The Matildas won a legion of new supporters and the hearts of the Australian public at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil, but who are the loved ones that have captured their hearts?
The current squad of Matildas includes a mix of rising stars and veteran talent, each with their own story, family and reason to feel loved.
Here are the partners of the current Matildas and how they met.
Mackenzie Arnold
Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold attends a wedding with her partner Kirsty Smith
Mackenzie Arnold has been in a relationship with fellow footballer Kirsty Smith since 2022, when Smith joined West Ham. Although they met that year, the couple kept their relationship private at first, only hinting at it through social media posts. Fans began to suspect they were dating after spotting matching backgrounds in their holiday photos in December 2022. Their relationship became more public in early 2023 when Arnold shared a photo carousel featuring Smith, who affectionately commented ‘favourite person.’
Ellie Carpenter
Aussie star Ellie Carpenter shares a moment with her Dutch fiancee Daniëlle van de Donk
Ellie Carpenter is engaged to Dutch footballer Daniëlle van de Donk, her teammate at Olympique Lyonnais, with the couple announcing their engagement on New Year’s Day in 2024. They first sparked relationship rumours in early 2022, sharing moments together on social media, including Valentine’s Day dinner and a Champions League victory photo. Their bond grew stronger over time, with van de Donk joining Carpenter on a trip to Australia, where they explored Sydney Harbour and visited Taronga Zoo. After living in France since 2020, Carpenter is now fluent in French.
Steph Catley
Steph Catley was in a long-term relationship with an Aussie footballer but the couple split last year
It is believed Catley is currently single. However, the Matildas star was engaged to fellow Australian footballer Dean Bouzanis, whom she met in 2016 during a joint training session. The couple began dating in early 2017 and got engaged in 2023 after six years together. Bouzanis, a goalkeeper now playing for Charlton Athletic, proposed before the couple eventually split in 2024. As of now, neither is publicly known to be in a new relationship.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin made their Matildas debut together in the same match
Fans have often speculated about a relationship between Kyra Cooney-Cross and fellow Matildas player Courtney Nevin, though neither has publicly confirmed it. The two share a close friendship and a long history on the field, having played together for Swedish club Hammarby IF. The pair made their senior debut for the Matildas in the same match against Denmark in June 2021.
Leah Davidson and Kaitlyn Torpey
Kaitlyn Torpey is believed to be in a relationship with fellow footballer Leah Davidson, with the pair meeting while playing for Melbourne City in 2021. Torpey made an impressive debut for the Matildas in early 2024, scoring in the 22nd minute against Uzbekistan during the Olympic qualifiers. After the match, she shared how special it was to have her partner and parents there to celebrate the moment. Leah Davidson also made headlines in 2024, scoring her first international goal for the Matildas against Chinese Taipei.
Emily van Egmond
A host of Matildas stars were in attendance for the wedding of Emily Van Egmond and her partner Kat Thompson
Van Egmond, 31, married her partner Kat Thompson in a stunning vineyard ceremony at Krinklewood Estate in the Hunter Valley. Nearly the entire Matildas squad attended to celebrate the couple’s special day. Guests included Sam Kerr and her pregnant fiancée Kristie Mewis, along with stars like Caitlin Foord, Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, and Alanna Kennedy. International players also joined the celebration, including Foord’s partner, Irish and Arsenal star Katie McCabe.
Caitlin Foord
Caitlin Foord and her Irish partner Katie McCabe during some recent downtime on holiday in Australia
Foord is currently in a relationship with her Arsenal teammate and Republic of Ireland international, Katie McCabe. Their relationship reportedly began after Foord’s split from former partner Lia Wälti in late 2022. However, the timeline also overlaps with McCabe’s previous relationship with her Ireland teammate, Ruesha Littlejohn, which ended around the same period. This sparked speculation among fans about a potential love triangle. By early 2024, rumours about Foord and McCabe intensified as social media clues surfaced, from shared photos to flirty interactions. Supporters have since embraced the new couple, often flooding their posts with heart emojis and playful calls for wedding bells.
