Cortnee Vine

You remember the moment, right? That penalty in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup — the composure, the confidence, the sheer willingness to step up when everything was on the line. That’s Cortnee Vine in a nutshell. The Sydney FC forward has built on that platform to become one of the most consistent and dangerous attackers in the W-League, combining lightning pace with intelligent movement and a finishing touch that gets more clinical every season. When she gets a yard on a defender, the race is already over.

Here’s the thing about Vine’s journey: it’s been built on determination and resilience, not shortcuts. She earned her Matildas call-up through the sheer weight of domestic performances, and she’s never looked back. Her work rate off the ball, her pressing intensity, her willingness to track back — she’s a coach’s dream. And at Sydney FC, her partnership with Princess Ibini has become one of the most potent forward combinations in the W-League. Defenders pick their poison, and neither option is good.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Cortnee Vine is at the peak of her powers heading into the 2025-26 season, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. The World Cup heroics elevated her profile, sure, but it’s the sustained club form that has cemented her place among the elite. Sydney FC rely heavily on her pace and directness to stretch opposition defences, and at 28, she’s in the prime window of her career with plenty more to give. This is Vine’s era.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com