Wellington Phoenix Women: From Last Place to Grand Final Glory

Just two seasons ago, Wellington Phoenix's director of football Shaun Gill gave his women's squad a C-minus grade. This Saturday night, they'll take the pitch in their first-ever A-League Women's grand final. This isn't just a comeback story — it's a masterclass in rebuilding a football club from the ground up.

The Phoenix will face Melbourne City, three-time Premiers Plate champions, at AAMI Park in a match that holds special significance: it marks the club's 100th game. From finishing dead last in consecutive seasons to grand finalists in their fifth year of existence, the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.

A rocky beginning

Wellington entered the A-League Women competition in 2021 under significant handicaps — they weren't permitted to sign international visa players for their first two campaigns. Their inaugural season saw them finish in last place, managing just two victories in 14 matches while based in Wollongong due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Year two brought another wooden spoon finish. The 2023/24 season delivered an eighth-place result, their best showing yet, though they slipped back to ninth the following year.

The instability ran deep: four different head coaches in five seasons, captains sidelined by recurring injuries, and a vice-captain who departed mid-campaign, citing the impossible demands of balancing full-time employment with professional soccer. These weren't surface-level issues — the problems were baked into the club's foundation.

Everything shifted this season with the arrival of Bev Priestman. The English coach brought considerable controversy — she was serving a one-year suspension from all football activities following her involvement in the drone surveillance scandal during the 2024 Paris Olympics while leading Canada's national team. But she also brought an Olympic gold medal from Tokyo and World Cup coaching experience. Wellington hired the most accomplished coach in the entire league, and the results speak volumes. The club has already secured her services for next season as part of what defender Mackenzie Barry describes as an intentional two-year rebuilding plan.

The core that powered the turnaround

Barry represents the heart and soul of this squad. An original signing from day one, she's now the most-capped player in franchise history and has started every single match this season. Wellington is the only A-League club she's ever wanted to represent, and she's endured everything — the last-place finishes, the coaching carousel, the painstaking climb toward respectability.

Around Barry, Priestman constructed a resilient, disciplined unit. Goalkeeper Vic Esson came home after seven seasons playing overseas and immediately anchored the league's stingiest defence. American striker Makala Woods joined as an injury replacement and finished as the team's leading goal scorer. English forward Brooke Nunn tops the entire A-League Women's division in assists. Teenage midfielder Pia Vlok notched the club's first-ever hat-trick and earned her debut call-up to the Football Ferns national team.

Centre-back Marisa van der Meer returned to action after suffering two consecutive ACL tears — more than 700 days on the sidelines — and scored upon her comeback. Three additional players sustained ACL injuries this season alone, triggering a comprehensive internal investigation of injury prevention measures. The review concluded protocols were sound. The injuries kept happening regardless.

  • Makala Woods — leading scorer, originally signed as injury cover, confirmed for next season
  • Brooke Nunn — A-League Women's assist leader, also returning next campaign
  • Pia Vlok — club's first hat-trick, maiden Ferns selection, breakthrough campaign
  • Vic Esson — anchored the competition's best defensive record
  • Mackenzie Barry — club appearance record holder, perfect attendance this season

The squad also managed a mid-season leadership transition when captain CJ Bott announced her pregnancy in January. Barry seamlessly assumed the on-field captaincy without missing a beat. Grace Jale, a veteran of multiple A-League clubs, is enjoying her finest club season and admits this marks her first playoff experience. That single fact illustrates the magnitude of Priestman's impact.

Nearly 6,000 supporters packed Porirua Park for Sunday's semifinal — a new club attendance record. Last season, average home crowds numbered just 739. The team's second-place regular season finish and extra-time aggregate victory over Brisbane Roar to reach the championship match has accomplished what attendance figures never could: it's transformed Wellington into must-watch football.

Melbourne City have claimed the Premiers Plate three times. They understand how to finish seasons strong. Wellington is experiencing this for the first time. The betting odds will reflect that experience gap — but a team that leaped from C-minus to a grand final appearance in two years isn't one you overlook on a Saturday night.