 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 A-League Women 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.”