Mary Fowler
Fowler is one of the most high profile relationships in Australia, with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary
Fowler and Nathan Cleary confirmed their relationship in January 2024 with beachside photos that referenced their first public outing. The pair first sparked romance rumours in August 2023 after being seen sharing ice cream together. Cleary has spoken openly about how Fowler has positively influenced his personal growth and performance on the field. While Cleary has won the last four NRL premierships, Fowler remains contracted to Manchester City until 2027 but is currently sidelined with an ACL injury.
Charlotte Grant
Charli Grant and Lachlan Cameron get engaged on Boxing Day in 2024 with this beautiful backdrop
Matildas defender Charli Grant announced her engagement to Adelaide-based partner Lachlan Cameron on Boxing Day 2024. Lachlan proposed just days earlier, on December 22, with a romantic setup featuring rose petals, candles, and a photo trail leading to glowing ‘MARRY ME’ lights. The news was met with excitement from teammates, with messages flooding in from Hayley Raso, Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, and many more. Grant’s Tottenham teammates also joined in to celebrate the happy couple.
Winonah Heatley
The rise of Winonah Heatley from promising far north Queensland talent to Matilda has been meteoric
Heatley, not currently believed to be in a relationship, is emerging as one of the Matildas’ most promising defenders. She’s focused on finding her place in the squad without placing pressure on herself. Thriving at club level in Denmark – where she captained Nordsjælland to a championship – Heatley credits her leadership role with boosting her confidence and development. A passionate advocate for the growth of women’s football in Australia, she remains committed to helping shape the game’s future while drawing on the experience and guidance of the Matildas’ senior players.
Michelle Heyman
Veteran Australian striker Michelle Heyman shared this touching post of her engagement to Christine Aldridge
In 2024, the veteran Matildas star announced her engagement to long-time partner Christine Aldridge after five years together. The couple shared the happy news on Instagram with a photo of Heyman kissing Aldridge on the cheek, proudly displaying the engagement ring. Their caption, simply reading ‘6/9/24,’ marked the date of the proposal. The post quickly drew thousands of likes and warm messages from fans, teammates, and fellow athletes, including Katrina Gorry, Chloe Logarzo, and Olympic swimmer Shayna Jack.
Clare Hunt
Clare Hunt has been enjoying the single life travelling the world as a young up-and-coming footballer
Hunt often shares images of her journeys around the world solo, currently playing as a centre-back for Tottenham Hotspur in the Women’s Super League. Raised in the rural NSW town of Grenfell, she began her football journey at age five and travelled often to Canberra and Sydney for training and matches. After early years with Canberra United and a tough run of injuries between 2017 and 2021, Hunt found consistent form with the Western Sydney Wanderers before signing with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and later moving to Spurs for the 2024/25 season. While she is known for her rising football career with the Matildas, details about her personal life, including relationships, remain private.
Alanna Kennedy
Alanna Kennedy and fellow footballer Alex Greenwood have a strong bond but it is not known if they are officially a couple
Alanna Kennedy is believed to be single, with no confirmed relationship at present. In 2022, she was linked to author and influencer Sophie Cachia, who described their on-off relationship as ‘a drug she was addicted to.’ Since their split, Kennedy has kept her personal life private and has not publicly shared any updates about a new partner. She shares a strong bond with fellow footballer Alex Greenwood, calling her a ‘colossal colleague’ and expressing her enjoyment in playing alongside her at Manchester City, where Greenwood serves as captain.
Sam Kerr
Australian superstar Sam Kerr is expecting a child with her fiancee Kristie Mewis, after six years together
Kerr and USA international footballer Kristie Mewis began dating during the Covid pandemic, publicly confirming their relationship in August 2021 with an Instagram post following a heartfelt moment at the Tokyo Olympics. They announced their engagement in November 2023, revealing that Kerr had proposed on September 1 of that year. In November 2024, the couple shared that they are expecting their first child, due in 2025.
