A courageous second half efficiency by the Wellington Phoenix wasn’t sufficient to disclaim Melbourne Metropolis a completely deserved A-League crown on Saturday evening.
Three objectives over an eight-minute spell both facet of half-time gave Bev Priestman’s facet an excessive amount of to do at AAMI Park in Melbourne, because the desk topping Metropolis confirmed conclusively why they’ve been the perfect crew this season.
Metropolis had a aim disallowed after 36 minutes as Holly McNamara was dominated offside, however the participant of the match adopted up with two strikes in two minutes earlier than the break, earlier than Leticia McKenna stretched the lead additional after 49 minutes.
Makala Woods gave the guests a ray of hope by changing from shut vary simply three minutes later, and with over half an hour to go, the Phoenix gave it an actual go.
However Metropolis held agency and have been the higher facet throughout the 90 minutes to see their vastly skilled captain and Soccer Fern Rebekah Stott elevate the trophy.
Phoenix captain Mackenzie Barry summed up her emotions after the match.
“Disillusioned, I feel we had a terrific season in order that final efficiency can’t discredit that. I’m so pleased with everybody and the followers have been wonderful immediately and again dwelling, I’ve heard we had an enormous crowd round New Zealand watching us.”
“Thanks guys a lot for sticking with us and I’m sorry that the efficiency wasn’t what we needed immediately, however the second half was higher and we stepped it up, so we are able to come away with that and construct for subsequent season.”
It was left to Priestman, who has introduced a lot to the membership in her first season, to have the ultimate say.
“I’m tremendous pleased with them, I’m pleased with the membership, I’m proud to put on the badge. We performed a crew tonight, that in the event you’re off somewhat bit, which I believed we have been within the first half, they’ve the gamers that may punish you. Congratulations to Melbourne Metropolis.”
“I feel the event obtained to us, we weren’t front-footed sufficient defensively and I feel they’ve obtained the gamers that may put you away, however we by no means gave up, there have been a number of probabilities within the second half and that’s credit score to us, however it wasn’t our day. In some ways this may assist me out subsequent season to actually make that push. It’ll depart somewhat bit within the tank the place we are able to actually push the group.”
From ninth to grand finalists
It’s been a exceptional turnaround this season by the Nix, who’ve by no means made the highest six earlier than, by no means thoughts the grand closing. Right here, we glance again on the previous 14 months that led to this season’s showpiece.
April 2025
Three days earlier than the final sport of their 2024-25 season, the Phoenix announce head coach Paul Temple received’t be returning for a 3rd season in cost, whereas captain Annalie Longo is retiring from skilled soccer.
A 1-1 draw with Western United at Porirua Park sees the facet end ninth on the desk, 9 factors away from a prime six spot which might have seen them qualify for the finals sequence.
“It’s clearly actually unhappy for me to be leaving the Phoenix after so lengthy on the membership,” Temple stated. “However in the end first crew soccer is a outcomes enterprise, I’ve at all times had that readability, and we haven’t reached the targets we set ourselves.”
“I can actually say I’ve given completely all the things to this mission the previous two seasons, and the gamers have too.”
Temple had taken the crew from backside place of their first two seasons within the A-League, to eighth in 2023-24, once they have been 5 factors away from sixth positioned crew, Newcastle Jets.
Longo, who had joined the squad for the 2023-24 season, stated “I’ve stated proper from the beginning that I simply needed to present completely all the things within the Phoenix jersey, and I feel I’ve carried out that.”
Could 2025
Assistant coach Amy Shepherd, who was appointed in September 2024, is introduced because the interim head coach, with a everlasting appointment anticipated in late July.
“I feel it’s a terrific alternative for me to be concerned within the season planning and recruitment course of. We’ll goal to set us up for achievement so the brand new head coach can hit the bottom working,” Shepherd says.
Head analyst and assistant coach Tory Schiltgen, goalkeeper coach Nick Stanton, operations and gear supervisor Toni West-Luamanu, head bodily efficiency scientist Kieran McMinn and head physiotherapist Beanie Joyes are confirmed as staying on because the backroom workers for the facet.
“Whereas we wait to nominate our new girls’s head coach it’s necessary to have some consistency off the pitch,” stated director of soccer, Shaun Gill.
