Perth Emerges as Australia's Premier Hub for Women's Sport on Unprecedented Sunday
Perth has been officially declared the women's sporting capital of Australia, setting the stage for an extraordinary Sunday that will feature two major events: the Matildas playing at Optus Stadium and the Perth Lynx competing in a WNBL grand final at the Perth High Performance Centre. Thousands of enthusiastic fans are expected to fill both venues, with even more viewers tuning in via television, as women's sport takes center stage in Western Australia.
Historic Occasion for Women's Athletics
WNBL CEO Jennie Sager emphasized the significance of this dual-event day, calling it a historic moment for female athletics. "Perth will truly be the women's sport capital of Australia this weekend," Sager stated. "It speaks volumes about the momentum behind women's sport. Fans can be part of packed arenas, tune in from anywhere, and witness world-class athletes performing at the highest level across an entire day of sport. That visibility is powerful."
Matildas Star Highlights Growing Support
Matildas standout Katrina Gorry noted the overwhelming support for women's sport, which she observes everywhere. Gorry explained that this surge in popularity amplifies the importance of Sunday's matches, including the Matildas versus the Philippines and the Perth Lynx against the Townsville Fire. "When you open your social media, you see mainly women's sport on it, which is a huge credit to everyone that's broken down those barriers, that's been able to speak up, use their voice throughout it and make sure the younger generation don't have to do the same thing that we've had to," Gorry remarked.
She added, "Now, we get to look back. We get to enjoy singing the national anthem with tens of thousands of people in the stadiums and get to see little boys and girls walking around in our jerseys. It's a pretty special moment. Not just for women's football, but female athletes across the world."
Praise from Opponents and Record Crowds
Townsville Fire captain Courtney Woods commended the Matildas for establishing a benchmark that all female sports can aspire to. The Fire secured a victory in the opening game of the grand final series on Thursday and aim to clinch the championship by defeating the Lynx. However, the Lynx are poised to play in front of a record-breaking crowd as they strive to even the series.
Perth Lynx co-captain Amy Atwell expressed excitement about the sold-out venue, highlighting its positive impact. "It's awesome," Atwell said. "Selling out HPC has been a goal for us and the front office all year. It's great for women's sport, great for women's basketball and great for the league. With the Matildas being in Perth too, and with all the momentum they come in with after the World Cup a couple of years ago, I think women's sport is at a really awesome point. It's really surging."
This landmark Sunday not only showcases Perth's pivotal role in advancing women's sport but also underscores the broader cultural shift towards greater recognition and support for female athletes across Australia and beyond.
