The top ten most influential women in Tassie sport
From leadership in the front office to star studded displays, we’ve listed the most influential women in Tassie sport to help celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday. Cast your vote here.
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Whether it’s in the front office or the thick of the action, a number of inspirational women have made their mark on Tasmanian sport.
To celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday, here’s our list of who has been the most influential over the past year.
1. Ariarne Titmus
Is Launceston’s swimming queen the state’s greatest athlete of all time?
There’s an overwhelming case to say yes after Titmus added to her already overwhelming legacy with another Olympic medal haul in Paris.
She won gold in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m relay, as well as silver in the 200m and 400m freestyle.
Her Olympic medal tally now stands at four gold, three silver, and one bronze.
Hands off, Queensland. Tasmanian blood runs through her veins.
2. Christine Finnegan
It’s no secret strong leadership has been a key ingredient in the JackJumpers’ immediate success.
Finnegan was announced as sole CEO in September, 2023, and under coach Scott Roth the Jackies went on to win their maiden NBL title in just their third season in 2024-25.
The club has virtually ticked every box, on court and off, and have done a terrific job of capturing the imagination of the entire state.
Finnegan is also the driving force behind the club’s bid for a WNBL team, and will put a submission to the NBL later this month.
3. Kath McCann
The Tasmania Devils’ executive director has one of the most important and high pressure roles in the state right now.
She’s responsible for helping make critical decisions which can make or break the Devils’ success in their initial years in the AFL.
McCann is a marking and leadership specialist and getting the right people in place in key departments within the club is the biggest task on their ‘to do’ list right now.
4. Salliann Beams
Beams is a journo’s dream - ask her a question and she’ll be honest, direct and straight to the point.
You get the impression that’s what’s helped make her a successful leader as Cricket Tasmania’s high performance manager.
A former Hurricanes WBBL and Tigers WNCL head coach, Beams has been a major factor in Tasmania winning three straight WNCL titles, and the men’s program is on the right track after making last season’s Shield final.
5. Jess Wuetschner
The Devils under-18 girls coach is charged with helping the state’s best young talents develop enough to press for a chance in the AFLW.
With Tasmania set for its own team soon, the Brisbane Lions premiership player will be aiming to ensure as many home grown talents as possible are good enough to press for a spot.
6. Alanna Smith
Like Titmus, Smith hasn’t lived in the state for some time but the star basketballer still prides herself on being Tasmanian.
Smith was arguably the Australian Opals’ best player at the Paris Olympics, helping guide them to a bronze medal.
The forward showed why she was unlucky to miss world championships selection a couple of years earlier, and also was a key cog in the Minnesota Lynx making the WNBA Finals.
7. Georgia Baker
Tasmania has produced plenty of great cyclists, and the Perth product is one of its best ambassadors.
She competed in her third Olympics in Paris and won world championships gold in team pursuit in 2019, and claimed three golds (points race, team pursuit, road race) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Baker still returns home regularly to visit students at Perth Primary School.
8. Maddison Brooks
Brooks has burst onto the Hockeyroos scene the past two years, playing 32 games and scoring six goals for her country.
The 20-year-old made her Olympics debut after replacing the injured Alice Arnott in the squad, and didn’t look out of place in Paris.
She looks to have a long international career ahead of her as part of a new era for Australian hockey.
9. Elyse Villani
Luring the top order batter to Tasmania was a key catalyst in the Tigers’ dominance of the WNCL for three years.
Coming off a summer where she was the WNCL’s leading run scorer and player of the year with Victoria, Villani has been in Tasmania since the 2020-21 season.
The captain spearheaded the Tigers’ three straight WNCL titles, a dynasty which ended when they finished third this season.
10. Sarah Hawe
The two-time Olympian came agonisingly close to her maiden medal as part of Australia’s women’s eights crew which finished fourth in the final at Paris.
They finished just over a second behind bronze medallists Great Britain. Hawe is a two-time world champion in the women’s four and was the 2017 Tasmanian athlete of the year.
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