June 2025
Dominican Republic captain Lucía León turns into the membership’s first signing throughout the low season, becoming a member of from Adelaide United. The wingback had beforehand featured for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, and Actual Betis.
In doing so, she grew to become the tenth participant contracted for the 2025-26 season.
“Once we have been enjoying at Porirua Park [for Adelaide United], the followers have been fairly intimidating. I’m actually wanting ahead to enjoying in entrance of our followers,” León stated.
The signing is shortly adopted by the arrival of American defender Ellie Walker, who had been enjoying in Portugal, and the versatile former Dutch worldwide Tessel Middag, who’d been enjoying for Rangers in Scotland.
Middag’s teammate at Rangers and present Soccer Ferns goalkeeper Victoria Esson, additionally indicators for the membership after seven seasons enjoying in Europe.
July 2025
Defender Mackenzie Barry, a mainstay on the again for the reason that girls’s first sport in December 2021, re-signs with the membership for a fifth season.
“The final two years we simply fell wanting the finals sadly, however I actually need us to get into the highest six. I’m dedicated to getting us into the finals,” Barry stated.
On the finish of the month, Bev Priestman is introduced because the membership’s new head coach, on a two-year contract. Recognized by some because the Canadian nationwide crew head-coach banned from soccer for a yr after her function in her function within the drone use at 2024’s Paris Olympics, the place they have been caught spying on a Soccer Ferns coaching, Priestman arrived in Wellington with a powerful teaching resume.
Earlier than main Canada to Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, Priestman was the crew’s assistant coach once they claimed the bronze medal in Rio 5 years earlier and was England’s assistant coach on the 2019 FIFA Girls’s World Cup in France, the place they made the semi-finals.
In 2009 Priestman headed up coach growth in Wellington earlier than happening to be New Zealand Soccer’s director of soccer growth.
“Coming again to New Zealand and seeing the Phoenix week in week out as the one skilled girls’s crew has been wonderful. We’ve a duty now to fly the flag for this nation and attempt to do one thing particular,” Priestman stated.
“There’ll be a starvation and a want there as a result of we all know we wish to obtain a primary for this membership and to try this goes to take one thing particular.”
August 2025
Adaptable and skilled Soccer Fern CJ Bott turns into Priestman’s first signing, becoming a member of the Phoenix on a two-year deal after 4 seasons with Leicester Metropolis in England.
“I’m actually, actually excited to have the ability to have secured somebody of CJ’s calibre and expertise,” Priestman stated.
“CJ grew up down the street in Tawa, performed for Waterside Karori and he or she actually is aware of what it means to play for Wellington, and I feel that’s vital”
The membership shortly comply with up with the signing of extremely rated16-year-old ahead Pia Vlok on a three-year contract from Auckland United.
“I’ve a historical past of growing younger gamers. It’s one thing I’m actually keen about and to assist somebody realise their true potential is extraordinarily rewarding and thrilling,” Priestman stated.
September 2025
The A-League draw is launched, and the Nix uncover that their first three video games shall be at dwelling, with their season-opener in opposition to Canberra United a double-header alongside the lads’s crew, at Sky Stadium (later to be renamed Hnry Stadium). The facet’s common dwelling will proceed to be Porirua Park, with all their dwelling fixtures scheduled on the household pleasant time of 4pm on a weekend.
October 2025
The membership signal their fifth and closing participant for the upcoming season, with skilled English ahead Brooke Nunn becoming a member of their ranks. Contemporary from being an necessary a part of the Central Coast Mariners’ championship profitable facet simply 5 months earlier, Nunn spent eight years at Arsenal in England, in addition to spells enjoying in Turkey and Scotland.
November 2025
It’s lastly motion time for the squad, because the kick off their marketing campaign with a 1-1 draw at dwelling in opposition to Canberra United. With a draw and a win of their following two matches, they’ve began the season unbeaten with 5 factors from a attainable 9.
Nonetheless, there’s a double dose of dangerous information, with Tessel Middag and Alyssa Whinham each struggling season-ending knee accidents. Priestman was fast to pay tribute to each gamers.
“They’re large losses as a result of each of them may function in any A-League crew.”
