Holly McNamara

McNamara was born in 2003 in Sydney, New South Wales.^[5][6] She played as a junior for Ermington United in the Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association.^[5] During 2016 she played for Blacktown Spartans under-13 alongside future national teammates, Bryleeh Henry and Jessika Nash.^[7]

From 2017 to 2021 McNamara played for Football NSW Institute (FNSW Institute) in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women's (NPL NSW Women).^[5][8] During 2018 she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for the first time.^[9][10][11] Her subsequent recovery was followed by the cancellation of remainder of NPL NSW Women's 2021 matches after August due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[10][11][12]

In December 2021, McNamara made her A-League Women debut for Melbourne City in a 1–0 win over Canberra United, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring the game's only goal.^[13][14] In February 2022, McNamara had another ruptured ACL, in a match against Sydney FC, which shortened her debut season to eight appearances and four goals provided.^[1][15] Her team finished runners-up to the Premiers, Sydney and lost the Preliminary Final 1–3 against cross-town rivals, Melbourne Victory FC.^[16] Despite her abbreviated season McNamara was awarded A-League Women Young Footballer of the Year at the Dolan Warren Awards in May 2022.^[17][18] During the 2022 A-League off-season she joined APIA Leichhardt in the NPL NSW Women.^[5] She returned from injury in March 2023, during City's 2022–23 season, and appeared six times for one goal.^[1] Once again she played for APIA Leichhardt during A-League 2023 off-season.^[5]

During the 2023–24 season for Melbourne City, McNamara only played five matches kicking six goals,^[1] before she acquired her third ACL injury.^[19] This occurred on 19 November 2023, during her match against Newcastle Jets, where she had scored two goals.^[20] Melbourne City continued the season to become Premiers,^[21] and runners-up to Champions, Sydney, in the grand final in May 2024.^[22] McNamara returned to the squad in the 2024–25 season where she scored 15 goals in 17 appearances.^[1] Her tally included two hat-tricks: the first was against Western United on 4 February 2025,^[23] and the second against Adelaide United on 16 March.^[24] As the league's leading goalscorer for the season she was awarded the Golden Boot.^[25][26]

Melbourne City were Premiers again, but were eliminated in the two-leg semifinals against Central Coast Mariners, who were eventual Champions.^[27] As Premiers Melbourne City qualified for the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League joining at the 2024-25 group stage in Group B. After winning all three group matches they advanced to quarter-finals where they won 3–0 against Taichung Blue Whale with McNamara scoring the third goal from the penalty spot.^[28] In the final they finished runners-up by losing a penalty shoot-out 4–5 against Wuhan Jiangda after extra time being drawn 1–1.^[29]

In June–July 2018, McNamara represented Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (Young Matildas) at the AFF Women's Championship, held in Indonesia.^[30] They competed against senior ASEAN teams. She debuted as a defender in their 9–0 defeat of Timor-Leste and kicked her first goal for the team in a 12–0 victory against Cambodia.^[31][32] The Young Matildas reached the final, but lost 2–3 against Thailand.^[33] In August of that year she joined the Australia women's national under-17 soccer team (Junior Matildas) training camp ahead of their 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification campaign, however she tore her ACL during a practice match before making her debut.^[34][10]

After an impactful early five games for Melbourne City FC, McNamara was called up for the Australia women's national soccer team (Matildas) for the first time. She participated in a training camp ahead of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup,^[35] and on 17 January 2022, McNamara was selected for the tournament squad along with Cortnee Vine.^[36] She debuted for Australia in their opening match, an 18–0 defeat of Indonesia.^[37] The Matildas were eliminated in the quarterfinal's 0–1 loss against South Korea.^[38]

McNamara was recalled to the Matildas squad in April 2023 ahead of two friendlies against Scotland and England, in London.^[39][40] However, she was "medically withdrawn" and returned to Australia before the first match.^[41] She was named to the Matildas squad on 18 November 2023 for two international friendly matches against Canada.^[42] Days before she was set to link up with the squad, McNamara ruptured her ACL for the third time (see above).^[43][44]

On 4 February 2025, McNamara was named in the Matildas squad for the SheBelieves Cup in United States.^[45][46] After 1,119 days, McNamara made her return to the Matildas against Japan, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute.^[47] She scored her first international goal for the Matildas against Slovenia in Perth on 26 June 2025.^[48]