From national champion to world stage
It was Cassie who pulled ahead and became the dominant force in Australian women’s disc golf. An eight-time Australian Women’s Champion, 2023 New Zealand Women’s Champion and the first Australian woman on the International Innova Champion Disc Team, Cassie raised the bar for what was possible in Australian women’s disc golf.
Cassie saw the benefits of training- growing stronger, throwing further and mastering the mental game. She showed what was possible and the wins and accolades flowed in. She became the first Australian female player to be sponsored (Innova), pushed for a true FPO division to be opened up on the tour and released a signature disc with help from daughter Lily.
In 2019, Cassie and her good friend Toosje Frequin travelled to the US for 4 weeks to compete in the US Women’s Disc Golf Championships. They visited the Innova warehouse in California and then played courses we all could dream of playing like DeLa, Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course, Maple Hill, La Mirada Disc Golf Course, Winthrop University Disc Golf Course and then headed to the US Women’s Disc Golf Championships in Virginia.
The bigger stages were still to come. In 2024, Australia hosted the WFDF World Team Disc Golf Championships at Mundaring in Western Australia. Cassie was part of the Australian team and was named Team Australia Co-Captain alongside her good friend Patrick Robinson. Unfortunately, Cassie broke her ankle in a freak accident the day before the event was to start and could not play. That didn’t stop her from taking an integral role on the team and leading by example. Australia ended up playing in the Gold Medal match against Estonia taking silver, a huge achievement from both Cassie and the Australian Team. Cassie’s contribution was summed up by Australian Manager Kris Kohout .
“Cass moved quickly past her disappointment and became an amazing leader/selector/administrator/motivator/mentor across the campaign, hobbling around in her moonboot and even caddying entire rounds for the team (not sure how that moonboot looks after trekking 35km through Aussie bushland Cass!). She was tireless and amazing as co-captain both in the lead-up and during the campaign and I for one hope the silver lining from her injury cloud is a rekindling of the fire in her belly to be a front line Sugar Glider either in Chengdu and/or Lithuania, we’re a better team with Cass leading from the front.”
Cassie was then selected to represent Australia at The World Games in Chengdu China, The first time disc golf has been included in that event in 27 years. She will again join the team as they head to Lithuania in August 2026.
Here’s a little bit from Cassie:
From earlier days in 2007 when I started playing all the way through to 2026 the sport has grown so much. With the help of women all over the country, our women’s divisions have grown and we are seeing higher numbers at events right across Australia.
Women in each state are running women’s global events to encourage friends / family to come and try disc golf. Perth – Western Australia being the biggest state hosting 34 players at their last WGE Event. A huge shoutout to Sue Summers and Joanne McCamish.
We see new women players pushing for female participation and with the Australian movement of Birdie Babes created by Tenyse Dark and Ash Dooley this has really directed a new and exciting time for Australia Women’s Disc Golf.
I can’t wait to see what’s next for women’s disc golf here in Australia.
This year marks fifty years since a group of curious players gathered in a South Melbourne park and threw their first Frisbees. In the five decades since, women have been at the heart of Australian disc sports as players, organisers, mentors, and pioneers.
To celebrate this milestone and the 2026 PDGA Women’s Global Event, we’re telling that story in a four-part series. Each week, we’ll share a new era – from the very first throws in 1976 to the thriving community we have today. Along the way, you’ll meet the women who built this sport, often as the only woman on the card, and the new generation who are making sure that’s no longer the case.
Be sure to follow the 50 Years of Flight campaign on Facebook for even more stories, photos, and celebrations as we honour half a century of disc sports in Australia.
Whether you’ve been playing for decades or you’ve never picked up a disc, this story is yours too. The 2026 WGE runs May 15–25, and every woman who shows up is writing the next chapter. Find your nearest WGE event on our website.
We want to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped put this together. A project like this doesn’t happen without the people who capture and embody the spirit of our sport. A special thank you to Emilie Cameron, Cassie Sweetten, Gail P. Lynch, Tenyse Dark, Kingsley Flett (for his photography), and the many other photographers and historians, both known and unknown, whose images and stories help tell the story of Australian Disc Golf. Your contributions are what make something like this possible.
If you would like to help grow the game for women and girls, consider making a donation through the Australian Sports Foundation. This fundraiser is dedicated to supporting the 2026 Women’s Global Event, helping to lower barriers to entry, get more women and girls on the course, and build a future where no one has to be the only woman on the card. Every donation is tax-deductible, and every dollar goes directly toward making disc golf more welcoming and accessible for women at every level. Donate at asf.org.au/preview/back-women-s-disc-golf–wge-2026