Wellington Phoenix Women: From Last Place to Championship Match in Remarkable Turnaround
Just two years ago, Wellington Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill gave his women's squad a C-minus rating. This Saturday, they'll compete in their first-ever A-League Women's grand final. This isn't just a comeback story—it's a masterclass in proper rebuilding.
The Phoenix will face Melbourne City, three-time Premiers Plate champions, at AAMI Park in a match that holds special significance as the club's 100th game. From finishing in last place two consecutive seasons to reaching the championship final in their fifth year, the transformation speaks volumes about how dramatically things have shifted.
Rocky beginnings held them back
When Wellington entered the A-League Women in 2021, they faced significant disadvantages from day one—prohibited from signing visa players for their initial two campaigns. Their debut season saw them finish last while based in Wollongong due to COVID-19 travel limitations, managing just two victories in 14 matches. The following season brought another last-place finish. The 2023/24 season delivered their best result yet with an eighth-place finish, which seemed promising until they slipped to ninth the next year.
The club cycled through four head coaches in five seasons. Team captains repeatedly suffered injuries. A vice-captain even departed mid-season, citing the impossible balance between full-time employment and professional football. The problems ran deeper than surface-level issues—they were fundamentally structural.
This season's game-changer was Bev Priestman. The English coach arrived with complicated history—serving a one-year suspension from football following her involvement in the drone surveillance controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics while leading Canada. However, she also brought an Olympic gold medal from Tokyo and World Cup experience. Wellington hired the most qualified coach in the entire league, and the results are evident. She's already committed to returning next season as part of what defender Mackenzie Barry describes as an intentional two-year rebuilding plan.
Key players driving success
Barry represents the heart of this roster. A day-one signing and the club's most-capped player in history, she's started every match this season. Wellington is the only A-League club she ever wanted to represent, and she's endured everything—the last-place finishes, the coaching carousel, the gradual climb upward.
Priestman assembled a resilient, competitive unit around her. Goalkeeper Vic Esson came back after seven seasons playing overseas and immediately helped Wellington post the league's best defensive statistics. American forward Makala Woods joined as an injury replacement and became the team's leading goal scorer. English forward Brooke Nunn tops the entire league in assists. Teenage midfielder Pia Vlok notched the club's first-ever hat-trick and earned her inaugural Football Ferns national team selection.
Centre-back Marisa van der Meer returned to action after two straight ACL injuries—more than 700 days on the sideline—and scored in her comeback match. Three additional players sustained ACL injuries this season alone, triggering an internal examination of injury prevention methods. The review identified no issues. The injuries continued regardless.
- Makala Woods — leading scorer, joined as injury cover, confirmed for next season
- Brooke Nunn — A-League Women's assist leader, also returning
- Pia Vlok — scored hat-trick, received first national team call-up, breakthrough campaign
- Vic Esson — league's top defensive record
- Mackenzie Barry — most appearances, started every match this season
The team also handled a captaincy change mid-season when CJ Bott announced her pregnancy in January. Barry assumed the on-field leadership role seamlessly. Grace Jale, who has represented multiple A-League clubs, is experiencing her finest club season and says this marks her first playoff appearance. That single fact illustrates the magnitude of Priestman's impact.
Nearly 6,000 fans packed Porirua Park for Sunday's semifinal—a club attendance record. Last season, average home crowds were just 739. By finishing second in regular season standings and defeating Brisbane Roar in extra time on aggregate to reach the final, the team accomplished what attendance figures never could: transforming Wellington into must-watch football.
Melbourne City have captured the Premiers Plate three times. They understand championship football. Wellington is navigating this territory for the first time. The betting odds will reflect that experience gap—but a squad that jumped from C-minus to a grand final in two years shouldn't be underestimated on Saturday night.