14/10/26
Nine Impetus writers provide an in-depth look at each of the league’s 11 teams ahead of the big kick-off this weekend.
Above: Melbourne City lift the trophy after last season’s Grand Final win over Wellington Phoenix. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus.
Adelaide United
by Karleen Stevens
After a frustrating end to their 2025/26 season, Adelaide United have made big changes on and off the field and will be hoping to go deep into finals this year. Targeted recruiting, an expanded training base and a new leadership team have given them a refreshed outlook, along with the belief that they can do just that.
A fifth finish after the regular season last year put the Reds into consecutive finals series for the first time in the club’s history. However, they struggled to match it with the top teams and failed to progress beyond the Elimination Final.
This year they’ll be looking to push all the way, and have recruited a strong mix of experienced and emerging youth players to fill the gaps.
This started with midfielder Adriana Taranto stepping into the captain’s boots in just her second season at the club, following the departure of 120-gamer Isabel Hodgson to Brisbane.
But the big news from Adelaide this off season is the signing of Jamaican international Tianna Harris, who joins the club from SF Damaiense in Portugal. 26-year-old Harris will be the first Jamaican to play in the A-League Women and the team will look to her to fill the defensive gap left by departing captain Hodgson.
Harris also steps into the vice-captain role alongside Taranto. Rounding out the leadership team will be Paige Zois, Sian Dewey and rising star Ilona Melegh, who will be looking to get some extra minutes in goal this year after getting her first national team call up in June.
Elsewhere on the field, the Reds will feel the loss of club stalwart Emily Condon, who departs for Canberra as United’s second all-time games record holder. Midfielder Sarah Morgan and defender Zoe Tolland will join her in Canberra, while Ella Tonkin, Matilda McNamara and last season’s top goal scorer Erin Healy all farewelled the club to pursue opportunities in Europe.
There’s plenty of talent incoming, though, with tall forward Tessa Salvestrin hoping to bring extra pace to the Reds’ attack. The 22-year-old American has enjoyed recent success at SCU Torrense in Portugal, and at 180cm should provide a genuine aerial option up front. 22-year-old defender Bella Yakel is another young American to make the move down under after spending the pre-season training with the Portland Thorns.
Meanwhile, Young Matilda Claudia Cicco also joins the new-look defensive line-up from Newcastle Jets. The 21-year-old already has plenty of A-League experience, and with a two-year deal will be hoping to build a solid career foundation in Adelaide.
A pair of Young Matildas also join the list of new signings for the Reds: midfielder Kiera Meyers and versatile left side player India Breier.
Midfielder Maeve Nicolas is among the returnees from last season, and she will join back up with the team when she returns from representing the Junior Matildas at this month’s U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Other returnees in the Red’s 2026/27 squad are midfielder Melissa Taranto, defender Holly Murray and striker Carina Rossi, who have all re-signed from last year’s squad.
This new-look Adelaide team should feel rejuvenated with plenty of youth and new talent joining an experienced line up. They’ve laid the foundations for a strong 2026/27 season and will be disappointed with anything less than finals victories.
Brisbane Roar
by Kieran Yap
Brisbane Roar are at the beginning of a mini- reset, but things look exciting for one of the powerhouses of the A-League Women.
Despite some significant injuries and departures, Roar finished third under Alex Smith last season. It was an impressive end to a campaign that threatened to be derailed by Grace Kuilamu and Sharn Freier being hit by torn ACL’s, Tameka Yallop missing a large part of the season and Leia Varley moving overseas.
Following that, Smith was signed by Brooklyn FC in the USL, and Roar have turned to prodigious Victorian coach Johnathan Clemente to lead them this season. At 27, Clemente is the youngest head coach in A-League history. He arrives after three seasons as assistant to Jeff Hopkins at Melbourne Victory, where he was also hugely impactful on the youth development side of things at the club.
As head coach of Heidelberg United in Victoria’s NPLW, Clemente’s teams played an attacking style of football that favoured speed in attack and quick ball movement. This will suit the Roar players that have remained and likely ensure that new signings can make an impact.
Those additions include American striker Abby Smothers. The left footer looked dangerous and confident in her college career where she scored 28 goals in 61 games, including 11 goals and five assists in 2025 for Western Michigan University.
