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, WelNix, Nix
Short nameWellington
Founded10 September 2021 (10 September 2021)
GroundSky Stadium, Wellington
Capacity34,500
OwnerWelNix Group
ChairmanRobert Morrison
CoachGemma Lewis
LeagueA-League Women
2021–2210th of 10
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.[1][2] 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.[3][4]

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.[5][6]

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.[7] 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.[8] Alfeld was later announced as the club's inaugural captain.[9]

Phoenix will play 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. [10]

Ava Pritchard scored the club's first goal in their second game of the season, in a 1–5 loss to Newcastle Jets.[11]

On 11 February 2022, the Phoenix achieved their first win in A-League Women history in a 3–0 away win against Canberra United.[12]

Players

First-team squad
As of 3 November 2021[8][13][14][15][16][17]

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  NZL Lily Alfeld (captain)
2 DF  NZL Saskia Vosper
3 DF  NZL Kate Taylor (vice-captain)
4 DF  NZL Mackenzie Barry
5 FW  AUS Jordan Jasnos
6 MF  AUS Isabel Gomez
7 MF  NZL Chloe Knott
8 FW  NZL Grace Wisnewski
9 FW  NZL Ava Pritchard
10 MF  NZL Grace Jale
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW  NZL Kelli Brown
12 GK  AUS Brianna Edwards
13 MF  NZL Te Reremoana Walker
14 DF  AUS Cushla Rue
15 DF  NZL Zoe McMeeken
16 MF  AUS Hannah Jones
17 DF  AUS Talitha Kramer
18 DF  AUS Annabel Martin
19 DF  NZL Charlotte Lancaster (scholarship)
20 MF  NZL Alyssa Whinham

Management team

Technical staff
As of 1 November 2021[7][18]
Position Staff
Manager Gemma Lewis
Assistant manager Natalie Lawrence
Goalkeeping CoachTrinity Allen
Team analystAlice Noyer
Strength and conditioning coachDaniel Gordon
Football operations managerTracey Spray
Head physiotherapistBrendan Wyatt
Equipment managerEstelle Harrison

References
  1. "A-League club aiming to start new W-League team". The Women's Game. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. "New W-League team would likely be based in Sydney". The Women's Game. 14 June 2020.
  3. Gilhooly, Daniel (26 June 2020). "World Cup sparks call for pro team in New Zealand". The Women's Game. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. "APL announces plans for expanded W-League". abc.net.au. 2 September 2021.
  5. "Wellington Pheonix in the running for new women's professional team as W-League announces expansion plans". The New Zealand Herald. 2 September 2021.
  6. Andrew Voerman (10 September 2021). "Wellington Pheonix to field women's team in W-League with quota of Australian players". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  7. "Wellington Phoenix Announces Lewis and Lawrence as Inaugural A-League Women's Coaching Staff". Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2021.
  8. "Experienced goalkeeper Lily Alfeld locked in as Wellington Phoenix women's first signing". Stuff. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  9. "Lily Alfeld to captain Wellington Phoenix during debut A-League Women season". Stuff. 30 November 2021.
  10. "Phoenix women draw with Wanderers". ABC.net. 3 December 2021.
  11. Rollo, Phillip (12 December 2021). "Ava Pritchard creates history with Wellington Phoenix's first A-League Women goal". Stuff. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  12. Rollo, Phillip (11 February 2022). "Wellington Phoenix celebrate first win in A-League Women after beating Canberra". Stuff. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  13. "Wellington Phoenix Signs Five FFDP Players to A-League Women's Team". Wellington Phoenix. 19 October 2021.
  14. Rollo, Phillip (19 October 2021). "Wellington Phoenix snap up young Kiwi talent ahead of A-League Women debut". Stuff.
  15. "Wellington Phoenix Signs Australian-Based Trio to A-League Women's Side". Wellington Phoenix. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  16. "Wellington Phoenix Signs Lancaster and Whinham to Scholarships for A-League Women's Team". Wellington Phoenix. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  17. "Wellington Phoenix Sign Australian Trio to A-League Women's Squad". Wellington Phoenix. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  18. "Wellington Phoenix Confirms Backroom Staff for 2021/22 Season". Wellington Phoenix FC. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
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