TFAP Awards 2026

Beth Mooney starred in Australia's triumphant 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign, earning both Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final honours as Australia defeated England at Lord's. She scored 238 runs across seven matches, including an unbeaten 61 in the semi-final against the West Indies and a match-winning 64 in the final. Mooney was also named Cricket Australia's 2026 Women's T20 International Player of the Year, following an outstanding 2025 ODI World Cup campaign in which she finished as Australia's leading run-scorer.

Hannah Green enjoyed an extraordinary run of success in 2026, winning three consecutive tournaments across Singapore and Australia. She claimed her seventh LPGA Tour title at the HSBC Women's World Championship before winning the Women's Australian Open at Kooyonga, becoming the first Australian to lift the trophy since Karrie Webb in 2014. Green completed her remarkable hat-trick with a four-shot victory at the Australian WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove, taking her to two Ladies European Tour titles in just two weeks.

Jakara Anthony made Australian Winter Olympic history at Milano Cortina 2026, winning gold in women's dual moguls to become the first Australian athlete to claim gold medals at consecutive Winter Olympic Games. Returning from a serious collarbone injury, she won World Cup events in Ruka, Val Saint-Côme and Waterville Valley during the 2025–26 season. Her 26th World Cup victory at Waterville Valley also made her Australia's most successful freestyle skier in World Cup history.

Rhiannan Iffland cemented her status as the most successful cliff diver in history, securing an extraordinary 10th consecutive Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series title in 2026. Her victory in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, marked her 48th career World Series win and secured the overall championship with an event still remaining. The Australian continued to redefine dominance in her sport, adding victories in Bali and Copenhagen to another remarkable season.

Torrie Lewis continued her remarkable rise in international sprinting, setting a new Australian women's 100m record of 10.99 seconds to claim bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 21-year-old also reached the 200m final, finishing sixth against a world-class field. Her performances followed a strong showing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she reached the 100m semi-finals.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds cemented their status as a netball powerhouse, claiming the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball premiership with a commanding 61–40 Grand Final victory over the Melbourne Vixens. Losing just one game all season, the Thunderbirds secured the minor premiership and their third championship in four years, recording the biggest Grand Final winning margin in Super Netball history

The Australian Women's Cricket Team reclaimed their place at the top of world cricket, winning the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup with a convincing seven-wicket victory over England at Lord's. Led by captain Sophie Molineux, Australia went undefeated throughout the tournament to secure their record-extending seventh T20 World Cup title and 14th major white-ball world title.

Australia's female para cyclists delivered another outstanding international campaign at the 2026 UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships in Alabama, with Lauren Parker and Tahlia Clayton-Goodie successfully defending their individual time trial world titles. Both athletes added road race medals to their achievements, with Clayton-Goodie claiming silver and Parker bronze, reinforcing Australia's standing among the world's leading para cycling nations.

The Australian Dolphins women dominated the pool at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, claiming multiple gold medals, including victories in all three women's freestyle and medley relay events, with the 4x100m medley team setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Their remarkable success continued at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, where Lani Pallister claimed four individual gold medals, Meg Harris won the 100m freestyle, and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secured gold in championship-record time.

The Sydney Roosters produced a perfect 2026 NRLW season, going undefeated on their way to claiming the premiership with a dominant 30–6 Grand Final victory over the Brisbane Broncos. Their remarkable campaign showcased exceptional consistency, teamwork and attacking brilliance, culminating in one of the most commanding premiership victories in NRLW history.

After taking time away from professional football to prioritise her mental health, Matildas star Cortnee Vine demonstrated enormous courage in working towards a return to the game she loves. Her comeback journey reached a significant milestone in August 2026 when she signed with Melbourne City for the 2026–27 A-League Women season, marking a fresh chapter in her football career back on Australian soil.

After rupturing her Achilles tendon in 2024 and enduring more than two years of rehabilitation, Georgia Godwin made an extraordinary return at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Competing at her first major international event since the injury, she helped Australia claim women's artistic gymnastics team gold, delivering a stunning floor routine in an emotional and triumphant comeback.

Jemima Montag returned to the international stage after distal hamstring surgery in spectacular fashion, winning gold in the women's 10,000m race walk at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 42:13.40. Her victory led an historic Australian podium sweep and secured another major championship title in her remarkable career.

After a devastating hamstring tear and surgery forced her to miss the entire 2025 international season, Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy fought her way back to elite competition in 2026. Her comeback culminated in being named Australia's flag bearer at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, a remarkable achievement after months of physical rehabilitation and uncertainty about her future in the sport.