Smothers looks to be an exciting addition to the team and if she adapts quickly, can take the pressure off fellow speedsters Kuilamu and Freier who can return to play in time.
Local star Lily Punch has been signed from The Queensland Academy of Sport. The 18 year old forward is hugely rated, and is the reigning Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year in the QLD NPLW.
Roar have also added significant A-League experience and leadership. Isabel Hodgson is a real coup for the club. The former Adelaide United legend can play in a variety of roles, and can help make up for the departures of Aimee Medwin, or Angie Beard.
Similarly, Nat Tathem brings championship winning experience and versatility to the side. The newly appointed captain can play in midfield or defence and has been a deserved fan favourite at every club she has played for.
Philippines international Hali Long joins to bolster the defence and Emily Roach arrives after finding her best form for South Melbourne in 2026.
Roach, Tathem, Hodgson and former Mariner Annabel Martin all point to depth being a real focus for this side. All are players who can be positioned almost anywhere on the pitch, and should go some way to insuring the team against injuries and allow them to rotate players if needed without forcing unwanted tactical change.
The departures look worrying on paper. Yallop has moved to Wellington Phoenix, Alicia Woods and Beard were signed by Melbourne Victory and Momo Hayashi has departed for City.
But Roar have a strong squad with a mix of players who are proven at this level, ones with something to prove and players who are a combination of both.
It is an a season packed with potential for Brisbane Roar.
Canberra United
by Kieran Yap
Canberra United finished third and made the Elimination Final last season. With the retention of their core players and the addition of some star power, they have every chance of challenging for trophies in 2026/27.
For the last two years of Canberra United’s existence, it’s future has been a talking point throughout the A-League Women season. The arrival of new owners Australian Sports Group, who are fully invested in women’s football has buoyed spirits around the club and supporters. After that news was announced in July, the club moved quickly to build towards this season.
The first decision was to reappoint Antoni Jagarinec as head coach. The Canberra local has led them on the last two campaigns with different squads and improved results.
Not much needed to change from last season. Canberra were dangerous in attack, combative around the ball and strong in defence, but the losses of Ava Piazza and Tegan Bertolissio are significant and they needed to add some extra firepower after a disappointing defeat to Melbourne Victory to end their last campaign.
Madison Ayson has returned to the club after a year with Sydney FC. The central defender will partner Liz Anton and in front of Sally James provides a strong defensive foundation.
Zoe Tolland joins from Adelaide United. The right full back is a direct replacement for Bertolissio and should be capable of filling the departed Young Matildas boots, especially with Sasha Grove playing up the pitch on her side.
Sarah Morgan made the journey from South Australia with her. The central midfielder is tactically versatile and will help the team’s attacking talent flourish.
Canberra were the fourth highest scoring team last season, with 30 goals in 20 home and away games. However, they looked outgunned in the final against Victory. Michelle Heyman has another solid year, but needed support in this season. That has arrived in the form of Emily Condon and Caley Tallon-Henniker.
Condon is one of the best playmakers in the A-League Women. When fit, she is a game changer capable of creating chances and finishing them. She has a venomous free kick, an eye for a killer pass and quick feet to escape defensive pressure.
Condon is a star, an entertainer who improves her teammates. This was a coup for Canberra United and one that could see them close the gap on the top two.
Tallon-Henniker is a rising talent in this league. The Young Matilda and former Sydney FC forward is best used out wide, giving Canberra United a potential front three of her, Heyman and Grove.
She is able to swap flanks, or score from the middle. She is quick, decisive and composed. This is another new arrival that significantly strengthens Canberra United in attack.
Jagarinec has recruited very well. The new arrivals either directly address an issue from last season or replace a departed player. If things click quickly as they should with the minimal squad turnover, they will be stronger in all three areas of the pitch.
First place may be a little too ambitious as a prediction, but a Grand Final win is entirely possible.
Central Coast Mariners
by Alyce Collett
It is hard to win titles in multiple seasons in a row, and the Central Coast Mariners found that out the hard way in the 2025/26 season.
After winning only one of their first four matches of the season, the Mariners ultimately missed the finals on goal difference after being unable to account for Sydney FC in their final match of the season.
The offseason was certainly not a restful one for anyone involved at the club.
Ownership uncertainty plagued the club for much of the close season and for the women’s side it was not helped when Total Soccer Growth Holdings only bought the men’s side of the club, leaving the A League Women’s side in the lurch.
