Lydia Williams

After playing junior football for Tuggeranong and Woden in the Australian Capital Territory, Williams joined the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program. Her longtime coach and mentor has been Paul Jones, who later started coaching Jada Mathyssen-Whyman. Williams joined Australian W-League team Canberra United in 2008 and made 11 appearances for the club as their starting goalkeeper during the 2009 W-League season. Canberra finished in fourth place during the regular season with a 4–4–2 record, earning a berth to the Playoffs. Canberra was defeated 3–0 by eventual Grand Final winners, Sydney FC. During the 2010–11 W-League, Williams was the starting goalkeeper in all eleven matches. Canberra finished in third place with a 5–3–2 record. After advancing to the Playoffs, they faced Brisbane Roar in the semi-finals and tied 2–2 leading to a penalty kick shootout in which Canberra lost 2–4.

Western New York Flash, Canberra United, and Houston Dash: 2014–17

In 2014, the Western New York Flash signed Williams to be their starting goalkeeper following a season-ending injury to Adrianna Franch. Williams started 14 games in goal for the Flash. She recorded two clean sheets in 2014 prior to suffering a season-ending ACL injury while competing at the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup with the Australian national team. In September 2014, Williams was waived by the Flash and was selected by Washington Spirit for the 2015 season, though she did not play for the team. After…

Williams has represented Australia on the senior and under-20 national teams. She earned her first training camp call-up with the senior national team at age 15. It was the first time she'd heard of the Matildas. In 2006, she competed with Australia at the AFC Women's Asian Cup and 2006 FIFA World Under 20 Women's Championship. At age 19, Williams was selected to the Matildas squad for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, though she did not play. Australia finished second in their group and were knocked out by Brazil during a 3–2 quarterfinal match. She shared the starting goalkeeper role with veteran Matilda Melissa Barbieri at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. During the team's first group stage match against Brazil, Barbieri helped keep the rivals to a 1–0 scoreline. Williams was the starting goalkeeper for Australia's next match against Equatorial Guinea and helped the Matildas win 3–2. Barbieri was in goal for the team's last group stage match: a 2–1 win over Norway. Australia finished second in their group and advanced to the quarterfinals where they were knocked out by Sweden 3–1 with Barbieri in goal. Williams was the starting goalkeeper in all but one of Australia's matches at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. The team lost 3–1 to the United States during their first group stage match with Barbieri between the posts. Williams helped hold Nigeria to a 2–0 clean sheet in the team's second group stage match and a 1–1 draw against Sweden.…

Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams was born on 13 May 1988 in Katanning, Western Australia. Williams was raised by her Noongar Aboriginal father and American mother in the regional mining town of Kalgoorlie. She spent most of her primary school years in Kalgoorlie, where she attended St Joseph's School. Williams' family left Kalgoorlie for Canberra when she was eleven years old. In November 2019, Williams authored a children's book called, Saved!!!, which drew on her life experiences, from growing up in the desert to achieving success as an Aboriginal female football player.

Williams has a pet dog named Caviar. In August 2025, Williams announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with her first child. She is a Christian.