Steph Catley

Stephanie-Elise Catley (born 26 January 1994) is an Australian professional football player who plays as a defender for Arsenal and the Australia national team.

She can play in many positions in defence, such as left-back, centre-back or sweeper.

She previously played for Reign FC, Orlando Pride and Portland Thorns FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as well as Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City in the Australian W-League.

A talented youngster who played for the South East Cougars in Football Federation Victoria's Victorian Champions League program, Catley made her senior debut with Melbourne Victory at a young age, playing against Perth Glory at only fifteen years of age in October 2009.

Originally used as a midfielder, Catley was a key figure at her club and scored her first goal in her second season three days before her birthday in January 2011, again against Perth Glory.

Following a switch to defence for the 2011/12 season, Catley had her most impressive season to date and was named Female Footballer of the Year.

She later became captain of the Victory, making 51 appearances, scoring 7 goals in her first 5 years playing for the club.

She was awarded the W-League's Young Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season and the Female U20 Footballer of the Year by Football Federation Australia in 2012 and 2013.

Born and raised in Melbourne by her parents Lesley and Stephen, Catley joined her first soccer team at age six.

She was the only girl in the East Bentleigh FC squad, the same team her older brother Daniel had played on.

She noted, "I fell in love with the game and with the idea of making myself the best footballer that I could be. I trained by myself, with my brother and with the other boys in the team until I made my first representative team."

At age 13, she started playing for Sandringham, one of the largest soccer clubs in Victoria.

When she was 15, Catley made her first state team and was chosen for the under-17 national team.

Catley signed with Portland Thorns in the United States' National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for the 2014 season.

Catley made 14 starts in 15 matches as a defender during the 2014 season.

Portland finished in third place with a record.

The third-place finish earned the team a berth to the semi-finals where the Thorns were defeated 2–0 by eventual champions FC Kansas City.

Catley was named to the league's Second XI Team at the end of the season for her five assists.

During the NWSL offseason, Catley signed a loan agreement to return to her original club, the Melbourne Victory, for the 2014 W-League season.

She was captain and a starting defender in all 13 games she played helping Victory finish in second place during the regular season with a record.

Catley scored a goal against Canberra on 28 September lifting Melbourne Victory to a 4–2 win.

She scored her second goal of the season during a 3–0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on 9 November.

After advancing to the semifinals, Melbourne Victory was defeated by eventual champions, Canberra United, in a penalty kick shootout.

During the 2015 season, Catley played in three games for the Thorns as much of her time was usurped by the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Portland finished in sixth place with a record.

On 17 September 2015, newly created Melbourne City announced they had signed Catley on a loan agreement for the 2015–16 W-League season.

Catley was a starting defender in all 13 matches she played.

Melbourne City finished in first place during their inaugural season with an undefeated record.

On 10 December 2015, Portland Thorns announced they had traded Catley to expansion team Orlando Pride in exchange for goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and a 3rd round pick (#21) in the 2016 NWSL College Draft, which was used to select Arizona State Sun Devils defender McKenzie Berryhill.

During the semifinal match on 25 January 2016, Catley scored the fourth penalty for Melbourne City in a penalty shootout win against the Brisbane Roar earning a berth to the 2016 W-League Grand Final.

Melbourne City won the Grand Final 4–1 against Sydney FC.

Catley scored Orlando's first-ever goal in the NWSL on 21 April 2016, which was subsequently voted by fans as the NWSL Goal of the Week.

She was a starting defender in all eleven games that she played.

The Pride finished their inaugural season in ninth place with a record.

Catley returned to the Pride for the 2017 season.

She was a starting defender in all 24 games recording 2,120 minutes on the pitch.

During a match against Houston Dash, Catley's last-minute goal-line clearance was voted NWSL Save of the Week for Week 10.

Orlando climbed the league ladder to a third-place finish during the regular season earning a berth to their first NWSL Playoffs.

Orlando was defeated by the Portland Thorns 4–1 in the semi-final.

Catley was named PFA Women's Player of the Year in 2020.