Willa Pearson

Willa Pearson (born 24 December 2010) is an Australian dual-sport athlete who plays soccer as a defender for A-League Women club Sydney FC and the Australia under-17 national team, and cricket as a wicketkeeper for the Manly Warringah Waratahs. She is known for being the youngest player to ever debut in the A-League Women, having debuted aged 14 years and 312 days.

Early life Pearson was born on Christmas Eve (24 December) in 2010.

Club career

Sydney FC In July 2025, Pearson signed her first senior contract with Sydney FC.

In the opening match of the 2025–26 season on 1 November 2025, Pearson made her debut for Sydney FC, playing the full 90 minutes in the club's 2–2 draw at home with reigning premiers Melbourne City. Aged 14 years and 312 days old, she made history and became the youngest player, male or female, to ever debut in the A-Leagues, a debut that made worldwide headlines though sparked an online debate on whether she was too young to be playing in a senior sports league. The previous record was set by Ischia Brooking, who was 14 years and 347 days old when she debuted as a substitute in second half stoppage time for Sydney FC's arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2–2 draw away to Newcastle Jets. At the end of the 2025–26 season, Pearson won Sydney FC Women's Player of the Year award.

International career Pearson has represented Australia as a youth international at an under-17 level.

Personal life Being a dual-sport athlete in cricket and soccer during her childhood and teenage years, her favourite celebrity is Ellyse Perry, an Australian cricketer who also played soccer until 2016 who has represented Australia at both the Women's Cricket World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup, and like Pearson also played for Sydney FC. A hip hop fan, her favourite band is the Australian hip hop group Hilltop Hoods, while her favourite brand is German shoemaker Birkenstock.