The Short Corner’s proud to bring you Women’s World Cup coverage like never before. Throughout the World Cup, we’ll be exploring the captivating journeys of legendary icons and rising stars as the take the pitch on the world’s biggest stage.

Australia v Ireland (1-0)

The Matildas were rocked just an hour before their opening World Cup match with news that their captain, Sam Kerr, would be unavailable for the first two matches of their World Cup after picking up a calf injury in pre-match training on Wednesday.

But a penalty converted by stand-in skipper Steph Catley was enough to help Australia secure a historic win on home soil despite the tense and nervy performance against a defensive-minded Ireland.

New Zealand v Norway (1-0)

In the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Hannah Wilkinson’s 48th minute goal saw New Zealand earn their first ever World Cup. Despite a grim mood around Auckland due to a nearby shooting incident, a record crowd of 42,137, including the prime minister, witnessed the historic moment. Norway failed to pose a significant threat to New Zealand's defense, and the hosts' disciplined performance, led by Katie Bowen and Ali Riley, secured the 1-0 win. New Zealand now hopes that their form will help them advance from the group stage - a feat that no World Cup Host has ever failed to do.

Player Spotlight - Sam Kerr

Sam Kerr is one of the most prolific strikers in Women’s Football and arguably the face of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. With multiple domestic trophies and a Golden Boot, Kerr’s rise to the top of the sport has propelled not only the Matilda’s to the spotlight but also helped make the WSL among the top leagues in the world.

Born to a family with deep roots in Australian rules football, Kerr made her first team debut for Perth Glory at the age of 15 during the 2009 W-League Season and was voted Player’s Play during her first year. Over the years, Kerr's journey took her to various clubs around the world, including Sydney FC, Western New York Flash, Sky Blue FC, Chicago Red Stars, and eventually Chelsea in the FA Women's Super League.

Her time at Chelsea has been particularly fruitful, with Kerr helping the club secure several trophies, including back-to-back-to-back Women's Super League titles and reaching the UEFA Women's Champions League final in 2021.

On the international stage, Kerr has represented Australia in numerous tournaments, including the AFC Women's Asian Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup, and the Olympic Games. She became the first Australian player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup tournament in 2019 and captained the team to their first-ever semi-final in a major tournament during the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

In 2023, Kerr and the Matildas hoped to take Australia all the way to the end and win a trophy on home soil. Only time will tell if that’ll happen but if it does - Sam Kerr will likely be the one lifting it in August.