WPW 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Ranix

Fenix

One couple locked in.
News on Barry and Jale expected...

Only speculation the ex Rangers pair are a couple. Team mates yes, beyond that ?

It was purposely left out of the Middag's announcement last week that it was Esson who was the partner.

Someone from the 6 team Canadian League (Northern Super League)?
It runs April to Nov.
ALW runs Nov to May

So the dates for someone playing back to back seasons would be tight. 

But is a few Ferns in that new Canuck league (25 game regular season), and likely some fringe/ex Canadian internationals. The better ones will be in the NWSL or Europe.

Look like USL in America has finished and Grace Wisnewski has departed. Be good to see her back at the Nix. 

AucklandPhoenix

Looks like the women’s team is getting all the $

Nix management thinking this is the best way to justify their existence by buying a trophy for the woman’s team? 

Isnt that what Auckland did and any number of other teams over the years. But hey lets signal out the Nix for trying to put a good team out they cant seem to win.

Couple of goal scorers  and Flea to delay her retirement and that punt on the ladies to win it i was told to make might be right. 

Women's team have no official coach, yet make several signings.  Mens coach unchanged and made no signings

theprof

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-lure-ferns-keeper-back-home/
With all these women signings you have to think we've got the actual coach/manager locked in.

Banned coach doing a shark load of work!!

It even mentioned Bev's likely position on TV1 sports news tonight when doing an item on Vic Esson signing.

Gilly said signings have been made but not announced yet. I expect he is talking re-signings 
Hopefully. Jale Barry Lake and McMeekan
Why don't they just announce it if players have signed ???

Ranix

Gilly said signings have been made but not announced yet. I expect he is talking re-signings 
Hopefully. Jale Barry Lake and McMeekan
Why don't they just announce it if players have signed ???

They must have heard you!

Main Train signs on for another two seasons

Emma Main has become the first women’s player to commit to the Wellington Phoenix through until the end of the 2026-27 Ninja A-League.

The versatile forward, affectionately known as the Main Train, has signed a two-year contract extension with the Phoenix.

[...]

Emma Main is the 14th player confirmed in the Wellington Phoenix women’s squad for the 2025-26 A-League, with further signings and re-signings to follow in the coming weeks.

Simon B

Ranix

Gilly said signings have been made but not announced yet. I expect he is talking re-signings 
Hopefully. Jale Barry Lake and McMeekan
Why don't they just announce it if players have signed ???

They must have heard you!

Main Train signs on for another two seasons

Emma Main has become the first women’s player to commit to the Wellington Phoenix through until the end of the 2026-27 Ninja A-League.

The versatile forward, affectionately known as the Main Train, has signed a two-year contract extension with the Phoenix.

[...]

Emma Main is the 14th player confirmed in the Wellington Phoenix women’s squad for the 2025-26 A-League, with further signings and re-signings to follow in the coming weeks.

Happy with this re-signing, put a good visa striker next to her and our attack will be looking solid 

Good Stuff.
Although I thought her performances dipped a bit last season. Though she still managed 3 goals and 1 assist. Hopefully under a new coach she can reach the potential that she showed a few seasons back.

All five imports released. Wish we had been able to hold onto McCutcheon. All the best ladies. Look forward to seeing you pop up in the ex-wahinix thread. 

Yes McCutcheon was good. But I'm hoping that we can sign Wisnewski back. I think she can be better and is a non visa. 
Tanaka I thought didn't get the opportunities she perhaps should have.  Let hope a new visa signing is an upgrade though.
Vilao I also rated but Esson signing on is a great addition, adds experience also.
Article says 4th visa signing to be announced soon so that will be interesting.

Yeah no surprises with Maya McCutcheon, would've loved to keep her but she was too good to not get noticed by an overseas club with more money.

Probably a good shot at getting a USL contract I would've thought

coochiee

Most ALW appearances by New Zealanders:

Rebekah Stott - 144
Liz Anton - 81
Annalie Longo - 72
Mackenzie Barry - 71
Claudia Bunge - 70 https://t.co/kUXLT2nqK3

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 9, 2025

Great to have her back, she should easily take that 2nd spot for NZer with most appearances by the end of next season, unless of course Flea comes out of retirement...

Good stuff.
Great to see.

Probably means Jale re-signing as well

Gilly was on the radio saying they are expecting to announce a striker early next week who played in France's top division.

.

