Inspired by Perry, chasing Kerr: The story of Willa Pearson

Sydney FC may not be in the best form right now, but their future looks incredibly bright. Their defence is being strengthened by a teenager who has already surpassed even Australian legend Sam Kerr in one remarkable way.

Born on Christmas Eve in 2010, Willa Pearson is just 15 years old. Yet she is already a regular part of Sydney FC’s first team — and, remarkably, she is also building a career in another sport: cricket. Even at this early stage, Pearson has already broken two major records.

The first came on her debut in November 2025, when she was just 14 years and 312 days old, becoming the youngest player — male or female — to ever appear in Australia’s top division A-League. Just a month after her 15th birthday, it was an extraordinary milestone.

She broke her second record just two months later, surpassing a mark set by Matildas captain Sam Kerr back in 2008. Away at Brisbane Roar, the young defender opened the scoring early in the second half, helping her struggling side to a convincing 4:0 victory.

Breaking records, starting regularly, and with a huge future ahead — and football isn’t even her only focus. Pearson is also competing at a high level in cricket, one of Australia’s most popular sports.

Two passions, big talent

She has two passions — and she excels at both. Pearson has no intention of choosing between them. Her role model is Ellyse Perry, the Australian icon who proved — not just to the world, but especially to young athletes — that nothing is impossible. That if you love two sports, as both Perry and Pearson do with football and cricket, you don’t necessarily have to give one up.

While Perry now focuses solely on cricket, she also enjoyed a successful football career, earning 18 caps for the Matildas and scoring three goals. It is in this kind of legacy that Pearson sees her own path.

And she is well on her way. Although her debut at just 14 sparked debate about whether she was too young for senior football, Pearson’s performances have shown a level of maturity beyond her years.

She is already gaining international experience too, making five appearances for Australia’s U17 side and scoring twice — an impressive return for a defensive player.

Willa Pearson is a name to watch. Whether she continues to balance both football and cricket, or eventually chooses one path, she has all the tools to make a significant impact at the highest level. And perhaps most importantly — Ellyse Perry has shown her that she doesn’t have to choose at all.

Ellyse Perry isn’t the only athlete proving you don’t have to choose. Czech star Ester Ledecká has shown the same — becoming the only woman to win two Olympic gold medals in two different disciplines: alpine skiing (super-G) and snowboarding (parallel giant slalom).

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, she won gold in both events, and she has continued to compete in both disciplines in Beijing and Milano, collecting successes on skis and snowboard throughout each season.

Like Perry, Ledecká proves that if you truly love both — and you’re good enough — you don’t have to choose. You can excel in both.