Canberra United striker Michelle Heyman has urged basketball and cricket to jump on the fast-moving Matildas bandwagon by targeting sell-out crowds for the WNBL and women's Ashes in Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Heyman joined the Matildas for the first time in 12 months when they beat Brazil in front of more than 16,000 fans in Newcastle on Tuesday night.
It capped off a whirlwind week for the national women's team after attracting more than 31,000 supporters to two games in a watershed moment for female athletes.
The Canberra Capitals and Cricket Australia are hopeful they can cash in on the Matildas' success as they set their sights on capacity crowds in October and November.
The Capitals start their WNBL campaign at a new home at the National Convention Centre on October 6 while the Australian cricket side will play against England at Manuka Oval on November 19 and 21.
Heyman will join Canberra United for its W-League season and is hopeful the wave of momentum will continue during the domestic competitions.
"It's the best feeling to get that jersey back on and be a part of the squad ... and the girls killed it," Heyman said.
"The crowd was insane. That's the best word to describe it. Just seeing so many people support female sport ... it's been a long time coming. It was amazing to be part of something so special.
"Those matches against Brazil prove people want to come out and support females in sport. Now it's about making sure we market the W-League, the Capitals and the cricket so people know it's on.
"Fingers crossed everyone jumps on the bandwagon and supports it at the next level as well."
Capitals coach Paul Goriss said the all women's sports could use the Matildas as an example of how to captivate community support.
The Capitals will shift home games to the National Convention Centre this year and hope the intimate setting, as well as a renewed presence on television, will help lure crowds back into the stands.
"Moving to a new court in the city, our goal is to sell out that stadium regularly," Goriss said.
"It was great to see what the Matildas did for women's sport, and it is on another level because they are the national team.
"But the Convention Centre isn't so big that we shouldn't be able to fill it out with passionate fans who want to see great athletes playing sport.
"That's our goal. We want to sell it out and the girls would love to see that."
The Australian women's cricket team will play against England in two Twenty20s at Manuka Oval on November 19 and 21.
Cricket ACT has set the ambitious target of selling all tickets and attracting a crowd of more than 11,000 for the two games.
Australian big-hitter Elyse Villani was impressed with the reception the Matildas were given in Newcastle on Tuesday night and hoped cricket supporters would join the rise.
"That was a great atmosphere to watch on TV so there's nothing I'd love more than for thousands to come down to Manuka Oval and watch us strut our stuff as well," Villani said at St Clare's College on Wednesday.
"The great thing about cricket and women playing cricket now is that it is standing on its own two feet and we're really showing everyone how we go about our sport."
The ACT government was considering bidding to host women's soccer World Cup games in Canberra if the FFA was successful in winning the rights to host the tournament in 2023.
Heyman has been plagued by an ankle injury for the past nine months but was recalled to the Matildas' bench on Tuesday for the first time since the Rio Olympic Games.
"I still need a few more games under my belt. But it is the best feeling to know that I can play again," Heyman said.
"I felt like myself again being able to play. I think that was the finish of my rehab, I haven't had any pain in my ankle since day one of Matildas camp."
