Kaitlyn Torpey


Kaitlyn Grace Torpey is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a full back, wingback or winger for Women's Super League 2 club Newcastle United and the Australia women's national [soccer team|Australia national team]. Torpey has previously played for American clubs Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave and Australian clubs Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar and Preston Lions.

Early life

Born and raised in Brisbane, Queensland, Torpey attended Cavendish Road State High School throughout her younger years. She started playing soccer at the age of nine, having previously ventured into field hockey. In 2013, Torpey started playing for the U-13's Olympic FC Girls. She scored 27 goals in 21 matches in the 2013 season and finished 1st on the ladder. Torpey then joined QAS, where she played 38 matches and scored 13 goals when playing for the U13s and U14s. In 2016, she was named in the All-Star Team in her third NTC Challenge competition.

Club career

Brisbane Roar

On 5 November 2016, Torpey played her first professional career game in a 2–1 win over Sydney FC. In her five-year career at Brisbane, Torpey played primarily as a right-back and appeared in 43 matches.

Melbourne City

In September 2021, Torpey signed with Melbourne City prior to the upcoming league campaign. She scored her first goal for City on 9 December 2022, a long-range strike in a 5–1 victory over Newcastle Jets. In her first season with the club, Torpey played in every match and made her 50th A-League appearance. She also re-signed with Melbourne City during the offseason, committing to the club for another two years. At the time of her departure from the club, Torpey had amassed a total of 48 appearances and 6 goals. She had only missed match with City over three consecutive seasons.
Torpey joined NPL Victoria side Preston Lions FC during the 2023 A-League offseason. She scored 9 goals in 9 games for the Lions before returning to Melbourne City.

San Diego Wave

On 6 February 2024, it was announced that Torpey had joined San Diego Wave FC on a two-year contract. Torpey's move to the NWSL set a new record for the sale of an A-League Women player to a different league; transfer fees in women's soccer were previously rarely paid in Australia, with Torpey's fee considered a new benchmark for the league in the global market. Torpey's fee, of around A$75,000 – representing 10% of the value of the List of most expensive [women's association football transfers|women's transfer record] set with the sale of Keira Walsh – was reportedly double the previous Australian outgoing record.
Torpey made her debut for the Wave as a substitute on 15 March 2024 in an NWSL Challenge Cup victory against NJ/NY Gotham FC. A lone goal from Alex Morgan lifted the Wave over their opponents in the one-game competition, giving Torpey an opportunity to immediately celebrate a title with her new club. She earned her first NWSL start on 3 May 2024, in a 2–1 defeat to Seattle Reign FC. Torpey missed several months of 2024 club play due to international duty and a lower leg injury, but returned to NWSL action in late September. She scored her first goal with the Wave on 1 October 2024 in a CONCACAF W Champions Cup victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite.

Portland Thorns

On 5 March 2025, Portland Thorns FC acquired Torpey in exchange for either $10,000 in intra-league transfer funds or $15,000 in allocation money, pending conditions met. Torpey made her debut on 15 March 2025 in the Thorns 1–3 loss to the Kansas City Current. In December 2025, the club announced that following the end of her contract, Torpey became a free agent.

Newcastle United

During the 2025–26 [Women's Super League 2|2025–26 season], Torpey signed for Women's Super League 2 side Newcastle United, joining Australian manager Tanya Oxtoby at the club.

International career

In October 2017, Torpey was called up for the Young Matildas squad for the 2017 AFC U19 Championship in China.
In February 2024, Torpey received her first senior call up to the Australian national team for the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament third round against Uzbekistan. She made her debut in a 3–0 win on 24 February, playing on the left wing in place of Caitlin Foord for the first 45 minutes of the game. Torpey earned her first international start in the next match of the two-game series, scoring in the 22nd minute as the Matildas comfortably won 10–0.
On 4 June 2024, Torpey was named in the Matildas team which qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, her debut Olympics selection. Leading up to the tournament, Torpey struggled with a lower leg injury that caused her to miss a pre-Olympics friendly against Canada. Nevertheless, she was able to play in all three of the Matildas' Olympic matches, coming on as a substitute in the team's first two games versus Germany and Zambia and starting the final group stage match against the United States.

Personal life

Torpey enjoys videography and photography in her time spare time. She has worked with the Professional Footballers Association and her various clubs to produce interviews with her teammates.
Torpey has coeliac disease, and therefore is gluten-free.

Career statistics

Club

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 February 2024Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia5–010–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
2.30 May 2025Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia2–02–0Friendly

Honours

San Diego Wave