Wellington Phoenix Women

WPW 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

483 replies · 35,215 views
23 Jul 13:16
We have Elliott to fit in as well,don't we?

I don't think there is much to chose between VDM and Lake.

I'd take whoever is in the best condition. 
28 Jul 07:13
Fenix
We have Elliott to fit in as well,don't we?

I don't think there is much to chose between VDM and Lake.

I'd take whoever is in the best condition. 
VDM with a goal on the weekend.
28 Jul 07:14
image.png 27.25 KB

Biggest signing of the season so far coming up.
28 Jul 21:11
Flea??
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

31 Jul 06:36

Wellington is home for CJ Bott, has to be her right?
31 Jul 06:55
Yes good chance it could be Bott, who is a Wellingtonian. Another big statement signing if so.
31 Jul 07:38
This women's off season just gets better and better. Think their season is going to be fun.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

31 Jul 07:47 · edited 31 Jul 07:56 · History
CJ Bott would be a huge signing.

Could be a NZ. US college graduite. Maggie Jenkins or Anelia Jensen. Don't think they are Wellingtonians though.

Things kinda point to it being Bott.
Big statement after announcing the coach. Don't want to get hopes up to high though.
31 Jul 09:58 · edited 31 Jul 09:59 · History
Id say it's likely to be Bott which would be huge and makes us a team now that other clubs will be starting to fear. Can't say that about any other Nix team before really.
 More big signings still to come too
31 Jul 10:54 · edited 01 Aug 00:11 · History
Bott would be great.

Im also hoping for another significant goalscorer signing.  Then I think we will have a powerful squad. 

Also, it will be interesting to see what Main can do if she's used properly. 
31 Jul 23:54
Bott on a 2 year deal. 
31 Jul 23:55
2025/26
Aimee Danieli (scholarship)
Alyssa Whinham
Daisy Brazendale
Ela Jerez (scholarship)
Ella McCann (scholarship)
Ella McMillan (scholarship)
Ellie Walker  (V)
Grace Jale
Lara Wall
Lucía León  (V)
Mackenzie Barry
Manaia Elliott
Olivia Ingham
Tessel Middag  (V)
Victoria Esson
 
2026/27
CJ Bott
Emma Main
Sabitra Bhandari (V)
Tiana Jaber
31 Jul 23:55
I'm in danger of feeling optimistic. Help me! 
31 Jul 23:57
2ndBest
Bott on a 2 year deal. 
Wow
31 Jul 23:58
I make us favourites... if we get Flea we  will do it in a canter.
01 Aug 00:04
  • Need a bit more CB cover. One or both (if we are playing with 3cbs) of Lake and  VdM. 
  • Probably need another one or two starting CMs. Guessing that is where the visa spot goes if Longo or another Fern isn't available. 
  • Might be ok with fullback at the moment as some others can provide cover or we play with wings back.
01 Aug 00:22 · edited 01 Aug 02:35 · History
I remember back in the day FA saying one reason they weren't keen on a Nix ALW team, was they were worried it could become a stacked de facto Ferns side.
That's before any talk of also having high quality visa players.

The Phoenix have very cleverly played the long game, and got there!

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/international-intrigue-why-ffa-shut-down-phoenix-s-w-league-hopes-20201110-p56dab.html

But the plans have been derailed by Football Federation Australia's refusal to adjust the W-League's player registration rules to allow Kiwis to not be counted as foreigners.

Such a change would have, in theory, allowed the Phoenix to field almost the entire New Zealand national team - and under the same coach, Tom Sermanni, who was ready to take on a dual role in charge of the W-League side.

Sources indicated FFA were are unwilling to entertain a scenario that would enable another country's national team to so directly benefit from being involved in an elite Australian competition.
01 Aug 00:28
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 
01 Aug 00:32
To be honest personally i wouldnt want a team only made up of Ferns. Much prefer a mixture as we look to be getting of Ferns, Overseas Players including Aussies and young up and coming Kiwis.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

01 Aug 01:34
2ndBest
Bott on a 2 year deal. 
huge signing, Welcome home!

Queenslander 3x a year.

01 Aug 02:21
2ndBest
  • Need a bit more CB cover. One or both (if we are playing with 3cbs) of Lake and  VdM. 
  • Probably need another one or two starting CMs. Guessing that is where the visa spot goes if Longo or another Fern isn't available. 
  • Might be ok with fullback at the moment as some others can provide cover or we play with wings back.
Must be very tempting now for Longo to re-sign. With the strong squad assembled, be a good year to be involved. 
01 Aug 02:30 · edited 01 Aug 02:30 · History
 
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological. 
01 Aug 03:00
theprof
2ndBest
Bott on a 2 year deal. 
huge signing, Welcome home!