Chloe Lincoln
Chloe Lincoln (left) is focuse don becoming the next great Matildas goalkeeper after making her debut last year
Chloe, 20, received her first call-up to the Matildas squad in 2024 as a teenager, debuting against Germany in October. She is the first goalkeeper to debut since Teagan Micah in 2021. The young Matilda is focused on her football and no relationship information is available at this time.
Holly McNamara
Holly McNamara has been enjoying time in Europe on her own after a devastating spell of three consecutive ACL injuries
Holly was once dubbed the next Sam Kerr, before three consecutive knee reconstructions almost destroyed her career. She finally returned to the Matildas at the SheBelieves Cup in 2024. Holly is a very private person and rarely posts to social media. She lived with Melbourne City teammate Rhianna Pollicina, but they are not believed to be in a relationship. Holly recently travelled Europe solo, posting rare images to her social media.
Teagan Micah
Teagan Micah and fellow Matilda Charli Grant have been travel buddies ever since they first became friends as young footballers, but they are not romantically linked
Teagan Micah is reportedly single, but shares a close travel bond with fellow Matilda Charli Grant, with the pair taking 25 trips together since first meeting at a team camp in Sweden in 2021. Despite coming from different cities and not playing in the same age group, they quickly connected, often sitting together on team buses – a habit that turned into a pre-game superstition. Their friendship has grown through shared experiences, long flights, and mutual support during the demands of international football. Meanwhile, Charli announced her engagement to Adelaide-based partner Lachlan Cameron on Boxing Day 2024.
Natasha Prior
Natasha Prior is a priivate person and is keeping her relationship status to herself while enjoying her time with the Matildas
Defender Natasha Prior was ‘pretty happy’ after making her first start and scoring her debut goal for the CommBank Matildas in December. She plays as a centre-back for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League Women. Natasha is the daughter of former Premier League defender Spencer Prior and enjoys spending time with her Jets teammates and her dog, Lenny. There is no public information available about her relationship status.
Hayley Raso
Hayley Raso has been linked with Izzy Christiansen after breaking up with Jenna McCormick
Until mid-2023, the 28-year-old was in a long-term relationship with professional footballer Jenna McCormick. The couple reportedly began dating in 2017, but after five years together, speculation of a split arose when photos surfaced of Jenna with journalist Hannah Holgersen. Raso has since been linked to English former footballer Izzy Christiansen. Christiansen is best known for her stints with Manchester City, Everton, Birmingham City, and French club Lyon.
Jamilla Rankin
Jamilla Rankin is one of the younger members of the Matildas squad and is finding her feet in the German top flight competition
Rankin began her football journey in Eureka, a tiny Byron Shire suburb with under 400 residents. She currently plays for TSG Hoffenheim in Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga. Before moving overseas, Rankin established herself as one of the top centre-backs in the A-League Women, playing for Brisbane Roar and later Melbourne Victory. Her relationship status remains private.
Clare Wheeler
Jeremy Ord is the card-carrying No 1 supporter of his partner, Matildas star Clare Wheeler
Clare Wheeler has been in a relationship with Jeremy Ord since 2021. He’s been a strong supporter throughout her career and was recently seen by her side at the World Cup. Wheeler left her job at Macquarie Bank while playing in the A-League to chase her football dreams in Europe. After thriving in Denmark, she made a successful move to the UK, where a standout loan spell at Everton led to a permanent deal.
Tameka Yallop
Tameka Yallop and wife Kirsty have a daughter together and are expecting their second child in October
In December 2017, Tameka announced her engagement to her Klepp IL teammate Kirsty Yallop on Twitter. The couple married on 9 February 2019 in Mangawhai, New Zealand. After tying the knot, they both adopted the surname Yallop. In 2020, they welcomed their daughter, Harley. They are expecting baby No 2 in October.
