Sam Kerr, the captain of the Matildas, is reportedly set to leave Chelsea at the end of the Women’s Super League season. She is expected to join an American club that has only existed for a few weeks. The news has sparked a lot of speculation about her future, especially regarding a potential return to the US National Women’s Soccer League, where she remains the all-time leading goalscorer.
According to recent reports, the 32-year-old has signed a contract with the Denver Summit, an expansion club based in Colorado. This club played its first match last month and is coached by Nick Cushing, who previously managed the Manchester City women’s team. The ownership group of the Denver Summit includes notable figures such as NFL legend Peyton Manning and alpine skiing great Mikaela Shiffrin.
Kerr has been with Chelsea for the past six seasons, during which she has won five WSL titles and three FA Cups. Her performances have solidified her reputation as one of the world’s top strikers. However, since returning from a long-term injury, she has played a reduced role under coach Sonia Bompastor.
Although neither her departure from Chelsea nor her move to Denver has been officially announced, it makes sense for Kerr and her family. Her wife, Kristie Mewis, is a former US international who recently gave birth to their first child, Jagger.
However, Kerr appeared to deny the report on Snapchat, stating: “Don’t believe everything you read in the media man, they know a decision before me,” accompanied by laughing emojis.
The news comes as Kerr, along with Mary Fowler and the rest of the Matildas, and the team that beat them in the Asian Cup final, criticized the Asian Football Confederation for not offering equal prize money to the men’s tournament.
In a show of unity between the two nations, all players from the Australian and Japanese national teams released a joint statement via the players union FIFPro Asia/Oceania. The statement highlights their dissatisfaction with the AFC’s stance on prize money.
Each Matildas player received $US6100 ($8800) for reaching the final, which they lost 1-0 to the Nadeshiko. In contrast, the Socceroos would have received almost five times that amount had they finished runners-up in the men’s Asian Cup final.
The prize money pool for players has not increased since 2022, which was the first time prize money was paid at a women’s Asian Cup. Players from Australia, Japan, and several other competing nations had written to the AFC before the tournament, requesting equal prize money, but their requests were ignored despite projected revenues of $US82.4 million.
“Despite the success of this tournament, it remains the lowest-paying continental tournament in the world, and inequality between the men’s and women’s game remains,” the joint statement says. “Our pre-tournament invitation to the AFC to work together on equal prize money, a guaranteed share to all players, and to co-develop a lasting legacy has so far been ignored.”
“This tournament was also played against a backdrop of real challenges that the AFC and the players need to work in partnership to address. From the players from the Indian team wearing ill-fitting kit, to Korean players navigating ongoing disputes with their federation, to the extraordinary courage of the Iranian players, who reminded the world what it means to stand up for dignity, belief, and what is right.”
“These challenges can only be tackled together in partnership. As we look forward, we expect FIFA to honour its pledge of equal prize money for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and we will continue to fight for equality and respect for women players across our region.”
Meanwhile, Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has unveiled his 22-player squad for the team’s upcoming FIFA Series friendlies in Kenya. They will face Malawi on April 11 and then either India or Kenya, depending on results.
All members of Australia’s 26-player Asian Cup squad have been named—except for Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Michelle Heyman, Katrina Gorry, Kahli Johnson, the injured Clare Hunt, and Kyra Cooney-Cross, who is sitting out the remainder of the season to be with her ill mother.
Their absence has created room for a potential debutant in Leticia McKenna, while Jessika Nash and Isabel Gomez have also been called up.
“This window gives us a valuable opportunity to reflect on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and continue building consistency that will underpin the team over the next sixteen months,” Montemurro said.
