With the Women’s Super League kicking off this weekend, crunch time has arrived for the Matildas ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The global showpiece tournament begins next June and Australia’s stars will need to be in top form for their respective clubs to shake off the disappointment of March’s Asian Cup final loss to Japan in Sydney, and match the unforgettable run to the semi-finals on home soil in 2023.
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Not all of the Matildas’ big names are plying their trade in England this season, but the core of Joe Montemurro’s team will be using the world’s biggest league as their World Cup launch pad.
Plus many other members of the Asian Cup squad will be basing themselves in Europe along with two superstars in action in the United States.
Scroll down to find out where our Matildas are playing overseas this season in foxsports.com.au’s Tillies Tracker!
Messi retires from Argentina | 02:00
ENGLAND
Chelsea may no longer have Sam Kerr at their disposal, but Ellie Carpenter is set for another big season for the Blues.
The 26-year-old right-back has already made an impact for the league campaign has begun – she assisted two goals last week as Chelsea defeated Spanish side Real Sociedad 5-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier.
Carpenter was recently in named PFA Women’s Super League Team of the Year for last season after a standout maiden campaign in England.
“Chelsea are going through a bit of a transition phase at the moment. A lot of legends have gone and they left such a great legacy,” Carpenter told Sky Sports last month.
“Now it’s our turn to do that, follow in their footsteps and to build on what Chelsea is as a club.
“As a footballer, you love those opportunities and moments in your career and it’s a perfect time to be stepping into that role for this club.
“Our aim this season is to fight for those trophies back and show what Chelsea is about. We want to do it as a team, winning in that way and enjoying it and hopefully getting the results on the way as well.
“We have a great team this season and pre-season has felt good so I’m excited.”
The Australian presence will be strong in London with Arsenal trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross once again suiting up for the Gunners.
Cooney-Cross, who spent time at home in Australia before her mother’s passing earlier in the year, set herself up well for the new season with a player of the match performance, including a long-range goal, in a 5-1 win in a friendly against newly promoted Charlton last week.
“Yes, it was a special moment,” Arsenal coach Renée Slegers said.
“That was magic. It was an unbelievable strike, and she’s such a good technical football player.
“But yes, of course it was also a very special moment for her, so I’m really happy for Kyra.”
Matildas legend Emily van Egmond is with Charlton, having moved from Leicester City, as are fellow Australians Leah Davidson and uncapped 21-year-old Grace Johnston.
Alanna Kennedy is with the London City Lionesses and she now shares a locker room with two-time Ballon d’Or Winner Alexia Putellas, England shot stopper Mary Earps and Spanish star Mapi Leon following a busy transfer window.
London City are the only top flight club not connected with a men’s team, and club owner Michele Kang dreams of being the first stand-alone club to “go all the way”.
“Whatever is there for the club to achieve I’m here to support. I want to see them win a WSL title, I want them to qualify for European competition,” the American-Korean businesswoman told Sky Sports News.
Also in London, Clare Hunt remains with Tottenham, but continues to rehabilitate the knee injury she sustained during the Asian Cup.
Heading north at Mary Fowler is looking forward to a full season with champions Manchester City after returning from an ACL injury during their title-winning campaign.
“I’m in this phase now where I’ve come out of my rehab and I feel more and more myself as time goes on,” she told ABC Sport before the Matildas’ friendlies against Mexico in June.
“I just want to enjoy that. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself to be getting stats and getting goals and stuff.
“I think I always play my best football when I’m really enjoying it. And so I don’t want to let that expectation ruin the fun that I’m having.”
Holly McNamara has joined Everton, while down south, Charlize Rule is still with Brighton.
In the second division, Kaitlyn Torpey will work with Australian manager Tanya Oxtoby at Newcastle United after joining the Magpies earlier this year.
NORTH AMERICA
The NWSL season is well and truly under way with Sam Kerr starring since returning to Gotham FC, who were known as Sky Blues FC when the star striker last called New York home a decade ago.
The 32-year-old has bagged three goals and an assist in seven appearances this season.
In the process, Kerr became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer and the first player to score 80 goals in the NWSL.
She also made a splash by having the honour of throwing out the first pitch at a New York Yankees baseball game.
“It kind of feels like a full-circle moment to me,” Kerr said in an interview shortly after rejoining the club.
“Last time I left Gotham, we were Sky Blue at the time. We were playing down in front of a couple thousand people, and this is the type of stuff we were fighting for … to play in front of sold-out stadiums with the best players with wages that we deserved.
“There’s so many people that have done so many amazing things over the last six years while I’ve been gone that have allowed me to come back and live out my American dream.”
In Kerr’s most recent outing, top of the table Gotham drew 1-1 against Matlidas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s Portland Thorns.
Up north in Canada, Kahli Johnson’s Calgary Wild are unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions after not having previously won a Northern Super League match this year.
EUROPE
Like Ellie Carpenter at Chelsea, Hayley Raso and Jamilia Rankin have been pushing for UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification with German club Eintracht Frankfurt – last week they drew the first leg of their qualifier against PSG 1-1.
“I enjoy Frankfurt, I enjoy the life there, the team, the football. It’s tough because I’m working really hard and maybe not getting the reward in that playing time which is always tough as a footballer,” the 31-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald in June.
“I’ve got another season there, so I’m looking forward to that and I’m definitely hoping to get more minutes and get that reward for the hard work I’m putting in.”
There is a strong Australian contingent in Sweden this season with Amy Sayer, Courtney Nevin and Charli Grant at Malmö, whole Remy Siemsen, Isabel Gomez and Bryleeh Henry are with Rosengård.
Malmö are third in the Damallsvenskan after 16 games, while Rosengård are languishing in the relegation places in 13th.
In Italy, Alex Chidiac is with Como and Wini Heatley is with Roma.