Now into well beyond its 100^th edition, the Gold Coast SUNS will today join with the wider football community to celebrate the 2025 International Women’s Day.

Born from protests in early 20^th century United States against gender inequality and oppression, the occasion has grown into a movement of celebrating the incredible achievements of women and a promotion of diversity, inclusion and equality.

While the celebrations take many shapes and forms, SUNS defender Katie Lynch draws inspiration from the beginning of the movement more than a century ago.

“The first thing I think of when it comes to International Women’s Day is not forgetting the spirit of that protest and what it stood for from the beginning, which was taking a stand against gender inequality and oppression,” Lynch said.

“I believe it’s important to channel that through to today because I feel like it can get a little bit forgotten. I think we need to start focusing on policies that are going to help close these kinds of gaps and I think a big part of that is constant conversations amongst all parts of society. 

“That’s really important. People beyond women and gender diverse people have a massive role to play in helping close the gaps, reduce disparity and promote equality.”

This year’s theme of #AccelerateChange is strikingly apt to the 24-year-old who has seen dramatic changes throughout her football journey, correlating with the transformations in women’s football in recent years.

Playing in an all-boys competition until the age of 14, the key defender recalls it was simply relief for 15-year-old Katie that she’d continue having the opportunity to play the sport she loves.

“I remember switching over (to women’s football) and being like, thank goodness I still get to play this sport, firstly,” Lynch said.

“I had an immediate appreciation for anyone who was driving women’s and girls’ football at a grassroots level at the time, because I think they understood the gravity of giving it time and effort.”

Fast forward 10 years, Lynch is now 50 games into an established playing career, remarkably in a fully-fledged national women’s competition.

Only a matter of years after playing alongside boys was the only option, Lynch says today her AFLW career continues to provide her with more than on-field opportunities.

Drafted to Collingwood in 2018 before a move to the Western Bulldogs two years later, a ‘remarkable group of women’ at the kennel shaped many of the beliefs and values Lynch has brought with her to the Gold Coast.

“The constant influence on me has always been my Mum, she’s a very inspirational woman. What she’s been able to do as a mother is so impressive… full-time work, raising a family, you know working overtime in that sense, for not a whole lot. There are still some holes in that lifestyle I guess,” Lynch said.

“I have to commend the strength and resilience she’s shown in being a woman of her generation, particularly when it comes to motherhood and in a family environment. I’m in absolute awe of that.

“In terms of influences along the journey, I think about a time when I was at the Bulldogs and we were really, really fortunate.

“There was a group of women working in our program who were just an absolute powerhouse of a unit in terms of their leadership and how personable they were, they had a massive influence on me.

“Debbie Lee, who’s an absolute pioneer of women’s football… she was a fearless leader in terms of driving our purpose. And Claire Heffernan, who is now at Fremantle – she’s quite an amazing woman as well.

“Then we had a number of coaches; Melissa Hickey, Kirby Bentley, and Natalie Wood, who are all doing amazing things in their own right, still in football. It’s crazy to think that I was at a time where, these amazing, epic women were all in the same room, kind of fostering the group that we had.

“I would have been 20, 21, 22 years of age and so, it's very much a time where I was, in the formative years in terms of, finding my identity and who I was. And I have so much to thank them for, in the way that they've influenced my views, the way I perceive the world and the way I perceive myself.”

As an emerging leader of the SUNS AFLW program and recently beginning preparations for her second season on the Gold Coast, Lynch is hoping to herself play a role in shaping the talented young stars following in her footsteps.

Buying into the 2025 theme of #AccelerateChange, fast forward a decade from today. And Lynch’s hopes for what the world looks like in 2035 are simple.

“I hope it's a place where women are free to be ourselves, we're empowered, celebrated, and compensated for the work they do.

“And hopefully playing at least 17 games per season by that point as well.”