Jessika Nash
FullnameJessika Jayne Nash[1]
Birth date5 October 2004 (age 22)[2]
Birth placeAustralia
PositionDefender
CurrentclubSassuolo
Youthclubs 1FNSW Institute
Years 12020–2021
Clubs 1Canberra United
Caps 113
Goals 10
Years 22021–2022
Clubs 2Sydney FC
Caps 211
Goals 20
Years 32022
Clubs 3Blacktown Spartans
Caps 38
Goals 30
Years 42022–2024
Clubs 4Melbourne Victory
Caps 434
Goals 40
Years 52024–2025
Clubs 5Central Coast Mariners
Caps 527
Goals 51
Years 62025–
Clubs 6Sassuolo
Caps 616
Goals 60
Nationalyears 12018–2021
Nationalteam 1Australia U17
Nationalcaps 111
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22022–
Nationalteam 2Australia U20
Nationalcaps 220
Nationalgoals 21
Nationalyears 32022–
Nationalteam 3Australia U23
Nationalcaps 31
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42021–
Nationalteam 4Australia
Nationalcaps 44
Nationalgoals 40
Club-update1 May 2026
Nationalteam-update10 July 2025

Jessika Jayne Nash (born 5 October 2004) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Serie A Femminile club US Sassuolo and the Australia national team. She has previously played for Canberra United, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, and Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Women.

Early life

Nash grew up in New South Wales and played for FNSW Institute. Nash started playing football at the age of four. Nash's family was supportive of her career choice from a young age. Three generations of her family travelled to watch her play at the 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship.[3] Nash's father, Don, was a cricketer for NSW Blues.[4]

Nash attended Hills Sports High School, completing her studies in 2022.[5]

Club career

Canberra United

On 20 October 2020, Nash signed for Canberra United for the 2020–21 W-League season, together with Clare Hunt.[6] On 30 December 2020, Nash made her W-League debut against Adelaide United in a 4–3 victory for Canberra. Nash started the match playing the full 90 minutes, with Adelaide taking a 2–0 lead during the match, only for Canberra United to strike back courtesy of a Michelle Heyman hat trick and a Laura Hughes stoppage time winner.[7] Heyman praised Nash for her performance.[8] After helping Canberra United qualify for the finals series with an unbeaten streak in March, Nash was nominated for the Young Footballer of the Year Award.[9]

Sydney FC

In September 2021, Nash joined Sydney FC ahead of the 2021–22 A-League Women season, together with Sarah Hunter, looking to progress her career.[10]

Melbourne Victory

In September 2022, Nash joined Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2022–23 A-League Women season.[11] In August 2024, it was announced Nash wouldn't return to the club for the 2024–25 A-League Women season.[12]

Central Coast Mariners

Following her departure from Melbourne Victory, Nash joined Central Coast Mariners.[13]

Sassuolo

Following a season at Central Coast Mariners, in which she helped them win the championship, Nash joined Italian Serie A Femminile club Sassuolo.[14]

International career

Although the youngest member of the squad, Nash was selected as captain of the Junior Matildas, resulting in Nash being a pivotal part of the team during both 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification and final tournament. Nash made her Junior Matildas debut on 17 September 2018, playing 90 minutes in an 11–0 victory against Palestine. She featured during six matches of qualification and she started all five games in the final tournament, playing 424 minutes.[15][16] Nash made her senior Matildas debut in November 2021 in a friendly match against United States held in Sydney, which resulted in a 0–3 loss for her team.[17][18] In December 2024 she was a substitute in two home friendlies against Chinese Taipei, which Matildas won 3–1 and 6–0.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Squad List, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022: Australia (AUS)". FIFA. 3 August 2022. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Jessika Nash – Soccerway". Soccerway. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Football a family affair for Australia's Nash". the-afc.com. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  4. ^ Houghton, Nick (2015-09-25). "Junior Sport Star Jessika Nash a natural champion". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  5. ^ Nash, Jessika. "Graduation, class of 22 🥰". Instagram. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Hunt and Nash sign with Canberra United". Canberra United. 20 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Heyman's hat-trick heroics as Canberra edge Adelaide in seven-goal thriller". W-League. 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie & Helmers, Caden (2 January 2021). "Michelle Heyman praises Canberra United debutant Jessika Nash". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. ^ Comito, Matthew (16 April 2021). "Jessika Nash named March Nominee for the Young Footballer of the Year". W-League. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Sydney FC Sign Young Duo". Sydney FC. 3 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Melbourne Victory signs Jessika Nash". Melbourne Victory. 5 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Melbourne Victory announces returning A-League Women's players". Melbourne Victory. 26 August 2024. The Club can also confirm that Jess Nash, Kurea Okino, Tori Hansen, Jamilla Rankin and Miranda Templeman will not return to the Club for the 2024/25 season.
  13. ^ "Central Coast Mariners sign Young Matildas captain Jessika Nash". Central Coast Mariners. 25 September 2024.
  14. ^ Woods, Julia (31 July 2025). "Jessika Nash signs for U.S. Sassuolo Calcio in the Serie A Femminile". Matildas. Football Australia
  15. ^ "Rae Dower selects Junior Matildas squad for qualifiers". Beyond 90. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  16. ^ "AFC U-16 Women's Championship - Junior Matildas Squad". Matildas.com.au. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  17. ^ "Australia Women v USA Women". Matildas Match Centre. 27 November 2021. Archived 27 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Summary - Jessika Nash - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  19. ^ Lynch, Joey (7 December 2024). "Matildas outclass Taiwan in thumping win to send off Clare Polkinghorne in style | Matildas". The Guardian. Archived 8 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 June 2025. – via National Library of Australia