Erin Phillips is one of Australia’s most accomplished and versatile athletes, renowned for her exceptional achievements in both professional basketball and Australian rules football. Her sporting journey is a testament to her talent, perseverance, and ability to excel across multiple disciplines.
Phillips began her elite sporting career in basketball, debuting with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL in 2002. She quickly rose through the ranks to represent Australia on the international stage, becoming a key member of the Opals. In 2006, she played an integral role in Australia’s FIBA World Championship victory and also secured gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Her success at the national level opened doors internationally, and in 2005 she was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. Over a nine-year WNBA career, she played with teams including the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, and Phoenix Mercury. She won two WNBA championships in 2012 and 2014, earned All-Star recognition, and led the league in three-point shooting accuracy in 2014. Her basketball career included over 220 WNBA games, and she remains one of the few Australians to win multiple WNBA titles.
Despite her basketball success, Phillips never lost her passion for Australian rules football. She grew up playing footy, following in the footsteps of her father, Greg Phillips, a Port Adelaide legend. However, due to limited opportunities for women in the sport at the time, she chose to pursue basketball as a teenager.
When the AFLW launched in 2017, Phillips made a remarkable return to football, joining the Adelaide Crows as a cross-code rookie. Her impact on the AFLW was immediate and profound. In her debut season, she led the Crows to a premiership and was awarded the league’s Best and Fairest medal, setting the standard for excellence in the competition. She went on to win another league Best and Fairest in 2019 and was a key figure in three premiership teams with Adelaide.
Known for her elite skills, leadership, and tenacity, Phillips earned multiple All-Australian selections and captained both Adelaide and Port Adelaide in her AFLW career. In 2022, she made a historic move to become Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW signing, fulfilling a lifelong dream to represent her father’s club.
Phillips retired from football in 2023 with 66 AFLW games, 50 goals, and over 1,000 career disposals to her name. Off the field, she has remained a powerful advocate for women in sport and is active in coaching, mentoring, and media. She works with the AFL in player and club engagement and is a commentator with Channel 7.
In June 2025, Erin Phillips was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, a fitting honour for a trailblazer whose legacy transcends any single sport. Her journey continues to inspire young athletes across Australia, showing that barriers can be broken and excellence achieved, no matter the arena.
