2025–26 Wellington Phoenix FC (women) season

Wellington Phoenix
2025–26 season
ChairmanRobert Morrison
ManagerBev Priestman
StadiumJerry Collins Stadium, Porirua
Sky Stadium, Wellington
A-League Women7th
Top goalscorerSabitra Bhandari
Grace Jale (2 goals each)
Highest home attendance4,655
vs. Canberra United
(8 November 2025)
Lowest home attendance772
vs. Melbourne Victory
(23 November 2025)
Average home league attendance2,240
Biggest win7–0
vs. Sydney (H)
(20 December 2025)
Biggest defeat0–1
vs. Melbourne City (A)
(7 December 2025)
All statistics correct as of 20 December 2025.

The 2025–26 season is the fifth in the history of Wellington Phoenix FC (women).

On 30 July 2025, the Phoenix signed Bev Priestman as head coach on a 2-year contract.[1][2]

The Phoenix's season commenced on 8 November 2025 at home to Canberra United. The regular season will conclude in April 2026.[3]

Players

First-team squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  NZL Victoria Esson
2 DF  NZL CJ Bott (captain)
3 DF  LBN Tiana Jaber
4 DF  NZL Mackenzie Barry
5 DF  USA Ellie Walker
6 MF  NED Tessel Middag
7 FW  NZL Grace Jale
8 MF  NZL Macey Fraser
9 FW  NEP Sabitra Bhandari
10 MF  NZL Alyssa Whinham
11 MF  NZL Manaia Elliott
12 DF  NZL Ella McMillan (scholarship)
13 GK  NZL Brooke Neary (youth)
14 DF  DOM Lucía León
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  NZL Daisy Brazendale
16 DF  NZL Marisa van der Meer
17 MF  NZL Ela Jerez (scholarship)
18 FW  NZL Ella McCann (scholarship)
19 MF  NZL Olivia Ingham
20 FW  NZL Emma Main
21 DF  NZL Lara Wall (scholarship)
22 GK  NZL Aimee Danieli
23 FW  ENG Brooke Nunn
24 FW  NZL Pia Vlok (scholarship)
25 GK  NZL Harriet Muller (youth)
26 FW  NZL Lily Brazendale (youth)
27 FW  NZL Zoe Benson (youth)
28 FW  NZL Grace Bartlett (youth)

Transfers

Transfers in

No. Pos. Player From Type/fee Contract length Date Ref.
14 DF Lucía León Adelaide United Free transfer 1 year 10 June 2025 [4]
5 DF Ellie Walker Braga Free transfer 1 year 12 June 2025 [5]
6 MF Tessel Middag Rangers Free transfer 1 year 19 June 2025 [6]
1 GK Victoria Esson Rangers Free transfer 1 year 24 June 2025 [7]
9 FW Sabitra Bhandari Guingamp Free transfer 2 years 17 July 2025 [8]
2 DF CJ Bott Leicester City Free transfer 2 years 1 August 2025 [9][10]
24 FW Pia Vlok Auckland United Free transfer 3 years[note 1] 5 August 2025 [11]
16 DF Marisa van der Meer Western Springs Free transfer 2 years 4 September 2025 [12]
8 MF Macey Fraser Utah Royals Free transfer 3 years 12 September 2025 [13]
23 FW Brooke Nunn Central Coast Mariners Free transfer 1 year 24 October 2025 [14]
27 FW Zoe Benson Auckland United Youth development agreement 4 December 2025 [15]

From academy squad

N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Notes
28 FW Grace Bartlett 18 youth development agreement[15]
26 FW Lily Brazendale 19 youth development agreement[15]
25 GK Harriet Muller 17 youth development agreement[15]

Transfers out

No. Pos. Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref.
16 MF Annalie Longo Retired 20 April 2025 [16]
39 GK Carolina Vilão Unattached End of contract 23 June 2025 [17][18]
5 DF Alivia Kelly Unattached End of contract 9 July 2025 [18]
6 MF Maya McCutcheon Unattached End of contract 9 July 2025 [18]
9 FW Olivia Fergusson Unattached End of contract 9 July 2025 [18]
14 MF Mebae Tanaka Unattached End of contract 9 July 2025 [18]
2 DF Zoe McMeeken Unattached End of contract 11 July 2025 [19]
8 MF Amelia Abbott Unattached End of contract 11 July 2025 [19]
23 DF Rebecca Lake Unattached End of contract 5 September 2025 [20]

