Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women)

Wellington Phoenix Women's Football Club is a New Zealand professional women's football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The Phoenix competes in the Australian premier women's soccer competition A-League Women, under licence from Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football.

Wellington Phoenix Women
Full nameWellington Phoenix Women's Football Club
Nickname(s)Phoenix, Wahinix, Nix
Short nameWellington
Founded10 September 2021 (10 September 2021)
GroundSky Stadium, Wellington
Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua[1]
Capacity34,500
OwnerWelNix Group
ChairmanRobert Morrison
CoachPaul Temple[2]
LeagueA-League Women
2022–2311th of 11
WebsiteClub website
Default colours

History

Establishment

For several years, there have been talks concerning the creation of a professional women's football team in New Zealand so as to boost the level of women's football in New Zealand and Oceania with the cost of traveling to away games a major barrier.[3][4] There were no professional clubs in New Zealand and the National League only featured amateur teams. The talks intensified after New Zealand won the rights to co-host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the W-League plans to add three more expansion teams by that time.[5][6]

In September 2021, Phoenix announced they were one of the clubs in consideration under the W-League expansion and later confirmed creating a women's team.[7][8]

Inaugural season

On 11 October 2021, Wellington Phoenix announced Gemma Lewis would be the inaugural head coach of the side. They also announced that Natalie Lawrence would be her assistant for the 2021–22 season, making them one of two all-female coaching staffs in the A-League Women.[9] A few days later, they announced former Perth Glory keeper and 2020–21 players’ player of the year, Lily Alfeld as the clubs inaugural signing.[10] Alfeld was later announced as the club's inaugural captain.[11]

Phoenix played their home games at Wollongong with the hope of returning to their home stadium in Wellington later in the season. Wellington Phoenix started their debut season in the A-League in the 2021–22 season with a 0–0 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers at the Wollongong Showgrounds.[12]

Ava Pritchard scored the club's first goal in their second game of the season, in a 1–5 loss to Newcastle Jets.[13]

On 11 February 2022, the Phoenix achieved their first win in A-League Women history in a 3–0 away win against Canberra United.[14]

Players

First-team squad
As of 11 October 2023[15][16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Canada CAN Rylee Foster
2 DF New Zealand NZL Zoe McMeeken (scholarship)
3 DF New Zealand NZL Kate Taylor
4 DF New Zealand NZL Mackenzie Barry
5 DF New Zealand NZL Marisa van der Meer
6 MF New Zealand NZL Macey Fraser
7 MF New Zealand NZL Chloe Knott (vice-captain)
8 FW New Zealand NZL Grace Wisnewski
9 FW New Zealand NZL Kelli Brown
10 MF New Zealand NZL Alyssa Whinham
11 MF United States USA Hope Breslin
12 GK New Zealand NZL Brianna Edwards
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 DF New Zealand NZL Michaela Foster (vice-captain)
14 MF New Zealand NZL Michaela Robertson
15 MF New Zealand NZL Daisy Brazendale (scholarship)
16 MF New Zealand NZL Annalie Longo (captain)
17 FW Venezuela VEN Mariana Speckmaier
18 DF United States USA Hailey Davidson
19 MF New Zealand NZL Olivia Ingham (scholarship)
20 MF New Zealand NZL Emma Main
21 MF New Zealand NZL Manaia Elliott (scholarship)
22 GK New Zealand NZL Aimee Danieli (amateur)
23 DF New Zealand NZL Rebecca Lake

Management team

Technical staff
As of 31 August 2023[17]
Position Staff
ManagerNew Zealand Paul Temple
Assistant managerCallum Holmes
Team analystTyron Curtis
Goalkeeping CoachNick Stanton
Strength and conditioning coachKieran McMinn
Head physiotherapistMei Morton
Team operations & equipment managerWendy Turton

Captaincy history
Dates Name Honours (as captain)
2021–2023 New Zealand Lily Alfeld[18] Inaugural club captain
2023- New Zealand Annalie Longo[19]

Records and statistics

Most appearances

Last updated 1 April 2023 Competitive, professional matches only. All current players are in bold

Name Years A-League Women Finals Total
1New Zealand Chloe Knott2021–32032
New Zealand Ava Prtichard2021–202332032
3New Zealand Mackenzie Barry2021–30030
4New Zealand Kate Taylor2021–25025
New Zealand Sakia Vosper2021–202325025
New Zealand Grace Wisnewski2021–25025

Top goalscorers

Last updated 1 April 2023 Competitive, professional matches only, appearances including substitutes appear in brackets.

Name Years A-League Women Finals Total Games per goal
1New Zealand Grace Jale2021–20226 (12)0 (0)6 (12)0.5
2New Zealand Milly Clegg2022–20234 (16)0 (0)4 (16)0.25
New Zealand Ava Pritchard2021–20234 (32)0 (0)4 (32)0.13
4New Zealand Marisa van der Meer2022–3 (17)0 (0)3 (17)0.18
New Zealand Chloe Knott2021–3 (32)0 (0)3 (32)0.09

References
  1. "Porirua to host Phoenix Women". Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. "Academy technical director to take charge of the Nix". 7 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  3. "A-League club aiming to start new W-League team". The Women's Game. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. "New W-League team would likely be based in Sydney". The Women's Game. 14 June 2020. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020.
  5. Gilhooly, Daniel (26 June 2020). "World Cup sparks call for pro team in New Zealand". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. "APL announces plans for expanded W-League". abc.net.au. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021.
  7. Rollo, Phillip; Voerman, Andrew (3 September 2021). "Wellington Phoenix to be included in expanded W-League before 2023 World Cup". Stuff. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  8. Voerman, Andrew (10 September 2021). "Wellington Phoenix to field women's team in W-League with quota of Australian players". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. "Wellington Phoenix Announces Lewis and Lawrence as Inaugural A-League Women's Coaching Staff". Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2021.
  10. "Experienced goalkeeper Lily Alfeld locked in as Wellington Phoenix women's first signing". Stuff. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  11. "Lily Alfeld to captain Wellington Phoenix during debut A-League Women season". Stuff. 30 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021.
  12. "Phoenix draw in A-League Women debut against Wanderers". ABC News. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  13. Rollo, Phillip (12 December 2021). "Ava Pritchard creates history with Wellington Phoenix's first A-League Women goal". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  14. Rollo, Phillip (11 February 2022). "Wellington Phoenix celebrate first win in A-League Women after beating Canberra". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  15. Wellington Phoenix [@WgtnPhoenixFC] (1 October 2023). "The 2023/24 Squad numbers for our A-League Women's team are 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. "Longo to lead new-look Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  17. "New backroom staff for Phoenix women". Wellington Phoenix. 31 August 2023.
  18. Rollo, Phillip (30 November 2021). "Lily Alfeld to captain Wellington Phoenix during debut A-League Women season". Stuff.
  19. "Longo to lead new-look Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  20. "W League Crowd statistics". ALeagueStats. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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