Jessika Nash Explained

Jessika Nash
Fullname:Jessika Jayne Nash[1]
Birth Date:2004 10, df=yes[2]
Birth Place:Australia
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Melbourne Victory
Clubnumber:5
Youthclubs1:FNSW Institute
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Canberra United
Caps1:13
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Sydney FC
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Blacktown Spartans
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–
Clubs4:Melbourne Victory
Caps4:34
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2018–
Nationalteam1:Australia U17
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:27 May 2024
Nationalyears2:2022–
Nationalteam2:Australia U23
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2021–
Nationalteam3:Australia
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalteam-Update:27 November 2021

Jessika Jayne Nash (born 5 October 2004) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women. She has previously played for Canberra United and Sydney FC.

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]

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.[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Squad List, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022: Australia (AUS) . . 1 . 3 August 2022 . 3 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Jessika Nash – Soccerway . Soccerway . 12 January 2020 . 12 January 2020.
  3. Web site: Football a family affair for Australia's Nash. 2019-09-20. the-afc.com. en. 2021-01-13.
  4. Web site: Junior Sport Star Jessika Nash a natural champion. 2015-09-25. The Daily Telegraph. en. 2021-01-13. Houghton. Nick.
  5. Web site: Nash . Jessika . Graduation, class of 22 . Instagram . 17 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Hunt and Nash sign with Canberra United. Canberra United. 20 October 2020.
  7. Web site: Heyman's hat-trick heroics as Canberra edge Adelaide in seven-goal thriller. 30 December 2020. W-League. en-US. 30 December 2020. 14 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210314013009/https://www.w-league.com.au/news/canberra-united-v-adelaide-united-match-report-goals-video-highlight-updates-live. dead.
  8. Web site: Michelle Heyman praises Canberra United debutant Jessika Nash. 2 January 2021. The Canberra Times. en. 13 January 2021. Bertoldo. Lucie. Helmers. Caden.
  9. Web site: Jessika Nash named March Nominee for the Young Footballer of the Year. Matthew. Comito. W-League. 16 April 2021. 28 April 2021. 9 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210509083343/https://www.w-league.com.au/news/jessika-nash-named-march-nominee-young-footballer-year. dead.
  10. Web site: Sydney FC Sign Young Duo. Sydney FC. 3 September 2021.
  11. Web site: Melbourne Victory signs Jessika Nash. Melbourne Victory. 5 September 2022.
  12. Web site: Rae Dower selects Junior Matildas squad for qualifiers. 2019-09-11. Beyond 90. en. 2019-09-11.
  13. Web site: AFC U-16 Women's Championship - Junior Matildas Squad. 2019-09-04. Matildas.com.au. en-US. 2019-09-04.