Matildas FIFA World Cup stars receive MASSIVE accolade that has been reserved for the likes of Don Bradman, Ash Barty, Cathy Freeman and the Socceroos

The Australian Matildas giant-slaying run at the FIFA Women's World Cup has received another major accolade, with the team honoured with The Don Award by The Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

The Matildas became the first Australian team, male or female, to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup in the tournament held in Australia and New Zealand this year.

While the tournament ended with consecutive losses and a fourth-place finish, the Matildas etched their names in Australian sporting folklore for reaching the final stages of the highly successful World Cup.

The prestigious Don Award is named in honour of legendary cricket player Sir Donald Bradman AC, who was the inaugural inductee into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame when it was established in 1998. 

Widely regarded as the highest honour in Australian sport, this accolade is bestowed upon an athlete or team that has, through their exemplary performance and conduct, served as the most inspiring force to the nation in the preceding year.

It is usually an award reserved for individuals like Ash Barty and her Grand Slam tennis success and Cathy Freeman for her iconic gold medal at the Sydney Olympics. 

Sam Kerr and her Matildas became the third squad to receive the recognition, following in the footsteps of the Australian women's cricket team in 2020 and the Socceroos in 2006.

The Matildas beat the Australian men's cricket team, which secured the World Test Championship, retained the Ashes, and won the one-day World Cup.

With the majority of the Matildas squad either in Canada for this weekend's matches or recovering from injury, A-League player and former Matildas star Kyah Simon collected the award on behalf of the squad.

'(The) Matildas caused a seismic sporting shift: transforming women's football, uniting the country, inspiring the next generation of hopefuls, and further elevating women's sport with a long-deserved national profile,' a statement from the Matildas read.

'What the Matildas achieved in the lead-up to the World Cup and tournament proper was groundbreaking.

'They smashed numerous records along the way, drawing extraordinary crowds to their games: nearly two million spectators at stadiums and hundreds of thousands at live sites across the country. 

'On TV broadcast, their semi-final against England was the highest rating program in Australia since the current television ratings system began in 2001.' 

The 2000 Australian women’s water polo team received The Dawn Award in recognition of their battle to have the sport included at the Sydney Olympics before winning the first Olympic gold medal in a nailbiting 4-3 win over the US.

Seven new members were inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Friday: Johnathan Thurston AM, Kim Brennan AM, Kurt Fearnley AO, Lydia Lassila OAM, Nova Peris OAM, Tim Cahill AO and Tim McLaren OAM, while Bob Skilton OAM, Layne Beachley AO and Mark Ella AM were elevated to Legend status.