Women and Sport in Australia—New Times?

It would seem there has never been a better time to be a woman in Australian sport. Recent changes in the Australian sport landscape have drawn the public’s attention to issues of gender progress. Notable among these developments was the launch of the Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) and Super Netball competitions in 2017. Both competitions marked a new phase for players of these sports. The AFLW offered women, for the first time, an opportunity to play Australian rules football at an elite, national level. Super Netball ushered in an unprecedented broadcast deal that is reaping significant financial dividends, forming part of the push to further professionalise the sport. This was followed in 2018 by the inaugural State of Origin and national rugby league women’s (NRLW) competition. At the time of writing this editorial, the national women’s soccer team, the Matildas, are positioned sixth in FIFA World rankings (their male counterparts, the Socceroos, sit at 36th), the Jillaroos hold the Women’s Rugby League World Cup title, and the Australian Women’s Cricket Team claimed their fourth T20 tournament victory in 2018, off the back of reclaiming the Ashes the previous year. Moreover, a historic pay deal in 2017 has made playing full-time cricket a viable career option for women.