As we gear up for the new A-Leagues Women (ALW) season, the latest Women Onside Coach Tracker provides insight into the progress (or lack thereof) for women in head coaching roles across ALW teams.
Unfortunately, the news is underwhelming. While we haven’t seen a decline from last season, our numbers are stagnantly low, with only two women, Kat Smith and Emily Husband, holding head coaching positions.
This raises three pressing questions: where do we stand compared to other leagues? Does this low representation matter? And most importantly, why is it happening, and how can we address it?
How Does Australia Compare?
The following table shows Australia's ALW ranks mid-tier among professional women’s leagues globally, outperforming some countries but showing a concerning drop in women head coaches. Two seasons ago, Australia held a promising 40% representation—today, that figure has slipped by 23 percentage points.
To put this into context, Scotland leads the pack, while Norway trails at the bottom. Surprising as it may be, European leagues aren't leading on this front. In stark contrast, the U.S. National Women’s Basketball Association (NWBA) set a high standard last season, with women head coaches helming 75% of teams. These coaches, including Australia’s own Sandy Brondello with the championship-winning New York Liberty, are recognized as pivotal team leaders.
However, Australia’s women’s basketball league lags, too, with just 25% of head coaching roles filled by women.
Why Should We Care?
Football in Australia is proudly championing itself as the sport for women, both on and off the pitch. After the record-breaking 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with its remarkable attendance, TV viewership, and community engagement, football’s leadership has set ambitious targets for gender equity, including a 50/50 representation goal across all roles, coaches included.
With only 17% of ALW teams led by women, we’re not meeting that standard. Professional leagues are where salaries are substantial, and opportunities for visibility and career advancement are significant. By restricting women’s access to these roles, we limit pathways for others, stifling both the growth of the game and its ability to inspire future generations. In short, the rhetoric isn’t matching the reality.
The Roadblock and Path Forward
The questions are clear: why are ALW clubs reluctant to hire women head coaches, and what can be done to change this? Over the next few weeks, I’ll be seeking insights from football stakeholders about these barriers and discussing concrete steps to elevate women in ALW coaching. With this being the 17th ALW season, it’s time to move beyond excuses and make intentional choices to support women’s advancement.
For a deeper dive, the Women Onside website features research on the systemic challenges women face in climbing the coaching ladder. Check out the report here: Women Onside Coaching Research
Maria Berry
Coach Tracker Researcher
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