Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women) explained
| Clubname: | Wellington Phoenix Women |
| Fullname: | Wellington Phoenix Women's Football Club |
| Nickname: | Phoenix, Wahinix, Nix |
| Short Name: | Wellington |
| Ground: | Sky Stadium, Wellington
Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua[1] |
| Capacity: | 34,500 |
| Owntitle: | Owner |
| Owner: | WelNix Group |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| Chairman: | Robert Morrison |
| Coach: | Paul Temple[2] |
| Website: | https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/ |
| Pattern B1: | _blackstripes2 |
| Leftarm1: | FFFF00 |
| Body1: | FFFF00 |
| Rightarm1: | FFFF00 |
| Shorts1: | FFFF00 |
| Socks1: | FFFF00 |
| Pattern Name1: | Default |
| Current: | 2024–25 Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women) season |
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.[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
[15] [16]
Management team
Technical staff
[17]
| Position | Staff |
|---|
| Manager |  Paul Temple |
| Assistant manager | Amy Shepherd |
| Team analyst | Tyron Curtis |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Nick Stanton |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Kieran McMinn |
| Head physiotherapist | Mei Morton |
| Team operations & equipment manager | Wendy Turton | |
Captaincy history
Records and statistics
- Record Win: 5–0 vs Canberra United, A-League Women, 22 January 2023
- Record Defeat: 0–5 vs Sydney FC, A-League Women, 30 December 2021
- Record High Attendance: 5,532 vs Perth Glory, Mount Smart Stadium, 25 November 2023[20]
- Most Goals by a Player in a Game: 2
- Most Wins in a Row: 3 matches, from 22 October 2023 to 12 November 2023
- Longest Undefeated Streak: 3 matches, from 22 October 2023 to 12 November 2023
- Most Goals In a Regular season: Mariana Speckmaier – 10 goals, 2023–24 A-League Women
Most appearances
Last updated 30 March 2024Competitive, professional matches only. All current players are in bold
Top goalscorers
Last updated 30 March 2024Competitive, professional matches only, appearances including substitutes appear in brackets.
Notes and References
- Web site: Porirua to host Phoenix Women . 12 September 2023 . 12 September 2023.
- Web site: Academy technical director to take charge of the Nix. 7 May 2023. 23 May 2023.
- Web site: A-League club aiming to start new W-League team. The Women's Game. 11 June 2020. 12 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706022319/https://thewomensgame.com/news/a-league-club-aiming-to-start-new-w-league-team-549131. 6 July 2020.
- Web site: New W-League team would likely be based in Sydney. The Women's Game. 14 June 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200707070719/https://thewomensgame.com/news/new-w-league-team-would-likely-be-based-in-sydney-549223. 7 July 2020.
- Web site: World Cup sparks call for pro team in New Zealand. The Women's Game. Daniel. Gilhooly. 26 June 2020. 12 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200829062322/https://thewomensgame.com/news/world-cup-sparks-call-for-pro-team-in-nz-549792. 29 August 2020.
- Web site: APL announces plans for expanded W-League. abc.net.au. 2 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902233751/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-03/apl-announces-plans-for-expanded-w-league/100430986. 2 September 2021.
- News: Rollo . Phillip . Voerman . Andrew . Wellington Phoenix to be included in expanded W-League before 2023 World Cup . 3 August 2022 . . 3 September 2021 . en.
- Web site: Wellington Phoenix to field women's team in W-League with quota of Australian players. Stuff. Voerman . Andrew . 10 September 2021. 12 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912062223/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/126328117/wellington-phoenix-to-field-womens-team-in-wleague-with-quota-of-australian-players. 12 September 2021.
- Web site: Wellington Phoenix Announces Lewis and Lawrence as Inaugural A-League Women's Coaching Staff. Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2021.
- News: Experienced goalkeeper Lily Alfeld locked in as Wellington Phoenix women's first signing . 15 October 2021 . . 15 October 2021 . en.
- News: Lily Alfeld to captain Wellington Phoenix during debut A-League Women season . . 30 November 2021 . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129234449/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127131767/lily-alfeld-to-captain-wellington-phoenix-during-debut-aleague-women-season . 29 November 2021.
- News: Phoenix draw in A-League Women debut against Wanderers . 3 August 2022 . . 3 December 2021 . en-AU.
- News: Rollo . Phillip . Ava Pritchard creates history with Wellington Phoenix's first A-League Women goal . 13 December 2021 . . 12 December 2021 . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211212161433/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127255711/ava-pritchard-creates-history-with-wellington-phoenixs-first-aleague-women-goal . 12 December 2021.
- News: Rollo. Phillip. Wellington Phoenix celebrate first win in A-League Women after beating Canberra. Stuff. 11 February 2022. 11 February 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220313125107/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127755504/tears-of-joy-as-wellington-phoenix-celebrate-first-win-in-aleague-women. 13 March 2022.
- Wellington Phoenix. WgtnPhoenixFC. 1708258544502644742. The 2023/24 Squad numbers for our A-League Women's team are !. 1 October 2023.
- News: Longo to lead new-look Phoenix . 11 October 2023 . Wellington Phoenix . 11 October 2023.
- Web site: New backroom staff for Phoenix women. Wellington Phoenix. 31 August 2023.
- News: Lily Alfeld to captain Wellington Phoenix during debut A-League Women season. Phillip. Rollo. Stuff. 30 November 2021.
- News: Longo to lead new-look Phoenix . 11 October 2023 . Wellington Phoenix . 11 October 2023.
- Web site: W League Crowd statistics . ALeagueStats . 14 June 2022.
Mariana Speckmaier