“For Tess to undergo a 3rd ACL damage is so much to take care of, however she’s dealt with herself with actual class and maturity. Alyssa was reaching new heights early in her fifth season with the Phoenix, however I’m positive she’ll be again fitter, sooner and stronger.”
December 2025
After carrying the armband of their first three matches of the season, CJ Bott turns into the primary Wellingtonian to be appointed because the facet’s full-time captain.
The facet play three of their 4 video games on the street, shedding the primary two narrowly, earlier than bouncing again with a 7-0 victory at dwelling in opposition to Sydney FC. They shut out 2025 with a 3-0 away to Western Sydney Wanderers to take a seat in fourth place on the ladder heading into the brand new yr.
January 2026
On the again of an away draw in opposition to Brisbane Roar, the Phoenix signal American ahead Makala Woods as a alternative for Tessel Middag. The 23-year-old performed professionally in Iceland after a powerful faculty profession on the College of Illinois and College of Kentucky.
“I’m tremendous gritty,” Woods stated. “Everybody in American soccer is powerful, quick and athletic so that you’ve obtained to get down, get soiled and do the arduous issues.”
Nepalese striker Sabitra Bhandari turns into their third participant to undergo a season ending damage.
Captain CJ Bott publicizes she’s pregnant, along with her first little one due in July. Because of this, Bott will sit out the rest of the 2025-26 season. Mackenzie Barry will go on to guide the facet for the remainder of the season.
The Nix lose to Melbourne Metropolis 2-1 at dwelling earlier than two wins to shut out the month in opposition to Canberra United and Adelaide United see them sit second on the desk.
February 2026
4 video games in 20 days earlier than a global window sees the Nix decide up two wins, a defeat and a draw. It’s Makala Woods who rescues some extent away to the Melbourne Victory within the final of these encounters, scoring with three minutes of regular time remaining. It’s her fourth aim since becoming a member of the membership in January, and with one other 5 assists, she’s displaying her worth.
“She’s been a terrific addition to the squad,” Priestman stated.
“She brings power, she’s dynamic and he or she’s only a actual optimistic affect within the group. She didn’t actually have a pre-season with us. She had a little bit of an low season after which in, so for somebody like her this break goes to be wanted.”
March 2026
The gamers return after the worldwide break with an much more hectic schedule than the month earlier than; 4 video games in 16 days.
A 3-0 win at dwelling to Brisbane Roar is adopted by a 3-1 win away to Sydney FC. That end result lifts the Phoenix again to second within the desk and all however assures them of their first look within the A-League finals. It additionally will get them to 31 factors from 17 matches, their highest variety of factors within the league. Sadly, back-to-back defeats in opposition to Central Coast Mariners and Western Metropolis Wanderers depart them six factors adrift of the desk topping Melbourne Metropolis, and regardless of remaining second, ends their possibilities of ending the common season on prime of the ladder.
April 2026
With one other worldwide window, there’s only one sport for the Nix and it’s their final common season sport. Two first half objectives seals victory away at Adelaide United and second place on the desk. It additionally means they’ve a full month to attend earlier than their two-leg semi-final.
Mackenzie Barry re-signs with the membership, in what shall be her sixth season, earlier than Brisbane Roar emerge victorious from their elimination closing in opposition to Adelaide United to set-up a conflict in opposition to the Nix in early Could.
Could 2026
A 2-1 defeat in Brisbane within the first leg is handled as the primary half of a 180-minute match by the Phoenix, who overturn the deficit in entrance of a membership report crowd of 5923 at Porirua Park. A Makala Woods double settles a tense encounter in entrance of a passionate dwelling crowd to see the facet make historical past, as the primary New Zealand crew to make an A-League grand closing. Fittingly, it is going to be their one centesimal A-League sport.
Simply days earlier than the ultimate, six Phoenix gamers are named within the Skilled Footballers Australia crew of the season. Mackenzie Barry, Grace Jale, Pia Vlok and Brooke Nunn are within the beginning XI, whereas Victoria Esson and Marisa van der Meer are two of seven substitutes named. Bev Priestman is voted coach of the yr by PFA members.
“I’m tremendous pleased with the entire gamers which have been named. They’re effectively deserved and possibly there may have been a number of extra,” says Priestman.
“It speaks volumes to the dedication of, not solely the gamers named, however the gamers round these gamers to assist them get there.”