So cool, that she grew up in Tawa and after travelling the globe is now going to be playing her professional football down the road in Porirua.
01 Aug 03:09
Great signing. A bit of a circus of a press conference, with Jason Pine(i think?) first calling Bott old and then asking her where she was living.
01 Aug 05:44
Silent
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 

She's been playing for Auckland United since she left the Nix - Can't imagine she'd be an option considering how she left
01 Aug 06:10
On top of all this I hope for Longo - she is special and was so good last season. The team was very competitive and the league was very tight last season - just a couple of goals here an there either way..... With the new signings, a bit of samba carnival, and hopefully some flea circus, well then they'll be a serious threat to anyone. Definitely stepped up a gear so its going to be interesting - I'm sure many of the Aussies teams will be stepping up higher as well....
01 Aug 06:47
Half a Pint
Silent
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 

She's been playing for Auckland United since she left the Nix - Can't imagine she'd be an option considering how she left
Well, the coaching regime has changed, and wasn't that the problem for her?

Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



01 Aug 07:36
Doloras
Half a Pint
Silent
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 

She's been playing for Auckland United since she left the Nix - Can't imagine she'd be an option considering how she left
Well, the coaching regime has changed, and wasn't that the problem for her?
I think the pay was an issue too. Not enough to cover rent in Wellington and mortgage in Auckland (where her partner lives).
01 Aug 08:11
So cringe. You’ll never hear him asking the hard questions of the Nix cause it seems he wants to be mates with them all 
djtim3000
Great signing. A bit of a circus of a press conference, with Jason Pine(i think?) first calling Bott old and then asking her where she was living.
01 Aug 08:49
Friar Tuck
Doloras
Half a Pint
Silent
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 

She's been playing for Auckland United since she left the Nix - Can't imagine she'd be an option considering how she left
Well, the coaching regime has changed, and wasn't that the problem for her?
I think the pay was an issue too. Not enough to cover rent in Wellington and mortgage in Auckland (where her partner lives).

Sounds like that mightve changed too?

Valley FC til I die?

01 Aug 09:36
Nelfoos
Friar Tuck
Doloras
Half a Pint
Silent
Not sure she's an option after the cloud she left under but what, if any, football has Chloe Knott been playing since she went back to Auckland?
 

She's been playing for Auckland United since she left the Nix - Can't imagine she'd be an option considering how she left
Well, the coaching regime has changed, and wasn't that the problem for her?
I think the pay was an issue too. Not enough to cover rent in Wellington and mortgage in Auckland (where her partner lives).

Sounds like that mightve changed too?
This is true, but the team is still operating under a pretty small salary cap.
03 Aug 05:25
A visa striker is hopefully a couple of days away from being announced. Just a couple of things to sort through 
03 Aug 10:05
Is Chiefytheman really Chief(y)?


04 Aug 22:58
martinb
Is Chiefytheman really Chief(y)?

No, Chiefy isnt really into the social media thing. He has it but doesnt use it much.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

05 Aug 00:13
 
The Wellington Phoenix have secured one of New Zealand’s top young players from the country’s leading amateur women’s football club.

The Phoenix have signed Auckland United forward Pia Vlok on a three-year contract, the first two of which are on scholarship terms.
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-sign-rising-star-to-long-term-deal/

05 Aug 00:15
2025/26
Aimee Danieli (scholarship)
Alyssa Whinham
Daisy Brazendale
Ela Jerez (scholarship)
Ella McCann (scholarship)
Ella McMillan (scholarship)
Ellie Walker  (V)
Grace Jale
Lara Wall
Lucía León  (V)
Mackenzie Barry
Manaia Elliott
Olivia Ingham
Tessel Middag  (V)
Victoria Esson
 
2026/27
CJ Bott
Emma Main
Sabitra Bhandari (V)
Tiana Jaber

2027/28
Pia Vlok (scholarship)
05 Aug 00:25
Chloe Knott must have said some positive things about the Nix.

Pia Vlok visited the Phoenix’s training base at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) last week before she makes the move to Wellington in September.

“It’s a dream come true to sign with the Phoenix,” Vlok said. “I’ve been wanting this ever since I was little.

“I watch heaps of their games and my teammate at Auckland United, Chloe Knott, is a big inspiration for me and she was at the Phoenix so I could see it being a possibility for me.

“Coming here and seeing the facilities it’s now real. It’s a big step for my career, but I think I’m ready.

“The coaching staff and everyone involved seems super positive, and I’m really excited to be part of the Phoenix.”


05 Aug 01:05
Good business this. For both parties.
05 Aug 01:16
We have plenty of young options with Vlok, McCann, Ingham and Jerez.
Where they sit in terms of readiness for A League I guess we will see.