However, the Holman Barnes Group saved the day in early August when it was announced that they would be the new owners of the team.
Despite everything that has gone on, it certainly has not been a quiet one on the signings front for the Mariners.
A number of exciting young stars have signed with the Mariners for this season.
After struggling for minutes at Sydney FC in her debut season last season, 2025 NPLW NSW Golden Boot winner Skye Hamarick will certainly be hoping for better times this time around.
Morgan Aquino is another new face for the Mariners this season, returning to Australia after some time playing in the USA and will be hoping for a great season that correlates to a recall to the goal keeping union of the Matildas.
Even just in the last 24 hours the Mariners have made another signing announcement, with teenager Fiorina Iaria signing with the club. The 19 year old is a winger, and was a member of Melbourne Victory’s A League Women’s squad last season but was really impressive during the recently completed NPL Women Victoria season. This stellar season which saw her win the 2026 NPLW Victoria Rising Star Award was highlighted with a four goal performance for Melbourne Victory against Melbourne City.
Since the new Mariners’ women’s team owners also own an equity stake in NPLW NSW side Apia Leichardt, it is perhaps no surprise to see some of the Tigers’ stars being signed at the Mariners, namely forward Talia Kapetanellis and midfielder Te Reremoana Walker.
However, as good as some members on the incoming players list are, there are also some big names who have left the club in recent months that leave big shoes to fill.
Isabel Gomez is perhaps the most well known of these, with the midfielder having left to play for FC Rosengard in Sweden. She was a core member of the Mariners’ midfield for a long time, and alongside fellow departee Avaani Prakash – who has moved back to Victoria to join Melbourne City – leave big holes to fill in Central Coast’s midfield.
Goal keeper Sarah Langman and defender Annabel Martin have also left the club, and with their departure sees a huge amount of experience and leadership also leave the club.
However there are still plenty of fan favourites pulling on the blue and yellow this season, including young stars Peta Trimis and Tiana Fuller, and captain Taren King.
Melbourne City
by Emma Burke
Melbourne City was perhaps the hardest team hit by the latest exodus of players overseas, losing a starting eleven’s worth of players over the offseason.
As sad as this is for fans, it comes as little surprise considering City finally managed to do the double, winning the Premiers’ Plate and securing their place in the Asian Women’s Champions League (AWCL) for the third consecutive time, and finally winning the Championship, defeating Wellington Phoenix 3-1.
Leaving the club is two-time Golden Boot winner Holly McNamara, heading to Everton and Leah Davidson to Charlton Athletic, these being the only to move to England’s top league.
Laura Hughes, Alexia Apostolakis, and Leticia McKenna also went to England, but to the second tier of the competition, for Southampton, Bristol City, and Nottingham Forest respectively. Other moves include Bryleeh Henry to Rosengård in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan and defender Taylor Otto heading to Canada, securing a move to the Northern Super League’s Calgary Wild.
Of all the players to leave Melbourne City this offseason, only one of them was to another A-League Women’s (ALW) team, goalkeeper Ayana Aoyagi, to cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory. City also parted ways with Nigerian international Chinaza Uchendu, who scored the goal that secured Melbourne City a place in the AWCL semi-finals last season, Caitlin Karic, and Ellie Wilson.
Seeing all of these exits, one would expect City to now be entering an era of rebuilding, however, when you see just who they’ve brought in, you realise that really is not the case.
Top billing goes to none other than Cortnee Vine, who returns to the ALW for the first time since 2024. Vine might have seen little game time with her American club, the North Carolina Courage, but almost every Australian is aware of her, making her a massive draw card for viewers. Vine is likely looking to make a return to the Matildas ahead of the Women’s World Cup next year, and is in a very good place to do so.
The other big names include Matildas defender Jessika Nash, returning to Australia after a stint in Italy with U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, and Melina Ayres who returns to her first ever ALW club, having been with City from 2015 to 2017.
City have gone shopping across the league, picking up Brisbane Roar’s fan favourite Momo Hayashi, defender Taylor Ray from Melbourne Victory, Amy Medwin from the now defunct Western United, and young gun Avaani Prakash from Central Coast Mariners.
They’ve also signed American Kelli McGroarty, this years’ National Premier League Women (NPLW) Golden Boot winner, scoring 33 times in just 25 games.
