Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne's stint with American club Houston Dash is over with the veteran returning to Australia for personal reasons.

The Dash announced on Thursday that the 30-year-old had been granted an immediate release due to "personal family reasons."

Capped 118 times by Australia, Polkinghorne has been with the National Women's Soccer League club since June 2018 and has been an ever-present this season either side of this year's Women's World Cup in France.

Polkinghorne leaves...

Football Federation Australia has named a three-person panel to review national team management following the controversial sacking of ex-Matildas coach Alen Stajcic in January.

Former Australia netball captain Liz Ellis will sit on the panel along with Sydney Olympics bid mastermind Rod McGeoch.

The panel will be chaired by businesswoman Diane Smith-Gander and investigate decision-making processes and the way in which items are reported to the FFA board within national teams.

It will not review...

David Gallop says the A-League's move to independence prompted his decision to quit as Football Federation Australia's chief executive. Gallop will stand down from his FFA job at the end of December.

He has held the role since August 2012 after a 10-year stint at the NRL's chief executive.

Gallop's decision comes just over a week after the FFA agreed to effectively cede control of the A-League to clubs in a new governance model also taking in the W-League and youth league.

He says the fresh governance...

Alex Morgan, Lionel Messi, Sam Kerr and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all won individual honours at Wednesday's ESPY awards, while the U.S. women's national side was crowned Best Team.

Just days after lifting the Women's World Cup in France, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and the rest of the USWNT were on hand to accept the award at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Along with the Best Team award, Morgan earned the ESPY for Best Female Athlete, joking that it was the second best trophy she has earned...

An impasse over creating an independently-run A-League has been broken with Football Federation Australia to soon cede control to clubs.

A new entity will manage the A-League, W-League and youth league in Australia, with a transition from FFA control next season.

The FFA has reached in-principle agreements with football's various hierarchy in a move which also seemingly assure Wellington Phoenix's long-term future in the A-League.

The Phoenix, whose A-League licence was set to expire at the end...