Mary Fowler has crossed the threshold from athlete to cultural icon

Mary Fowler is magnetic. An instinctual player who can pull the strings and with vision few possess.

That magnetism extends off the field too. She's become a ubiquitous presence over the past year, gracing the fashion runway, signing a record multi-million-dollar endorsement deal, and writing a deeply personal memoir.

The 23-year-old is one of the biggest stars in Australian sport right now, and certainly one of the most marketable.

But she accepts it with grace and a willingness to leverage her platform and profile, while still staying true to Mary.

When we meet, she's fresh off a long haul flight from the UK, just a couple of days after Manchester City's FA Cup win.

That followed the team's triumph in the Women's Super League a few weeks earlier, both the first major trophies she's won in her booming career.

She featured largely as an impact player off the bench since making her comeback from an ACL injury earlier this year.

Fowler celebrates winning the FA Cup. (Getty Images: Rob Newell/CameraSport)

She's now back in Australia for the Matildas' two-match friendly series against Mexico, as the long road to next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil officially begins.

But for a season that started on the sidelines, she is taking time to soak up the success.

"My rehab made up the majority of my season. So I think in that sense, I kind of separated myself a little bit from the team and enjoyed really being a spectator," she tells ABC Sport.

"And I have so much love for the group of girls there and it was really nice to just be able to watch and not feel envious at all.

Fowler has enjoyed her time since returning to the pitch in 2026. (Getty Images: Martin Rickett)

"I think either way I would have had the same feelings for the team, but on a personal level it was really nice to share that moment with them when I did come back, because they did celebrate me really nicely and it was just a moment that I'll cherish for a long time."

Fowler speaks highly of Manchester City, her teammates, and the environment there, which has helped her thrive, returning just 10 months after rupturing her ACL.

"We've been out a few times [to celebrate]. I'm not built for the life of the party," she says with a smile.

But it was still a significant period to be sidelined and she embraced her time away from football, reinforcing her need to have a balanced life and pursue passion projects.

She has now reached a level reserved for few Australian athletes, effectively crossing from sport star to broader cultural figurehead.

That's been highlighted by becoming the fir