Contract extensions

No. Player Position Duration Date Ref.
20 Emma Main Forward 2 years 4 July 2025 [21]
4 Mackenzie Barry Defender 1 year 9 July 2025 [22]
7 Grace Jale Forward 1 year 16 July 2025 [23]
3 Tiana Jaber Defender 2 years 23 July 2025 [24]
13 Brooke Neary Goalkeeper 1 year[note 2] 18 September 2025 [25]

Pre-season and friendlies

The Phoenix's preseason fixtures were confirmed by the club on 24 September 2025.[26]

12 October 2025 Central Coast Mariners 2–1 Wellington Phoenix Gosford
  • Gomez 25'
 Report
Stadium: polytec Stadium
17 October 2025 Western Sydney Wanderers 0–0 Wellington Phoenix Sydney
Report Stadium: TBC

Competitions

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Starting round Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
A-League Women 8 November 2025 3 April 2026 Matchday 1 6 2 2 2 10 4 +6 033.33
Total 6 2 2 2 10 4 +6 033.33

Last updated: 20 December 2025
Source: Competitions

A-League Women

Main article: 2025–26 A-League Women

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
5 Brisbane Roar 5 3 0 2 9 9 0 9 Qualification for Finals series
6 Sydney FC 7 2 3 2 5 11 −6 9
7 Wellington Phoenix[a] 6 2 2 2 10 4 +6 8
8 Melbourne City 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
9 Perth Glory 6 2 0 4 6 12 −6 6
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) wins; 5) head-to-head results; 5a) head-to-head points; 5b) head-to-head goal difference; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away goal difference; 8) away goals per match; 9) home goal difference; 10) home goals per match; 11) toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
Notes:
  1. ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Women's Champions League as they are based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.

Results summary

As of 20 December 2025.

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
6 2 2 2 10 4  +6 8 2 2 0 10 2  +8 0 0 2 0 2  −2

Matches

The league fixtures were released on 11 September 2025.[3] Wellington have byes in rounds 1 and 9.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

8 November 2025 2 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 Canberra United Wellington
16:00 NZDT
Report
  • Aulicino 18'
 Stadium: Sky Stadium
Attendance: 4,655
Referee: Sarah Jones
16 November 2025 3 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 Newcastle Jets Porirua
16:00 NZDT
Report
Stadium: Porirua Park
Attendance: 1,292
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley
23 November 2025 4 Wellington Phoenix 1–0 Melbourne Victory Porirua
16:00 NZDT
  • Vlok 38'
 Report Stadium: Porirua Park
Attendance: 772
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley
7 December 2025 6 Melbourne City 1–0 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne
15:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: ctrl:cyber Pitch
Attendance: 619
Referee: Shab Roshan
12 December 2025 7 Perth Glory 1–0 Wellington Phoenix Perth
20:00 AWST
  • O'Donoghue 75'
 Report Stadium: Sam Kerr Football Centre
Attendance: 1,069
Referee: Mikayla Ryan
20 December 2025 8 Wellington Phoenix 7–0 Sydney FC Porirua
16:00 NZDT
Report Stadium: Porirua Park
Referee: Sarah Jones
30 December 2025 10 Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix Sydney
19:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Wanderers Football Park
3 January 2026 11 Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix Brisbane
15:00 AEST Report Stadium: Kayo Stadium
10 January 2026 12 Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City Porirua
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Porirua Park
17 January 2026 13 Canberra United v Wellington Phoenix Canberra
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: McKellar Park
25 January 2026 14 Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United Porirua
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Porirua Park
1 February 2026 15 Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix Newcastle
17:00 AEDT Report Stadium: No. 2 Sportsground
6 February 2026 16 Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory Wellington
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Sky Stadium
15 February 2026 17 Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners Porirua
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Porirua Park
20 February 2026 18 Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix Melbourne
19:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Home of the Matildas
14 March 2026 19 Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar Wellington
18:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Sky Stadium
20 March 2026 20 Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix Sydney
19:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
25 March 2026[note 3] 5 Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix Gosford
19:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Polytec Stadium
29 March 2026 21 Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers Porirua
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Porirua Park
3 April 2026 22 Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix Adelaide
16:20 ACDT Report Stadium: Coopers Stadium

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.

As of 20 December 2025.