After 20 months on the sidelines recovering from a devastating ACL injury, Sam Kerr made her long-awaited return for Chelsea in September 2025, scoring her 100th goal for the club in her first appearance back. Her comeback continued with a return to the Matildas, culminating in representing Australia at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup on home soil.

After stepping away from the NRLW in 2025 to welcome her son, Shannon Mato made an inspiring return to professional rugby league with the Brisbane Broncos in 2026, overcoming a hamstring injury that had delayed her comeback. Returning to the field in Round 1 against the Cowboys, the Queensland representative steadily rebuilt her match fitness while balancing the demands of elite sport and motherhood.

Chloe Covell continued her remarkable rise in international skateboarding, claiming the women's street title at the 2026 Rockstar Energy Open in Portland with a winning score of 88.00. She backed up that success with victory at Street League Skateboarding Paris in October 2026, defeating Olympic champion Coco Yoshizawa in a thrilling final by just 0.4 points.

Teenage sensation Ebony Stevenson helped Australia secure bronze in women's 3x3 wheelchair basketball at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, contributing 19 points across five matches. Named the 2025 Western Australian Institute of Sport Young Athlete of the Year, she also represented Australia at the 2025 3x3 World Cup, where the team claimed bronze.

Eileen Cikamatana made history at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, claiming gold in the women's 86kg division with a combined lift of 248kg and becoming one of the first three women to win weightlifting gold at three consecutive Commonwealth Games. Her remarkable strength and consistency have established her as one of Australia's most accomplished weightlifters and a formidable international competitor

Australian diver Ellie Cole enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 season, winning the NCAA Division I platform diving championship while balancing elite sport with her studies at Stanford University. Internationally, she claimed bronze in the women's synchronised 10m platform at the Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing before winning individual 10m platform gold at the Diving Grand Prix in Bolzano, Italy.

At just 13 years old, Leihani Zoric made history in September 2026, becoming the youngest-ever ISA Under-18 World Junior Surfing Champion and the first Indigenous Australian to win a world surfing title. Competing against surfers up to five years older, she claimed gold in El Salvador after also winning both the Junior Girls and Open Women's divisions at the 2026 Indigenous Surfing Titles.

One of Australian rugby's most exciting young talents, Waiaria Ellis made her Wallaroos Test debut against New Zealand in 2025 at just 17, becoming the second-youngest player to represent Australia in a women's Test. In 2026, the 18-year-old played a pivotal role at flyhalf in helping the NSW Waratahs secure their third consecutive Super Rugby Women's title, steering the team to a 34–17 Grand Final victory over the Fijian Drua.

Former AFLW premiership player Abbey Holmes has continued to establish herself as one of Australian football's leading broadcasters, delivering expert commentary and analysis across Seven's AFL and AFLW coverage in 2025 and 2026. Through her engaging storytelling, insight and presence on national television, she continues to break barriers for women in sports broadcasting and inspire the next generation of female media talent

Emma Lawrence made history in 2026, becoming the first woman to join an NRL play-by-play commentary team through Triple M, breaking new ground in rugby league broadcasting. Alongside her role hosting Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show and coverage of the NRLW, she continues to champion women's rugby league and create greater visibility for women in sports media.

Former Matilda Grace Gill made broadcasting history in June 2025, becoming the first former Matilda to lead the play-by-play commentary of a national football match. Throughout 2025 and 2026, she has continued to bring her expertise and passion to football coverage across major networks, elevating women's voices and providing insightful analysis of the game.

Isha Singhal has rapidly built IshaOnTheField into a leading independent platform for women's football, generating more than one million Instagram views per month through her engaging reporting, interviews and digital storytelling. Her extensive coverage of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, including attending almost every match, has helped connect new audiences with the players, personalities and stories driving the growth of women's football.

Proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti storyteller Marlee Silva has continued to amplify underrepresented voices through her work with Channel Nine's NRL and NRLW coverage, alongside her athlete-focused Marlee and Me podcast. Her powerful documentary Skin in the Game, exploring rugby league's role in addressing domestic and family violence, further demonstrates her commitment to using sport and storytelling to drive meaningful social change.

Adam Kersey has been a driving force for gender equality in Australian football officiating, helping secure constitutional changes to the Professional Football Referees Association that opened membership to women and contributing to representation that now includes more than 98% of Australia's elite female referees. Through his ongoing advocacy, mentoring and support for landmark appointments, including the first all-female officiating team for a men's Australia Cup match, he has helped create greater opportunities, visibility and pathways for women in football.

A trailblazer in international cricket umpiring, Claire Polosak continues to break barriers and set the highest standards, having officiated at multiple ICC World Cups and paved the way for future generations of female officials. More recently, she has led the development of a new ICC Level 2 Master Umpire Educators training course, designed to equip international umpires with the skills to mentor and develop officials around the world.