With all this in mind, and the re-signings they’ve made in goalkeeper Malena Mieres, Aideen Keane, Karly Roestbakken, Deven Jackson, Melissa Barbieri, and their head coach Michael Matricciani, City are definitely going to make this season a challenge for every team they face in the league, and in Asia.
They’re still the team to beat, at least on paper.
Melbourne Victory
by Isabelle Campbell
Melbourne Victory head into the new A-League Women season looking to turn potential into performance. On paper, Victory looked to have one of the strongest squads in the league last season, but inconsistency proved costly as they struggled to find their best form. A semi-final defeat to cross-town rivals Melbourne City ended their campaign, with a lack of goals another issue they will be looking to address.
Jeff Hopkins returns for his 11th season in charge, with Victory retaining key players who form the backbone of the squad, including Claudia Bunge, Nicki Flannery and reigning Goalkeeper of the Year Courtney Newbon, who has recently received her first Matildas call-up. However, the departures of Rhianna Pollicina and Taylor Ray leave significant gaps in midfield after both played pivotal roles last season.
The return of Angie Beard is a significant boost for Victory. The Philippines international and all-star is one of the best left-backs in the country, offering quality at both ends of the pitch. Her ability to defend one-on-one and provide an attacking outlet down the left gives Victory another dimension, while also allowing Alana Jancevski to move further forward after spending the past two seasons covering at left-back. Beard’s return strengthens the defence and gives Victory greater flexibility in attack as they look to find more consistency this season.
Ayana Aoyagi makes the cross-town move from Melbourne City, yet to make her A-League Women debut. The goalkeeper has already shown her ability to perform under pressure, starring for South Melbourne in the 2025 Nike Cup Grand Final. Composed and positionally sound, she is also a strong penalty saver. Aoyagi spent last season training alongside Melissa Barbieri and Malena Mieres at City. Though she’s yet to make her league debut, that experience is invaluable as she prepares to take the next step in her career.
American born, Skye Leach arrives as a fresh Philippines international, bringing a physical presence and an ability to score. Her strength offers Victory another option in attack, while her finishing could prove important for a side looking to improve its output in front of goal. With Victory needing ruthlessness in the final third, Leach has an opportunity to establish herself and make an impact in her first A-League Women season.
Sophie Harding is probably one of Victory’s most significant additions. The Julie Dolan Medallist arrives with a proven A-League scoring record, having recently spent time in the USL. Her pace, high pressing and finishing make her a threat in the final third, and her experience in the competition should help her settle quickly. Given Victory’s struggles in front of goal last season, Harding will be expected to provide a reliable source of goals and help turn chances into points.
Tish Woods offers dimension in midfield. A deep-lying playmaker, she can dictate play from deeper areas and connect the defensive and attacking lines. Her right foot also provides a set-piece threat Victory have previously lacked, while her ability to score is just an added bonus. With Pollicina and Ray’s departure, Woods will have an important role to play in reshaping the midfield and providing the creativity Victory need.
Victory have added quality across the pitch, but the challenge remains the same: finding consistency. Harding and Leach offer fresh attacking options, Woods brings midfield creativity, and Beard strengthens the defence. With Hopkins continuing at the helm, the foundations are there. Whether Victory can turn their squad’s potential into sustained performances will determine whether they can go one step further this season.
Newcastle Jets
by Alyce Collett
Season 2025/26 started so positively for the Newcastle Jets, and things were looking positive.
There were three wins and a draw in the first five games of the season, and the Jets were being talked about as a team to watch in 25/26, but unfortunately for them, things petered out after that. There would be only four more wins for the entire campaign, and ultimately the Jets finished in ninth place on the ladder.
A team that often flies under the radar when it comes to discussions of the A-League Women’s, Newcastle will certainly be hoping that is not the case in season 2025/26.
However, there is one big question surrounding the Jets ahead of the new campaign – where will their goals come from?
Newcastle had two players in the top 10 of the Golden Boot race last season – Kelli Brown and Melina Ayres – but both of them are playing for other clubs this season, Canberra United and Melbourne City respectively, so someone else is going to need to stand up and fill that hole in the goal scoring capabilities department.
