Matildas Stars Shine: Kerr & Fowler End 2026 Season with Glory
Mary Fowler: Return from Injury and Domestic Double
Mary Fowler made her return to competitive action for Manchester City in February 2026, after a nine-and-a-half-month absence due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained in the previous season.
FA Cup Victory
Fowler earned her first cup winners' medal after Manchester City defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley. The goals were scored by Bunny Shaw (37th minute), Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino (66th minute), and Vivianne Miedema.
WSL Title
Manchester City secured the 2025-26 Women's Super League title on May 21, 2026, following a 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion. The result ended Arsenal's title challenge, leaving Manchester City 11 points ahead with three games in hand.
The title was Manchester City's first WSL championship in ten years, and ended Chelsea's run of six consecutive league titles.
"Helping guide this team to the WSL title is something I will never forget. The girls have met every challenge in front of them head-on and have been an absolute joy to coach this season."
— Manchester City coach Andree Jeglertz
Sam Kerr: Chelsea Departure, Goal Record, and Move to Gotham FC
Final Season and Club Record
Sam Kerr returned to play in September 2025 after a 20-month absence due to a torn ACL. She scored 17 goals for Chelsea in the 2024-2025 season.
On April 19, 2026, Kerr scored the winning goal in her final match for Chelsea, a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Her 33rd-minute volley, assisted by Lauren James, was her 158th and final appearance for the club. The goal was her 115th for Chelsea, tying the club's all-time scoring record set by Fran Kirby.
"It was an amazing day, kind of fitting to play against Man United, a team I've scored so many of my favourite goals against, and to score one like that today was awesome. It's also fitting I end level with Fran after we played some pretty good football together."
— Sam Kerr
Career at Chelsea
During her six-and-a-half-year stint with Chelsea, Kerr won:
- Five Women's Super League titles
- Three FA Cups
- Three League Cups
She scored 65 goals in the WSL, becoming the club's all-time leading WSL scorer, and won the WSL Golden Boot twice. Chelsea finished third in the 2025-26 WSL table, qualifying for the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifiers.
Departure and Move to Gotham FC
Chelsea FC announced that Kerr would leave the club at the end of the season. On June 26, 2026, she signed a contract with Gotham FC of the US National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) through the end of the 2030 season. She cannot debut until the NWSL transfer window opens on July 14.
- Kerr previously played for Gotham FC when it was known as Sky Blue FC from 2015 to 2017.
- Kerr remains the NWSL's all-time leading regular-season scorer with 77 goals.
- She will be 37 years old when her contract with Gotham FC expires.
Kerr's partner is former US international Kristie Mewis. She has one son, Jagger.
Matildas Players: Form Ahead of Asian Cup
Both Kerr and Fowler were expected to be available for Australia's Women's Asian Cup tournament, which began on March 1, 2026, against the Philippines in Perth.
Before the tournament, Kerr expressed her readiness, stating her surgically-repaired knee felt "completely fine" and that she was "ready to go." Fowler also demonstrated form in her return, playing 63 minutes in an FA Cup match and contributing to Manchester City's 4-0 win against Sheffield United.
Other Matildas Players in Action
- Ellie Carpenter: Contributed an assist for Chelsea.
- Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley: Featured in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Bristol City, where Foord earned a penalty. Catley was later unavailable for Arsenal due to injury.
- Kyra Cooney-Cross: Missed Arsenal's final WSL match due to family reasons.
- Clare Wheeler: Eliminated from the FA Cup with Everton after a 2-1 loss to Liverpool.