Wellington Phoenix Women's Football Club is a 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.
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 travelling to away games a major barrier. 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.
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.
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. A few days later, they announced former Perth Glory keeper and 2020–21 players’ player of the year, Lily Alfeld as the club's inaugural signing. Alfeld was later announced as the club's inaugural captain.
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.
Ava Pritchard scored the club's first goal in their second game of the season, in a 1–5 loss to Newcastle Jets.
On 11 February 2022, the Phoenix achieved their first win in A-League Women history in a 3–0 away win against Canberra United. The Phoenix finished in last place in their first season.
Second, third, and fourth seasons In the 2022–23 season, the Phoenix finished in last place although they finished the season with three wins and four draws.
In the 2023–24 season, Wellington achieved nine wins and one draw, and for the first time did not finish in last position, by finishing eighth. Venezueluan Mariana Speckmaier scored a club record 10 goals in a regular season.
During the 2024–25 season, the Phoenix finished in ninth position following seven wins and three draws.
Fifth season: Grand finalists
In April 2025, ahead of the 2025–26 season, Football Fern Annalie Longo announced her retirement from professional football. Dominican international Lucía León, American Ellie Walker, Dutch international Tessel Middag, Nepalese international Sabitra Bhandari, and Englishwoman Brooke Nunn were signed as the club's foreign players for the season. On 30 July 2025, the Phoenix signed former Canada national team coach Bev Priestman as head coach on a 2-year contract. That same month four players' contracts, those of Emma Main, Mackenzie Barry, Grace Jale, and Tiana Jaber, were renewed. During the regular season the Phoenix commenced their first three matches undefeated after two draws and one win. In the second match, a 1–1 draw with the Newcastle Jets, both Middag and Alyssa Whinham suffered season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. On 20 December, the Phoenix defeated Sydney FC by a club record 7–0 at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua. From 17 January to 6 February 2026, Wellington achieved four consecutive victories, including a 5–1 away win against the Jets on 1 February wherein Pia Vlok scored the club's first ever A-League Women hattrick. The Phoenix ended the regular season in second place, their highest ever position on the table.
Following a 3–2 aggregate (two-legged tie) win against the Brisbane Roar in the semifinal, with American Makala Woods scoring two goals in the return leg at Jerry Collins Stadium on 10 May, Wellington became the first ever New Zealand club to qualify for an A-Leagues grand final.
On 16 May, the Phoenix faced Melbourne City in the 2026 grand final at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Following a dominant first half from City and a brace from Holly McNamara, the hosts entered halftime with a 2–0 lead. Shortly into the second half, City's Leticia McKenna scored a long range effort. Makala Woods scored one goal to make the scoreline 3–1. Wellington were unable to capitalise further despite a period of dominance, with the score ending 3–1 to Melbourne City. Priestman praised the team's season performance despite the falter at the final, and she stated the club will come back stronger in the 2026–27 season, with investment into young players such as Vlok and the return of players such as CJ Bott and Bhandari.
Players
First-team squad .
Management team Technical staff
PositionStaffManager Bev PriestmanAssistant manager Amy Shepherd2nd Assistant/Team analyst Tory SchiltgenGoalkeeping Coach Nick StantonStrength and conditioning coach Kieran McMinnHead physiotherapist Beanie JoyesTeam operations & equipment manager Toni West-LuamanuRehab Physiotherapist Jamie HassettAssistant Analyst Tyron Curtis
Captaincy history Dates Name Honours (as captain) 2021–2023 Lily Alfeld Inaugural club captain 2023–2025 Annalie Longo 2025– CJ Bott
Records and statistics Record Win: 7–0 vs Sydney FC, A-League Women, 20 December 2025 Record Defeat: 0–5 vs Sydney FC, A-League Women, 30 December 2021 Record High Attendance: 5,923, vs Brisbane Roar at Porirua Park, Porirua, 10 May 2026 (A-League Women) Most Goals by a Player in a Game: 3 Pia Vlok vs Newcastle Jets, A-League Women, 1 February 2026 Most Wins in a Row: 4 matches, from 17 January 2026 to 6 February 2026 Most Losses in a Row: 9 matches, from 10 December 2021 to 4 February 2022 Longest Undefeated Streak: 4 matches, from 22 November 2024 to 21 December 2024; from 17 January 2026 to 6 February 2026 Most Goals In a Regular season: Mariana Speckmaier – 10 goals, 2023–24 A-League Women
Most appearances
As of end of 2025–26 season.
Competitive, professional matches only. All current players are in bold. NameYearsA-League WomenFinalsTotal1 Mackenzie Barry 2021–2 Alyssa Whinham 2021– Manaia Elliott 2023– 4 Zoe McMeeken 2021–2025 Grace Jale 2021–2022, 2024–
Top goalscorers
As of end of 2025–26 season.
Competitive, professional matches only, appearances including substitutes appear in brackets. NameYearsA-League WomenFinalsTotalGoals per game1 Grace Jale 2021–2022, 2024– 2 Mariana Speckmaier 2023–2024 Emma Main 2023– 4 Manaia Elliott 2023– Makala Woods 2026–3 (3)
Season-by-season record SeasonDivisionLeagueTop scorerNameGoals2021–22A-League Women1421111336–23710th — Grace Jale62022–23A-League Women1834112030–101311th — Milly Clegg42023–24A-League Women2291123633 +3288th — Mariana Speckmaier102024–25A-League Women2373132530 −5249th — Olivia Fergusson52025–26A-League Women2010463817 +21342ndGF Brooke Nunn Pia Vlok6
Champions Runners-up Last place Did not make the playoff ♦ Top scorer in competitionEFElimination finalsSF Semi-finalsGFGrand final
End-of-season awards
Season Player of the Year Members' Player of the Year Players'Player of the Year MediaPlayer of the Year Under-23Player of the Year Golden Boot Lloyd MorrisonSpirit of the Phoenix Award2021–22 Kate Taylor Kate Taylor Lily Alfeld Kate Taylor Alyssa Whinham Grace Jale not awarded2022–23 Michaela Foster Michaela Foster Michaela Foster Michaela Foster Milly Clegg Milly Clegg Lily Alfeld2023-24 Mackenzie Barry Macey Fraser Mackenzie Barry Mariana Speckmaier Macey Fraser Mariana Speckmaier David Dome2024–25 Annalie Longo Annalie Longo Annalie Longo Annalie Longo Manaia Elliott Olivia Fergusson Annalie Longo2025–26 Grace Jale Brooke Nunn Grace Jale Brooke Nunn Pia Vlok Brooke Nunn Pia Vlok Mackenzie Barry
See also Wellington Phoenix FC Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves
Notes
References
External links