THE CHASE FOR A NATIONAL TITLE BEGINS: WOMEN'S MASTERS HOCKEY OPENS IN ADELAIDE TODAY

The 2026 Hockey Australia Women's Masters National Championships, presented by Polytan, start in Adelaide today. Fifty-one teams from every state and territory will compete across age divisions from 35 to 70+.

The championships run across two venues, the State Hockey Centre at Gepps Cross and Port Adelaide District Hockey Club at Semaphore, until Saturday 3 October. They are part of Hockey Australia's National Championships program, and one of the clearest signs that hockey is a sport people stay in for life.

For many, this week is about more than a medal. Eight selectors will watch the championships, picking the Australian Masters squads that will face New Zealand at the 2027 Trans-Tasman Challenge next May. A strong showing in Adelaide could be the difference between watching and playing.

Six of the teams in Adelaide this week are made up of women in their seventies. Victoria brought two of them, with many of these players first picking up a stick decades ago and haven't stopped.

The championships are supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission as the official event partner.

Hockey Australia, Chief Events Officer Simon Butterly said: "The Women's Masters Championships are one of the great examples of what makes this sport special. Our pathway runs from five-year-olds in Hookin2Hockey right through to the women competing in Adelaide in their 70s, and it goes from strength to strength every year. We thank Hockey SA and the South Australian Government for helping us bring the championships to Adelaide."

The Minister for Tourism, Emily Bourke said: "South Australia is proud to welcome more than 800 athletes and their families to Adelaide for the Women’s Masters National Championships. Events like this not only bring people to the state, they provide a boost to local businesses and showcase what SA has to offer to interstate visitors."

The Opening Ceremony takes place tonight at 5:30pm on Pitch 1 at the State Hockey Centre. With the closing ceremony taking place after the final game on Saturday 3 October where gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in each division across the championships.

For more information about the Masters National Championships click here

This event is proudly supported by the Government of South Australia through the South Australian Tourism Commission.