Head coach: Natalie Lawrence
2021-22 position: 10th
Wellington Phoenix showed plenty of spirit in their inaugural A-League Women season and improved as the campaign went on amid the COVID-19 pandemic and being forced to play away from home in Australia. Natalie Lawrence has replaced Gemma Lewis as head coach.
Prospects: Wellington have a far older and more experienced team thanks to targeted recruiting and international call-ups at both senior and under-20 level for many of last season’s returning players. Football Ferns veteran Betsy Hassett will bring seniority and leadership to the Phoenix while fellow current internationals Paige Satchell, Marisa van der Meer and Emma Rolston all arrive with their form counting down to the World Cup front of mind. Winning and retaining the ball higher up the pitch will be key to better results after conceding a league-high 36 goals at an average of 2.6 per game last season.
Re-signed: Lily Alfeld, Brianna Edwards, Kate Taylor, Mackenzie Barry, Zoe McMeeken, Saskia Vosper, Isabel Gomez, Grace Wisnewski, Chloe Knott, Alyssa Whinham, Ava Pritchard
New arrivals: Marisa van der Meer, Betsy Hassett, Paige Satchell, Michaela Robertson (Phoenix academy), Claudia Cicco, Emma Rolston, Milly Clegg (amateur)
Injuries: Alfeld, Taylor, Wisnewski, Rolston and Satchell not 100% still.