Australian Sevens star Mackenzie Davis was awarded the 2025 Most Outstanding Performance by an Indigenous student-athlete at Unisport Australia’s awards this week.
The Rugby Sevens and Australian Catholic University student was honoured at the UniSport Sports Awards Presentation at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Her recognition was the latest in a starburst series of achievements on the global HSBC SVNS series circuit, including winning the Junior Women's Player of the Year at the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards.
Davis grew up in Sydney but has a strong link via her mother Tina with the Dunghutti nation on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
“I've been able to connect with mob through sport,” Davis said.
“I'm so proud of that aspect of my life and it's really helped me understand my identity.”
At just 21, Davis has already made enormous strides breaking into a decorated national team that includes world class performers Isabella Nasser, Madison Ashby and the Levi sisters – Maddison and Teagan.
After making her debut in Cape Town in 2024, Davis's speed and dynamic footwork helped her to 16 tries in her debut season.
Davis is in the second year of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree, following in the footsteps of ACU alum, Rugby 7s Olympic gold medallist Emma Tonegato.
Balancing her sporting career with global travel and academia is a delicate and sometimes chaotic relationship.
It evens out harmoniously in the end through membership of ACU’s Elite Athlete and Performer Program.
“I couldn’t do what I do without the EAPP,” Davis said.
“There's times I'm cramming in uni between training or at the airport. But the EAPP understand my schedule and responsibilities and I’m super grateful for their support.”
