Sarah Ann Walsh (born 11 January 1983) is an Australian former soccer player who is Head of Women's Football at Football Australia. A forward, she played for the Australia women's national soccer team from 2004 to 2012.

Early life Walsh was born in Camden, New South Wales.

Playing career Club Women's Professional Soccer, 2009 Walsh was selected in the first round of the Women's Professional Soccer league's international draft in 2009 by Sky Blue FC. On 26 June 2009, Walsh was dealt to the Saint Louis Athletica. She had played in 5 games, 4 of them being starts (351 minutes) before being traded. She also added a goal and an assist for Sky Blue FC.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, 2012–13

In October 2012, it was announced that Walsh had signed for Western Sydney Wanderers in the Westfield W-League in Australia for the 2012–13 season. She was promptly elected captain by the team members.

International Walsh represented Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

On 30 August 2012, Walsh announced her international retirement and stated that her last game would be an upcoming friendly match against the United States on 19 September 2012. After scoring a goal in the friendly, Walsh ended her international career when she was substituted out in the 54th minute.

Sports administration and other roles Walsh is a representative of the Professional Footballers Association's Matildas Delegates' Committee, alongside Melissa Barbieri, Lauren Colthorpe, Heather Garriock and Kate McShea. On 20 January 2010, the Committee and Football Federation Australia announced a new pay deal for the Matildas to take them through to the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup football.

, she is Football Australia's Head of Women's Football, Women's World Cup Legacy & Inclusion. In November 2021, she was appointed as co-chair of the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group of Football Australia. The group aims at supporting and increasing Indigenous participation in the game. In 2024, Walsh was appointed as COO of the Women’s Asian Cup office.

Personal life Walsh began dating American soccer player Megan Rapinoe in 2009 while they both played for the WPS. After approximately five years together, Rapinoe and Walsh ended their relationship in 2013. She has since married a woman named Toni Knowlson.

In popular culture In June 2011, Walsh was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo magazine, along with fellow Matildas Melissa Barbieri, Sam Kerr, Thea Slatyer and Kyah Simon.

Career statistics

International goals Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first. # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 18 February 2004 Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane, Australia 2–0 2–0 2004 Australia Cup 2 4 March 2004 Govind Park, Ba, Fiji 4–0 10–0 2004 Olympic qualifying 3 7 July 2004 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico 1–0 2–1 Friendly 4 2–0 5 19 October 2005 Patriot Stadium, El Paso, United States 1–0 2–0 Friendly 6 30 May 2006 Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne, Australia 3–0 4–0 Friendly 7 16 June 2006 Shanghai Football Association National Training Centre, Shanghai, China 1–1 1–2 Friendly 8 16 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia 2–0 4–0 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup 9 24 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia 3–0 5–0 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup 10 29 October 2006 Gimhae Stadium, Gimhae, South Korea 1–0 1–0 2006 Peace Queen Cup 11 21 February 2007 Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan 1–0 2–0 2008 Olympic qualifying 12 2–0 13 23 February 2007 Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan 5–0 10–0 2008 Olympic qualifying 14 25 February 2007 Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan 3–0 8–1 2008 Olympic qualifying 15 7 April 2007 BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia 1–0 15–0 2008 Olympic qualifying 16 2–0 17 15 April 2007 Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan 2–0 10–0 2008 Olympic qualifying 18 4–0 19 6–0 20 19 July 2007 BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia 1–0 3–0 Friendly 21 2–0 22 12 August 2007 BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia 2–0 7–0 2008 Olympic qualifying 23 16 August 2007 Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China 3–2 3–2 Friendly 24 12 September 2007 Yellow Dragon Sports Center, Hangzhou, China 1–0 4–1 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup 25 1 March 2008 Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast, Australia 1–0 2–0 Friendly 26 3 May 2008 Legion Field, Birmingham, United States 2–4 2–5 Friendly 27 17 February 2010 North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 1–0 3–0 Friendly 28 2–0 29 6 March 2010 Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Australia 1–0 3–2 Friendly 30 27 June 2012 WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia 1–0 2–0 Friendly 31 2–0 32 19 September 2012 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, United States 2–1 2–6 Friendly

Honours Club Sydney FC: W-League Premiership: 2009 W-League Championship: 2009

International Australia AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2010

References

External links

Australia Football player profile Sydney FC player profile Saint Louis Athletica player profile Institute of Sport player profile