Brown and Ayres are not the only two big names who have left the Hunter in the offseason, with fan favourite Lauren Allan announcing her retirement from the league. She was one of the most experienced members of the squad last season, so her departure leaves a gap in the leadership and experience department.
Despite Allan’s departure there are still plenty of experienced heads at the Jets, including the likes of skipper Cass Davis and fellow leader Libby Copus-Brown, who acted as captain a couple of times last season in Davis’ absence.
The Jets have also looked far and wide in their recruiting quest.
Akeisha Sandhu has been recruited from NPLW Victoria side Essendon Royals, and will be looking to fill the goal scoring void left by Brown and Ayres.
The Jets have signed another attacker to a scholarship contract, with academy member Aaliyah Kilroy securing the coveted contract. She was a key part of Newcastle’s Youth Team’s run to the Football NSW League One Grand Final earlier this year, starting in all bar three matches.
A familiar face is back at the Jets, with 2022/23 and 2024/25 squad member Chloe Walandouw returning again to the club after having spent this past NPLW NSW season with the Northern Tigers.
The defensive end has also received a boost, with former Perth and Western Sydney defender Poppie Hooks moving up the highway and American goal keeper Claire Henninger joining from from Portuguese side S.F. Damaiense.
Perth Glory
by Ben Gilby
This is now the eighth season since Perth Glory made the Finals, and whilst head coach Stephen Peters is positive that this will be the campaign that the drought finally comes to an end, it would be a huge achievement for a squad who has lost a number of their best players from last season.
2025/26 saw the Glory come within four points of the top six, but ultimately it was a lack of goals that did for them. The Western Australians netted just 20 times, with only the bottom two sides, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers scoring fewer.
In order to improve the firepower in the side, Peters has brought in New Zealander Maggie Jenkins, who has an impressive goal scoring record at NPLW level with Essendon Royals in Victoria after powerful performances with both Wellington United and Auckland United. Jenkins will be looking to hit the ground running alongside Rola Badawiya, and locally produced striker Ella Lincoln, who is showing all the signs that NPLW WA watchers have been aware of for several years now.
The Glory can also point to the return of Megan Wynne who injured her ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season, and a fit Susan Phonsongkham is always exciting. Keep an eye out for the physical presence and pace of Western Australian teen Theodora Mouithys, part of the Junior Matildas U17 World Cup squad, who is on a YDA contract. Mouithys has lit up the NPLW WA with the Football West Academy over the past three seasons and has the presence to be a star.
Perth have also done extremely well to keep hold of Teresa Morrissey, who was such an impressive presence in goal last season.
However, there is no doubt that the team have suffered some major departures over the close season. Grace Johnston is now a WSL regular with Charlton Athletic, Tijan McKenna is in Norway with top side Vålerenga, and key defensive presences Naomi Chinnama and Nat Tathem have also gone.
The Western Australian side still have an abundance of talent in the centre of the park, and the success or otherwise of the season ahead is likely to depend on how well they can create the chances for the strikers to convert.
Any team who can call on the potential of Georgia Cassidy, Ella Abdul-Massih, Izzy Dalton, Charli Wainwright, Emma Tovar, and Daisy McAllister have the ability to be a handful.
But Perth are competing with teams who have strengthened considerably, and so their season will come down to whether or not they can find the net regularly. If they can’t, the Glory could find themselves nearer the bottom of the ladder than the top six.
Sydney FC
by Monica Clarke
Can Sydney FC bounce back from two disappointing seasons? Just three seasons ago the club held back-to-back championships and premiership.
In the 2024/2025 season, the club placed eighth which was the lowest the club had finished on the ladder at the time. However last season saw the club reach a new low of 10th, only just missing last place by goal difference.
The club begins the new season with James Slaveski named as Head coach after he was interim head coach from February last season. Slaveski has built up a squad with a combination of domestic and international players with varied experiences in the hopes of qualifying for the finals in the upcoming 2026/2027 season.
Sydney FC have a massive population of young Australian talent going into the upcoming season with over 30% of the Junior World Cup squad being Sydney FC players. These players include Willa Pearson, Alyse Oppedisano, Claire Corbett and Rubi Sullivan all returning for another season in Sky Blue as well as the new signings Annabelle Croll, Abbie Puckett and Jada Taylor. This will mean the squad will be missing seven players come the first fixtures of the season.
