3 Filipinas go global at A-League Women in Australia

Filipinas conquer the A-League Women after memorable World Cup season | Photo from A-Leagues/Facebook

Achievements and opportunities keep on coming for the mainstays of the Philippine national women’s football team. 

The Filipinas brought pride to the country and experienced several laudable firsts at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, including their historic maiden goal in their game against New Zealand last August. 

After their memorable season, Filipino-American players Jessika Cowart and Quinley Quezada as well as Filipino-Canadian Jaclyn Sawicki now represent the Philippines and play for the Perth Glory Football Club and Western United in the Australia’s A-League Women (ALW). 

The opportunity came around thanks to the team’s close ties with Australian coaches Alen Stajcic and Alex Epakis, coaches of the Perth Glory’s men’s and women’s teams, respectively. Cowart and Quezada play defender and midfielder for Perth Glory, while Sawicki leads Western United as team captain. 

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For Cowart and Quezada, joining the international team exceeded their expectations despite language barriers and pending duties for the national team, such as the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

“We’re just a very happy team,” Quezada says in an interview with ABC News. She shares that their bond shows on and off the field, going beyond their joint goals in every match and league they participate in. 

Getting used to varying cultures wasn’t an obstacle for the Filipinas either. “Since we’ve traveled a lot and been on different teams, we’re used to it,” Cowart adds. “Having a good culture, coach, staff, and players around us has been so helpful.”

Meanwhile, joining Western United wasn’t initially part of Sawicki’s plan. She was already a general manager at a soccer training facility when the Filipinas invited her back to the field in 2022. This eventually led to her interest in playing in the A-League Women. “It was a great platform for me to prepare me to make the World Cup roster,” she recalls.

Whether they’re playing in national or global tournaments, the Filipinas aim to inspire future athletes to keep honing their skills and turn their passion into professional pursuits. “Hopefully, the younger generation sees us and what we’re doing to know that it’s also possible for them,” Quezada says.