Here are the top 10 women’s athletes to watch when sport kicks off again
Cricket stars, footballers, soccer players — the list of SA’s talented female athletes is endless. But here’s 10 to get you excited for when sport resumes.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Top 10 school sports stars to watch in 2020
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
ANNE HATCHARD (Crows AFLW)
The dynamic midfielder had a standout year in a COVID-19-reduced AFLW season, earning her second consecutive All-Australian honour.
She topped the league for disposals – averaging 25 a game – and was Adelaide’s top contested possession-getter with 11.8 per match.
A two-time premiership winner with Adelaide, Hatchard has only just started to tap into her potential.
CHELSEA RANDALL (Crows AFLW)
The Crows co-captain played no part of her side’s (largely disappointing) 2020 season after tearing her ACL in a training incident back in November.
Adelaide sorely missed her high-marking, kamikaze-style play in the backlines and it will be a thrill to see her back on the footy field in 2021.
ERIN PHILLPS (Crows AFLW)
In a list of top 10 SA female athletes to watch you can never forget to include the great Erin Phillips.
In 2020, the AFLW’s most decorated footballer only played two games in the tricolours, after coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Despite having no plans to retire, the Crows co-captain won’t play forever, so every chance you get to Phillips ply her aggression and skill in a game is a must-see.
JANE CLAXTON (hockey)
Although Claxton is based in Perth she’s SA born and bred.
The Hockeyroo star is on track to represent Australia at the 2021 Olympics after the world’s most prestigious sporting event was postponed until next year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Watching the 27-year-old ‘s progress ahead of the Games will be exciting as will having an South Australian included in the Olympic team after her debut in 2016 in Rio.
JASMIN FEJO (West Adelaide Bearcats, basketball)
Fejo was touted as one to watch this NBL1 Central season before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown the prospect of SA teams joining the newly-created conference-based competition.
The rising star claimed the women’s Premier League 2019 Merv Harris Medal as the competition’s best female under-21 player and was a development player with Adelaide Lightning this past season.
Hopefully Basketball SA can get a state-based competition underway later this year so we can see the 20-year-old take her game to another level.
JENNA MCCORMICK (soccer)
McCormick was given a chance to shine on home soil she played for the Matildas against Chile at Hindmarsh Stadium in November.
Mount Gambier-born McCormick is also a dual AFLW premiership player, having starred with the Crows before giving up Australian rules.
But she decided to refocus on soccer in a bid to earn a spot in Australia’s Olympic squad.
LUCY DONEY (athletics)
After a string of serious injuries, Doney got herself fit for the 2019 Australian Athletics Championships and won gold in the under-18 triple-jump division.
She also represented Australia at the Oceania Area Championships in Townsville that same year.
Once the track and field events resume, the rising star is expected to fire once again.
MEGAN SCHUTT (Cricket)
She’s one of the world’s best bowlers – and the spearhead of the Australian team.
Schutt proved her worth once again in the March T20 World Cup final when she toppled India’s teenage batting sensation Shafali Verma and finished the game with career-best figures of 4/18.
A star at WNCL, WBBL and international level and the exciting star even dons Sturt colours in grade cricket when she can.
TAHLIA MCGRATH (Cricket)
The hardworking all-rounder has been elevated from senior member of the Australia A team, into the Aussie squad, being handed her first Cricket Australia contract in late April.
It’s a huge achievement for the top-order batter, whose international career was thwarted in 2017 by a serious back injury.
RUBY PORTER (BASKETBALL)
Sturt guard Ruby Porter dominated for the Sabres during the 2019 women’s Premier League season leading the side reach the grand final before losing to Forestville by three points.
She has also represented Australia, helping the nation to a bronze medal at the 2018 under-17 world cup.
Porter is certainly a naturally skilled basketballer and one to keep an eye on in the future.
Originally published as Here are the top 10 women’s athletes to watch when sport kicks off again