Adelaide United Goalkeeper Grace Wilson Makes History as First Non-Binary Professional Footballer in Australia

Grace Wilson, goalkeeper for Adelaide United and the Young Matildas, has garnered widespread praise for their courage in becoming the first professional footballer in Australia to publicly come out as non-binary.

Wilson shared their identity as non-binary on Friday, receiving overwhelming support from teammates, management, and staff at Adelaide United’s A-League Women’s club.

“The response was incredibly positive,” Wilson expressed. “The girls were supportive, offering hugs and applause. It was an uplifting experience, and I felt completely embraced.”

Recognized as a promising talent, Grace Wilson was recently named in the Young Matildas squad for the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.

For Wilson, their gender identity does not conform to traditional binary norms, and publicly acknowledging this aspect of themselves brought immense relief.

“Every non-binary individual’s journey is unique,” Wilson explained. “Growing up, I didn’t adhere to societal gender norms, but as I matured, I felt the weight of those expectations. Embracing ‘they/them’ pronouns for the first time was liberating. I simply wanted to be authentic.”

While Wilson is the first ALW player to openly identify as non-binary, it’s possible that others in the league share similar identities. AFLW athlete Darcy Vescio previously came out as non-binary in 2021, following Tori Groves-Little’s footsteps.

Adelaide United has a history of promoting gender equality and inclusivity, notably supporting men’s player Josh Cavallo when he came out as gay in 2021, making him the only openly gay man in any top flight league at the time.

Internationally, Canada midfielder Quinn made headlines as the first transgender and non binary individual to compete in a FIFA World Cup last year.

In response to Wilson’s announcement, Adelaide United released a statement reaffirming their commitment to equality and inclusivity, with Marius Zanin, the club’s head of football, praising Wilson’s bravery and emphasizing the club’s dedication to fostering an inclusive environment for all individuals.

Adelaide United Football Club stands proudly at the fore front of this progressive movement, advocating for equality both on and off the pitch.