2025 Emerging Matildas Championships: Sydney Sixers star Caoimhe Bray leads elite field of footballers

She is the cross-code star walking the same path as Aussie icon Ellyse Perry, but Caoimhe Bray is ready to step out in a big way this week. See the stars of the Emerging Matildas Championships.

Ex-Matilda Alicia Ferguson believes an exposure to the elite levels of sport has tooled rising dual-code star Caoimhe Bray to dominate the Emerging Matildas Championships.

Bray burst onto the Australian sporting landscape last year when she became the youngest player to debut in the WBBL at 15-years-old.

The all-rounder made a handy contribution for WBBL side Sydney Sixers across the Summer, and starred for Australia at the Under-19 World Cup in January.

Caoimhe Bray during the Sydney Sixers WBBL training session at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

But with the changing of the seasons, Bray has returned to her mark between the sticks with the Junior Matildas goalkeeper a key cog for Northern NSW’s Under-16s side this week.

She is among a host of talents to have already played international football who will compete at the Emerging Matildas Championships this week.

Ferguson, who followed a similar career trajectory when she made her Matildas debut as a 15-year-old, will coach Bray’s Northern NSW in Sydney this week.

Caoimhe Bray at the 2024 National Youth Championships for Northern NSW Football. Picture: NNSWF

“She is just a gun,” Ferguson said about the keeper. “A multi-sport athlete and excelling at both.

“It just shows the quality of her and the commitment she has given.

“There is obvious a lot of technical ability there, but it is her maturity. You can see she has those leadership qualities that come from being exposed to a high-pressure environment.

“She has experienced all of that at such a young age. It really takes a level of maturity and attitude to be in those professional sporting environments. They are tough.”

Alicia Ferguson played up front for Australia over a decade-long international career. (AAP Photo/Alan Porritt).

Ferguson said Bray would be the cornerstone of Northern NSW’s success at the national championships, with her work both between the posts and out of the box as a sweeper the foundation of their game.

“It all starts with having a good goalkeeper,” she said.

“Caoimhe just has that air of calmness about her and all the ingredients it takes to be a successful professional athlete.”

Bray isn’t the only Junior Matildas representative to be part of the week’s action at Valentine Sports Park. Check out a few more names to keep an eye out for this week below.

MATILDA DIAS WADEWITZ

NSW Sky U16, Forward

The Portuguese-born striker caught the eye of Junior Matildas selectors last year after a starring performance at what was then known as the National Youth Championships. She was called up into a training camp at the end of last year alongside NSW Sky teammate Claire Corbett. Wadewitz has been a student at Westfield Sports High and was part of their Bill Turner Trophy winning side last year.

NSW Metro goal scorer Matilda Wadewitz-Dias after scoring a goal in the Under-14 girls grand final last year.

INGRID LAURSEN

Capital Football, GK

The Canberra keeper was brought into the Junior Matildas training camp in April as part of an extended futures squad looking toward next year’s U17 World Cup. Laursen has spent this season testing herself against senior women as part of the Majura NPL Women’s squad.

ARABELLA RYAN

Queensland Maroon, Defender

The gun defender is another who was part of the Junior Matildas training camp and has already made a name for herself on the national stage when she set this tournament alight last year with a rocket strike from outside the box.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=971445168322485

MIA TRIMBOLI

Football SA, Goalkeeper

The young goalkeeper has been on the radar for national team selectors for a number of years. Her mum, Leanne Trimboli, played three games for the Australian national team and spent time in the old Women’s National League competition. The younger Trimboli is carving out a name for herself as an impressive keeper on the rise.

‘
SA's young aspiring Matildas - Mia Trimboli. Picture: Supplied

THEODORA MOUITHYS

Football WA, Forward

The classy finisher was one of the stories of the national championships last year, putting herself on the radar of Junior Matildas scouts with an impressive performance. She was called into the training camp in April and will be keenly watched this week as she looks to propel WA back into the finals.

Originally published as 2025 Emerging Matildas Championships: Sydney Sixers star Caoimhe Bray leads elite field of footballers