News Ticker
Samantha Lewis
Samantha Lewis (she/they) is a Digital Sports Journalist who specialises in Australian women's football and women's football more broadly.
Latest by Samantha Lewis
analysis
analysis:Can the Matildas unshackle themselves from their underdog story to dominate Denmark?
Australia are favourites to defeat Denmark in the round of 16. But does the team see itself in the same way?
analysis
analysis:'Sign of the times': How football's emerging nations are challenging its established powers
Colombia, Morocco, Jamaica, South Africa, and Nigeria have all progressed to the World Cup knockouts. So how did they do it?
'I was devastated': Why football's best players aren't at the 2023 Women's World Cup
Over the past 18 months, more than 120 women footballers have suffered ACL injuries. FIFA is trying to figure out why.
Updated
analysis
analysis:'Pay them!': Nigeria, Jamaica, South Africa success stories highlight World Cup inequalities
The African and Caribbean nations have qualified for the Women's World Cup knock-outs, but their success belies the challenges they've been battling back home.
With Canada's World Cup elimination, football's greatest striker takes a quiet bow
Christine Sinclair was quietly subbed off at half-time against the Matildas, drawing to a close a monumental World Cup career in a fittingly understated fashion.
Updated
analysis
analysis:Without their biggest star, the Matildas' win over Canada showed us who they really are
With their greatest-ever Women's World Cup victory, the Matildas have shown they are so much more than just Sam Kerr.
Updated
analysis
analysis:As a role model to millions of hijab-wearing Muslim women, Nouhaila Benzina makes history for Morocco
Amid Morocco's celebrations of their first World Cup win, defender Nouhaila Benzina fell to the grass and cried. By wearing a hijab, she had created history and become a role model for millions, writes Samantha Lewis.
Updated
From wearing 'tents' to 3D modelled shorts — inside the evolution of the Matildas playing kit
From hand-me-down Socceroos jerseys to period-proof shorts, the evolution of the Matildas' kits reflects the broader growth of women's football.
Updated
analysis
analysis:Can the Matildas rescue their Women's World Cup campaign?
Australia failed to take their chances against Nigeria. With everything now on the line, will they risk it all against Canada?
'We didn't think we'd get something as confronting': Inside the nude calendar that got the Matildas in trouble with the government
It was described as both "empowering" and "shocking" and was used to raise the profile of the Matildas — but a nude calendar in 1999 saw the team get far more than they bargained for.
analysis
analysis:Should the Matildas' loss to Nigeria be a reality check?
The Matildas dominated Nigeria in almost every category, but what does it matter when they lost the only one that counts, writes Sam Lewis.
Nigeria claim shock victory over Matildas as Australia's World Cup hopes hang by a thread
By Dan Colasimone, Samantha Lewis, and Michael Doyle
Nigeria has put the Matildas on the ropes in the Women's World Cup after defeating Australia 3-2. See how it unfolded.
Updated
How one moment of madness changed the trajectory of a Matildas star's football career
In 1999, just 90 seconds into her first Women's World Cup start, Alicia Ferguson-Cook made history — but for all the wrong reasons.
analysis
analysis:Jamaica, Haiti, South Africa — what the World Cup group stage says about football's new order
Four years ago, a record 13-0 scoreline sparked concerns around an expanded tournament. But the group stage so far has proved the doubters wrong.
Updated
She scored our first goal in Women's World Cup history — but we can't show you video of the moment
Angela Iannotta scored Australia's first ever World Cup goal at the 1995 Women's World Cup in Sweden — but there's hardly any proof it happened at all.
Updated
analysis
analysis:Schrödinger's striker: How the Sam Kerr paradox affects the Matildas
As one of the best players in the world, Sam Kerr will be crucial for the Matildas to go all the way at the Women's World Cup. And that's the problem, writes Samantha Lewis.
analysis
analysis:With an emotional Sam Kerr on the sidelines, the Matildas turned to an unsung hero to get the job done
Australia's stand-in captain didn't expect to take a penalty, but Steph Catley's maturity reflects a team who navigated their unexpected World Cup opener.
Updated
Out of the shadows: How women's football flourished after 50 years of darkness
Women's football started with sell-out crowds in the 1920s, only to be banned a year later. Through five decades of darkness, football's pioneers carried the torch for future generations.
Updated
What you need to know about the Matildas' World Cup opponents
Australia's group-stage opponents are all dealing with issues on and off the field. Can the Matildas' steady ship see them through to the knockouts?
Updated
Galahs, Sheilas and Soccerettes - how the Matildas got their name and what could have been
There are many versions of where the 'Matildas' name comes from — but all of them tell a bigger story about the nation that the team now proudly represents.
Updated
Matildas sound equality call on eve of 2023 Women's World Cup
From prize money to collective bargaining to a full-time A-League Women, the Matildas have used their platform to advocate for the entire women's game.
The game changers — inside the data that shows why these athletes will take the World Cup by storm
More than 700 of the world's best football players will take to stadium pitches all over Australia when FIFA 2023 kicks off this week. The ABC has crunched the data — these are the stars and breakthrough talents you should be looking out for.
Updated
analysis
analysis:Blink and you'll miss it: How the Matildas' win over France reflects their much longer journey
Two-and-a-half years after Tony Gustavsson was hired, has his bigger picture for the Matildas finally come into view?
Updated
Matildas beat France while first World Cup opponent cuts short 'overly physical' pre-tournament friendly
By Samantha Lewis and Jon Healy
Mary Fowler scores the match-winner as the Matildas beat France 1-0 in their final hit-out less than a week before their first World Cup clash with Ireland, who cannot finish their last pre-tournament friendly.
Updated
Stolen jerseys, a broken wrist, and an historic goal — how Australia helped launch the pilot Women's World Cup
In 1988, FIFA organised the first ever Women's Invitational Tournament to test-run a Women's World Cup. 35 years on, the Matildas who were there reflect on how far the game has come.
Updated