Lake, Wall and Longo have signed for Cashmere Technical here in Christchurch for the current Women's South Island League campaign.
Sounds like for Lake and Wall it's an off-season gig before playing for the Nix again in the next A-League season.
"Lake and Wall will train and play to prepare for the upcoming A-League season."
Lara Wall debuted for Tech (her old Chch club) last Sunday in Tech's 2-1 win over Otago Uni in the quarter-final of the Kate Shepherd Cup.
Lake previously played for Coastal Spirit in the winter seasons.
Lake is not fit enough yet to feature immediately but is training.
"Wall and Longo are a chance to feature" this Saturday vs. Halswell in the South Island League.
Article in the Star (page 18):
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70645947/the-star-july-10-2025 

Rumour Hasset there may be more older Ferns returning

Haven't seen any confirmation that Lake has been resigned? 

You'd hope so, she was one of the better players before injury curtailed both her two seasons at the Nix.

Yeh no word from the club on Lake, Jale, McMeekan, Jaber, Abbott or van der Meer.
Although Gilly on that Radio interview yesterday said they had all but confirmed the women's squad bar the 5th visa spot and a scholarship player.
Currently 15 players confirmed as signed. 

Ranix

Yeh no word from the club on Lake, Jale, McMeekan, Jaber, Abbott or van der Meer.
Although Gilly on that Radio interview yesterday said they had all but confirmed the women's squad bar the 5th visa spot and a scholarship player.
Currently 15 players confirmed as signed. 

So the quote - ' "Lake and Wall will train and play to prepare for the upcoming A-League season." is from the Journo? 

Sam, do you know something, or making an educated guess? I know Wall is on a 2-year deal, so she'll be heading back.

Zoe and Amelia are leaving.

Screenshot_2025-07-11-13-28-19-10_a23b203fd3aafc6dcb84e438dda678b6.jpg 706.52 KB

Bummer to see McMeeken go. Still young and showing so much potential. Real shame there is no room for her. 

Ranix

Bummer to see McMeeken go. Still young and showing so much potential. Real shame there is no room for her. 

hopefully they both have offers elsewhere.

Very sad to see Zoe let go. She is a favourite and always made a difference.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Very sad to see Zoe let go. She is a favourite and always made a difference.

Yeah I agree, I'm hoping she pop-up in another league rather than for an A-League rival

The way it reads she already had an overseas gig?

Have seen a few comments reckon the new visa striker might be
Sabitra Bhandari
I'm picking
Samiah Phiri. 
But have no evidence to follow up other than a google search to see she has just departs Nantes. So total wild guess. But looks like she would be a great signing.

https://www.footballsouth.co.nz/matchcentre/2025/2713872117/2713939714
Sorry if there’s a better place for this, Bex off the bench for cashmere today - would that be her first game back from injury? 90 minutes for Lara and Flea an unused sub

Ranix

Have seen a few comments reckon the new visa striker might be
Sabitra Bhandari
I'm picking
Samiah Phiri. 
But have no evidence to follow up other than a google search to see she has just departs Nantes. So total wild guess. But looks like she would be a great signing.

Sabitra Bhandari and Tiana Jaber have just started following each other on Instagram so this could be a good call. Her goal scoring record is pretty impressive 

Chiefytheman

Ranix

Have seen a few comments reckon the new visa striker might be
Sabitra Bhandari
I'm picking
Samiah Phiri. 
But have no evidence to follow up other than a google search to see she has just departs Nantes. So total wild guess. But looks like she would be a great signing.

Sabitra Bhandari and Tiana Jaber have just started following each other on Instagram so this could be a good call. Her goal scoring record is pretty impressive 

Nepal v Lebanon earlier this year. 

image.png 263.19 KB

Bhandari scored the match winner in that game

Elbo

The way it reads she already had an overseas gig?

is signed at Auckland Utd - dunno if that's where she will play or it's just them fishing for a replacement player spot when Zoe signs a new pro deal somewhere.

Ranix

Chiefytheman

Ranix

Have seen a few comments reckon the new visa striker might be
Sabitra Bhandari
I'm picking
Samiah Phiri. 
But have no evidence to follow up other than a google search to see she has just departs Nantes. So total wild guess. But looks like she would be a great signing.

Sabitra Bhandari and Tiana Jaber have just started following each other on Instagram so this could be a good call. Her goal scoring record is pretty impressive 

Nepal v Lebanon earlier this year. 

image.png 263.19 KB

Bhandari scored the match winner in that game

Kosta on the left?