GK – Hannah Mitchell (Auckland United)
She certainly didn’t have the busiest goalkeeping schedule but that didn’t stop Hannah Mitchell from emerging as number one in her position. The American had as many clean sheets as she did goals conceded (more if you don’t count the grand final). Her steadiness on the ball, combined with a hoofing boot, even earned her an assist in the week three game against Central. There were big time saves when needed. Great leadership and composure from the back. Can’t ask for anything more.
RB – Shontelle Smith (Southern United)
The midfield for this first eleven had already picked itself with a couple weeks still remaining. There was simply no way to move any of those three around. But as Shontelle Smith continued to do spectacular things for Southern United it became clear that she needed to be here too... luckily she also played several games as a right wing-back so problem solved. Smith’s combative and tireless work wherever she was deployed was so often what carried her Southern team and the five goals that she scored were pretty much all glorious ones. The dipping long volley for the winner against Wellington United. The cross/shot against Western Springs. That outrageous finish against Auckland United from way out. The olimpico against Waterside Karori. She was so good that NZF even gave her the league MVP award. Wouldn’t go that far myself, Southern’s record didn’t quite justify it, but the hype was deserved nonetheless. Smith’s one of those players who charges headfirst into everything, leading the vanguard, and when she’s doing that in a team that already has Rose Morton and Georgia Keen you know she’s going next level.
CB – Zoe Barrott (Wellington United)
Long established as one of the best defenders in the country, no surprises here. Zoe Barrott is the only defensive player in this competition who has the ability to completely take over a game. She’ll win tackles and block shots for days... but she’ll also carry the ball forward and try to create for her team, leading to spells where it feels like she could go 1v11 and still hold her own. ZB also tallied up a goal and two assists. Excellent work on top of a pretty decent defensive record for the Diamonds. Barrott played wide all across the backline, wherever she was needed, and never served up anything less than pure quality. But then we’ve come to expect that by now, right?
CB – Sarah Morton (Waterside Karori)
Another one of those incredibly handy players who’ll do a job in whatever position the coach tells them to. Sarah Morton fluctuated between fullback, centre-back, and defensive midfield for the Wharfies as they charged their way into the grand final. Grabbed a couple of assists along the journey but mostly it was her defensive presence that led the way. The workrate. The dedication. The passion. Surely one of the most popular players in the National League. She’s never not smiling. Two recurring memories: the way she rarked up the travelling support during her post-match interview despite having lost the grand final... and also the time she did the ol’ uh-oh-too-slow handshake to her sister when they captained against each other in week nine. Classic.
LB – Saskia Vosper (Auckland United)
She’s got that A-League experience locked and loaded so of course Saskia Vosper was going to look sharp. But what really impressed was how relentlessly she maintained that intensity. With two goals and two assists she was a menace going forward... and plenty of wingers would stand in line to tell you that SV doesn’t back out of a challenge either. Vosper never coasted. She played every single game for the champs during this National League phase and she played them all like they were grand finals. Including the grand final where her battle with Nikki Furukawa was one of the joys of the occasion.
CM – Yume Harashima (Auckland United)
All the things that were said about Yume Harashima last season remain true in 2024. She’s the kind of defensive midfielder that never looks flustered, who calms everyone else around her (except those in the different jerseys). Reads the play like its a picture book. Times a tackle to the millisecond. Very rarely misses a pass. The pattern was clear in so many games: Harashima wins the ball, feeds the teammates in front of her, and Auckland United create a good chance. The way she marshalled Emma Starr in the grand final deserves extra praise too. Literally nobody else did a job like that on Starr all season.
CM – Chloe Knott (Auckland United)
It’s a shame she missed the last two weeks, including the grand final, because for the rest of this National League (and most of the year before that) Chloe Knott was the driving force for this undefeated Auckland United side. The heartbeat of the team. If Harashima hadn’t already win the ball then Knott probably would... and often it was Knott collecting the ball from her Japanese teammate to instigate attacks. One goal and two assists from midfield plus countless more moments in which she offered a deeper influence. Would say she’s too good for this level but you already know that. Hopefully the impending Auckland FC women’s team know it too.
