WPW 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

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. 

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.

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Biggest signing of the season so far coming up.

Flea??

Bev’s bringing her home 👀🇳🇿

Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/jWjeFrFK83

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 31, 2025

Wellington is home for CJ Bott, has to be her right?

Yes good chance it could be Bott, who is a Wellingtonian. Another big statement signing if so.

This women's off season just gets better and better. Think their season is going to be fun.

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.

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

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. 

Bott on a 2 year deal. 

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

 

CJ Bott

Emma Main

Sabitra Bhandari (V)

Tiana Jaber

I'm in danger of feeling optimistic. Help me! 

2ndBest

Bott on a 2 year deal. 

Wow

I make us favourites... if we get Flea we  will do it in a canter.

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.

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?
 

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.

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You're attack is terrified, Samba's on fire??

2ndBest

Bott on a 2 year deal. 

huge signing, Welcome home!

2ndBest

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• 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. 

 

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.

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.

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

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....

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?

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).

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.

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?

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.

A visa striker is hopefully a couple of days away from being announced. Just a couple of things to sort through 

Is Chiefytheman really Chief(y)?

martinb

Is Chiefytheman really Chief(y)?

No, Chiefy isnt really into the social media thing. He has it but doesnt use it much.

 

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/

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

 

CJ Bott

Emma Main

Sabitra Bhandari (V)

Tiana Jaber

2027/28
Pia Vlok (scholarship)

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.”

Good business this. For both parties.

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.