Montemurro names first Matildas squad & it features 14 Ninja A-League stars, incl. 4 debutants

Uncapped quartet Grace Kuilamu, Adriana Taranto, Alexia Apostolakis and Sally James are among 14 Ninja A-Leagues stars called up by the CommBank Matildas for international friendlies against Slovenia and Panama.

Joe Montemurro’s first squad since being appointed by Football Australia is an extended 33-player roster for upcoming clashes with Slovenia and Panama across June and July.

Locally-based talent make up almost half of the squad, with Brisbane Roar young gun Kuilamu and Western United star Taranto earning their maiden call-ups, while Melbourne City defender Apostolakis and Canberra United goalkeeper James are also in line for debuts under the two-time Ninja A-League Championship-winning coach.

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There is also a return to the national team setup for Melbourne Victory star and Julie Dolan Medallist Alex Chidiac, as well as A-Leagues teammate Emily Gielnik and Western United’s Chloe Berryhill.

Ninja A-League champion Jessika Nash of Central Coast Mariners has also been selected.

The 14 Ninja A-League players in the Matildas squad come from seven clubs:

Brisbane Roar: Grace Kuilamu, Chloe Lincoln
Canberra United: Michelle Heyman, Sally James
Central Coast Mariners: Jessika Nash
Melbourne City: Alexia Apostolakis, Bryleeh Henry, Holy McNamara
Melbourne Victory: Alex Chidiac, Emily Gielnik, Alana Murphy,
Newcastle Jets: Tash Prior
Western United: Chloe Berryhill, Adriana Taranto

“This is a really exciting moment, not just for me personally, but for the grounding work we can undertake in this window,” said Montemurro, who won two Championships with Melbourne City before moving to Europe where he won titles with Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon.

“I’m incredibly honoured to step into camp for the first time, and I’m looking forward to connecting with the players, the staff, and the wider football community.

“This window is about setting the tone. We’re laying the foundations for the next phase of our journey as we build relationships, create an understanding of our style of play, and enhance the high-performance environment that enables our players to thrive.”

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Montemurro added: “We wanted to use this window not just to prepare for the matches, but to really explore the talent that’s coming through.

“It’s a rare opportunity to work with a broadened squad, give players their first or renewed taste of the environment, and assess where we are as a group. I can’t wait to get to work.”

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“This group represents a balance of experience and potential, and we’ll use this window to connect, experiment, and move forward with clear intent,” Montemurro continued.

“Slovenia and Panama have been strategically scheduled to give us the right mix of conditions and opposition as we begin this phase. With the blend of players in this extended squad, these fixtures allow us to explore tactical ideas, build cohesion, and gradually shape the way we want to play moving into the next cycle.”

Match Schedule

CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Thursday, 26 June 2025
Kick-off: 7.00pm WST / 9.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+

CommBank Matildas v Slovenia
Date: Sunday, 29 June 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+

CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Saturday, 5 July 2025
Kick-off: 2.30pm WST / 4.30pm AEST
Venue: Hands Oval, Bunbury
TV Broadcast: Paramount+

CommBank Matildas v Panama
Date: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Kick-off: 6.00pm WST / 8.00pm AEST
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
TV Broadcast: Paramount+

CommBank Matildas squad