CM – Emma Starr (Waterside Karori)
Popping up in New Zealand after many years spent playing at a very good level in her native America and all across Europe (then a bit of state league footy in Australia too), it didn’t take long to realise that Emma Starr was a step above. Didn’t play the first week when Karori drew with Auckland Utd. Was rested for week nine when they lost to Southern United. In between she started every game for the Wharfies as a lock-picking midfielder, superb on the ball and always searching for positive actions. At one stage she scored in four consecutive weeks while Karori tallied up the results that’d take them all the way to the final. Four goals and four assists overall. Absolute class throughout. Didn’t quite have the same effect in the final but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Not only is Emma Starr a First Eleven player but she’s The Niche Cache’s pick for season MVP.
FW – Britney Cunningham-Lee (Eastern Suburbs)
There were times this season when Britney Cunningham-Lee looked absolutely unstoppable. Maybe not when Eastern Suburbs were shut out in their first three games in a row... but guess whose unique combination of speed, strength, skill, and directness it was that inspired the Lilywhites to overcome that hiccup to somehow still finish the season in third place as the top scoring team in the WNL? BCL, naturally. Once part of that legendary U17 World Cup bronze medal squad, Cunningham-Lee’s kinda been slept on in recent years despite scoring copious goals through multiple winter seasons. She helped carry Ellerslie to the Nats in 2023 but struggled for service in an overmatched squad when they got there. She actually then spent the winter with Franklin United outside the top division in Auckland... but a loan move to Eastern Suburbs made perfect sense for all parties and led to an incredible seven goals and five assists. Nobody had more goal contributions. She dominated from wide positions, she dominated through the middle. She dominated fullstop.
FW – Charlotte Roche (Auckland United)
It made sense for Charlotte Roche to make the move from Canterbury United to Auckland United. University probably had something to do with it... but the footballing reasons were sound too. Get into a great team full of former and future pros and develop outside of the ol’ comfort zone. Sweet as. But even Rochey can’t have imagined it’d go so perfectly as this. She was always a goal scorer with the Cantabs but the rest of her game has grown so much in this AUFC environment. Her hold-up play is genuinely great now. Her touch is softer. Her movements are more decisive. Roche scored eight goals with two assists and then added two more goals in the grand final. Golden Boot of the WNL (thanks to doubles in weeks eight and nine – then another in the final to make it three in a row). Champion of the WNL. Champion of everything, in fact, because she was with Auckland Utd for all four of their trophies this year (also scoring the winner in the Kate Sheppard Cup final). Lovely stuff.
FW – Kendall Pollock (Waterside Karori)
Pipped at the post for the Golden Boot by Charlotte Roche but it was a wonderful effort from KP regardless. The American seems to have been more of a defensive midfielder back in her college days but for the Wharfies she was a proper number nine. Absolutely tenacious, always hunting for goals. Really clinical finisher too. A hatty against Central was pretty cool (in a 3-0 win) but the goals that Pollock scored to equalise against Auckland Utd in week one and to complete a crazy 3-2 comeback win against Canterbury Utd in week six were even more crucial. Seven goals and one assist, starting every single game. Great addition to the league. Let’s hope she’s back again next time.
SECOND ELEVEN
GK – Nikki Whyte (Eastern Suburbs)
RB – Tiana Hill (Western Springs)
CB – Yukino Nishizono (Eastern Suburbs)
CB – Hannah Mackay-Wright (Southern United)
LB – Arisa Takeda (Western Springs)
CM – Kate Loye (Canterbury United Pride)
CM – Hope Gilchrist (Wellington United)
CM – Rina Hirano (Western Springs)
FW – Natalie Olson (Wellington United)
FW – Nicola Dominikovich (Canterbury United Pride)
FW – Shannon Henson (West Coast Rangers)
THIRD ELEVEN
GK – Molly Simons (Wellington United)
RB – Talisha Green (Auckland United)
CB – Daphne Ranta (Waterside Karori)
CB – Marissa Porteous (West Coast Rangers)
LB – Rebekah Trewhitt (Wellington Phoenix Reserves)
CM – Saki Yoshida (Eastern Suburbs)
CM – Rose Morton (Southern United)
CM – Zoe Benson (Eastern Suburbs)
FW – Liz Savage (Western Springs)
FW – Emily Lyon (West Coast Rangers)
FW – Bree Johnson (West Coast Rangers)