Melissa Sambrooks made history in 2025 as one of the first three women appointed as boundary umpires in the men's AFL competition, adding to an impressive career that includes officiating the inaugural AFLW match in 2017. Beyond her on-field achievements, she continues to champion female umpiring through coaching, mentoring and grassroots development, helping more women and girls enter and thrive in the sport.

As CEO of Softball Australia, Sarah Loh has driven a remarkable resurgence in the sport, securing the hosting rights for the 2027 Women's Softball World Cup and bringing the Australian Spirit's historic home series against the USA to life for the first time since the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Through securing major commercial and government partnerships, strengthening Indigenous participation pathways and championing greater diversity in sports leadership, she is helping secure a stronger future for Australian softball.

A trailblazer in Australian football, former Matilda Sarah Walsh has played a pivotal role in driving the growth and commercial success of women's football, including the record-breaking 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup on home soil. Through her leadership at Football Australia, she continues to champion gender equality, increase investment and visibility, and create opportunities for the next generation of women and girls in football.

In less than a decade, Tasmyn Haynes has risen through the ranks of wheelchair rugby officiating to earn selection for the 2026 World Championship, an extraordinary achievement on the international stage. Her rapid progression reflects her dedication, professionalism and commitment to excellence, establishing her as an emerging leader in the sport's officiating community.

Melbourne Mavericks captain and Australian Diamond Amy Parmenter is making an impact far beyond the netball court as co-founder of The Tie Dye Project, a grassroots charity raising funds and awareness for sarcoma cancer research and patient support. Through her leadership, advocacy and commitment to giving back, Amy is using her platform in elite sport to drive meaningful change, support those affected by cancer and inspire others to make a difference.

Brittany Toy is breaking down barriers for the Deaf community in Western Australia, organising inclusive Deaf running clubs that encourage greater participation, connection and accessibility in sport. As captain of Team WA at the 2026 Australian Deaf Games, where she competed in netball and pickleball, she continues to lead by example and create opportunities for others to thrive.

Former Matilda Chloe Logarzo continues to use her experience and profile to champion the next generation of female footballers, creating meaningful opportunities through initiatives including Future Baller. By providing young athletes with access to elite-level development, mentorship and honest conversations about resilience and confidence, she is ensuring her legacy extends far beyond her achievements on the pitch.

As the founder of Play Like a Girl Australia, Holly Bailey has spent the past decade creating opportunities for women and girls to participate, lead and thrive in sport. Through her Empowered to Lead program and ongoing advocacy, she is building a generation of confident female leaders while amplifying the voices and achievements of women across all levels of Australian sport.

Sydney Swans AFLW player and medical doctor Lulu Pullar is creating meaningful opportunities for young Indigenous girls through her Dreamd Academy, delivering football, leadership and health education in Central Australia. Her commitment to empowering the next generation through sport, mentorship and cultural connection earned her recognition as a finalist for the 2025 AFLW Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Eileen Gu has built one of the most influential personal brands in women's sport, reaching millions of followers across international social media platforms while bridging the worlds of elite skiing, fashion, education and popular culture. Through high-profile partnerships with global brands and her advocacy for women's empowerment, she continues to challenge traditional expectations of female athletes and inspire young women to pursue success across multiple fields.

Faith Kipyegon has become a global symbol of female empowerment, using her extraordinary profile to challenge perceptions of what women can achieve through Nike's groundbreaking Breaking4 campaign. Her pursuit of the first sub-four-minute mile by a woman captured international attention, inspiring women and girls to dream bigger, challenge limitations and believe that barriers are there to be broken

Mary Fowler has become a global sporting and cultural icon, extending her influence beyond football through major international brand partnerships, fashion and her creative storytelling platform My Journal is Full. By embracing her individuality and sharing her experiences with audiences around the world, she is redefining what it means to be a modern female athlete and inspiring young women to pursue their ambitions both on and off the field.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues to use her global profile to inspire millions through messages of faith, resilience, discipline and self-belief, connecting with audiences well beyond the athletics track. In 2026, she also partnered with her father on the On Track with HCM campaign, sharing their family's experience with heart disease to raise awareness and support others facing similar challenges.

Tilly Kearns has transformed her growing social media presence into a powerful platform for women's water polo, sharing authentic, entertaining and behind-the-scenes content that introduces the sport to audiences around the world. Through her relatable personality, openness and connection with young fans, she is helping build visibility for a traditionally underrepresented sport and inspiring the next generation of female athletes