No. Pos Nat Player Total A-League Women
Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers:
1 GK  NZL Victoria Esson 5 0 5 0
22 GK  NZL Aimee Danieli 1 0 1 0
Defenders:
2 DF  NZL CJ Bott 6 0 6 0
4 DF  NZL Mackenzie Barry 6 0 6 0
5 DF  USA Ellie Walker 6 0 6 0
14 DF  DOM Lucía León 3 0 1+2 0
16 DF  NZL Marisa van der Meer 6 1 6 1
21 DF  NZL Lara Wall 6 0 5+1 0
Midfielders:
6 MF  NED Tessel Middag 1 0 1 0
10 MF  NZL Alyssa Whinham 2 0 2 0
11 MF  NZL Manaia Elliott 6 1 4+2 1
15 MF  NZL Daisy Brazendale 5 0 0+5 0
19 MF  NZL Olivia Ingham 1 0 0+1 0
Forwards:
7 FW  NZL Grace Jale 6 2 6 2
9 FW    NEP Sabitra Bhandari 4 2 4 2
20 FW  NZL Emma Main 6 0 3+3 0
23 FW  ENG Brooke Nunn 6 1 6 1
24 FW  NZL Pia Vlok 6 1 4+2 1
27 FW  NZL Zoe Benson 2 0 0+2 0
28 FW  NZL Grace Barlett 1 0 0+1 0

Disciplinary record

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.

As of 20 December 2025.

No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Women
 
2 DF CJ Bott 1 0 0
4 DF Mackenzie Barry 1 0 0
5 DF Ellie Walker 1 0 0
11 MF Manaia Elliott 1 0 0
16 DF Marisa van der Meer 1 0 0
Total 5 0 0

Clean sheets

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

As of 20 December 2025.

Rank No. Nat. Goalkeeper A-League Women
1 1 Victoria Esson 2
Total 2

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The first two years of the contract are on scholarship terms.
  2. ^ Signed on a youth development agreement.
  3. ^ Initially scheduled for 29 November 2025, the match was rescheduled to 25 March 2026 as a result of a match between Australia and New Zealand scheduled for 28 November 2025.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Wellington Phoenix hire Bev Priestman, former Canada coach who spied on Football Ferns". Radio New Zealand. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Bev Priestman joins Wellington Phoenix women as head coach". The New Zealand Herald. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "FULL FIXTURE for Ninja A-League 2025-26 season released: Every match here". Australian Professional Leagues. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Nix sign international captain". Wellington Phoenix. 10 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Sporting Braga defender joins the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 12 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Nix sign decorated Dutch midfielder". Wellington Phoenix. 19 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Nix lure Ferns 'keeper back home". Wellington Phoenix. 24 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Proven goal scorer joins the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 17 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Phoenix sign Football Ferns defender with 'big engine' on two year deal". Radio New Zealand. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  10. ^ Rollo, Phillip (1 August 2025). "Wellington Phoenix bring 50-cap Football Ferns defender CJ Bott home from England". Stuff. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Nix sign rising star to long-term deal". Wellington Phoenix. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Van der Meer earns her place back at the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  13. ^ Rollo, Phillip (12 September 2025). "Wellington Phoenix bring Macey Fraser home after early exit from Utah Royals". Stuff. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  14. ^ Rollo, Phillip (24 October 2025). "Wellington Phoenix complete squad with signing of A-League Women champion Brooke Nunn". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d "Young quartet strengthen Nix women". Wellington Phoenix. 4 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Longo bids emotional farewell". Wellington Phoenix. 20 April 2025.
  17. ^ A-League Women [@aleaguewomen] (23 June 2025). "A "goodbye for now" from @WgtnPhoenixFC goalkeeper Carolina Vilao" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Nix farewell women's visa players". Wellington Phoenix. 9 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Nix farewell foundation fullback". Wellington Phoenix. 11 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Lake moves on after two seasons". Wellington Phoenix. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Main Train signs on for another two seasons". Wellington Phoenix. 4 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Barry signs on for a fifth season with the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 9 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Football Fern signs on for another season". Wellington Phoenix. 16 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Jaber signs new multi-year deal with the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 23 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Nix excited to help develop young 'keeper". Wellington Phoenix. 18 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Pre-season fixtures finalised". Wellington Phoenix. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  27. ^ "Women's round five fixture rescheduled". Wellington Phoenix. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
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