The squad has also welcomed back two club legends: Charlotte Mclean and Jada Whyman. Both players had huge success at the club in the past, both contributing to three premiership wins and two championship wins for the club. Sydney FC will be hoping to bring this success back to the club for the 2026/2027 season.
The club has also made the signing of Poppy Channing, a Football NSW NPL superstar. Channing’s UNSW team were runners-up in the NPL final as well as winning the Sapphire Cup. The defender also came away from the Sapphire Cup final as Player of the Match.
The club will also welcome back captain Nat Tobin in the 2026/2027 season after the birth of her son. Sarah Hunter will also return to play after a collarbone injury kept her out for the end of last season. Hunter had a successful NPL season with the Bulls, securing the premiership and championship, scoring an amazing penalty in the final. Liv Price is back in sky blue after 10 seasons away. She has been with Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers in the interim period.
Panama international Riley Tanner returns to Sydney FC as Riley Cohn after getting married over the break. Faith Webber, Kenzie Rolling and Kiley Dulney all join the squad, making the move over to Australia from America.
The club has seen many well-loved players leave for other opportunities. Tori Tumeth moved to Vancouver and Hana Lowry moved to Oslo for international football opportunities and both have since been called up to play for the Matildas.
Long-time favourites Mackenzie Hawkesby and Abbey Lemon left the club as well as Kirsty Fenton, who stepped away from football and mutually terminated her contract. International Jodi Ülkekul retired while Heather Hinz returned to America. Madison Ayson, Caley Tallon-Henniker and Skye Halmaric have moved to other clubs within the A-League.
Wellington Phoenix
by Ryan Imray
The 2025/2026 season was a record-breaking season for Wellington Phoenix. They became the first non-Australian side to make the Grand Final, and despite falling short to Melbourne City, there is a lot of optimism amongst Phoenix fans for is ahead.
Bev Priestman coming into her second season in charge, has made many adjustments to the side in the hope to go one step further and add silverware to the trophy cabinet.
Macey Fraser’s departure was the big one out of the ten players to leave the club. Macey and the club deciding to mutually terminate the remainder of her contact as was Tiana Jaber, who has returned to Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers. Ella McMillan, Ela Jerez, Daisy Brazendale, Lucia Leon, Mackenzie Anthony, Tessel Middag and Emma Pijnenburg have also left.
In terms of those coming in, Zoe Benson signed a Youth Development Contract for the 2025/2026 season and after making a significant impact to the side including scoring her first professional goal in a 2-0 win over Canberra United, she has been rewarded with her first professional contract signing a three-year deal. Academy graduate Manaia Elliot put pen to paper on a new deal with the club signing on for her fourth A-League season. Goalkeepers Victoria Esson and Aimee Danieli also committed themselves for the 2026/2027 season.
Amongst the names that have been bought in, there are some familiar faces that are well known to football fans across Australia and New Zealand, one of them being Tameka Yallop. The decorated midfielder who falls under the legendary status across Australia, comes into the side bringing in a wealth of experience.
She is joined by Abby Erceg, the fourth most capped Football Fern who has played at four Olympics and World Cups has joined on a one-year deal.
Also coming in are NZ international Indiah-Paige Riley from Crystal Palace in England, Milly Clegg, who returns after spells in four overseas nations, and American Kam Pickett – Speedy Gonzales – has arrived after a season in Iceland. has signed on for the upcoming season.
Elsewhere, Alyssa Whinham and Sabitra Bhandari suffered ACL injuries last season, and Lara Wall announced she was departing before playing in some pre-season games. CJ Bott welcomed her first child into the world in July.
There is a feeling that the squad have the belief that they can go all the way and that grand final defeat will only add to the hunger and desire. The experience of the likes of Yallop, Erceg, Jale and Barry is something money can’t buy.
Then you add the young and upcoming stars, the likes of Benson, Vlok and Elliott, the types of players that get you on the edge of your seat. When you put all of that together under the experience and passion of a coach like Bev Priestman, who knows what could happen. Last season was the best season in the club’s history; we could be on the verge of the start of a season that could be better than that one.
Western Sydney Wanderers
by Hannah Gray
After a difficult 2025/2026 campaign will the Western Sydney Wanderers be able to turn it around and produce a better outcome in their 2026/2027 campaign?
A tricky 2025/26 A-league Women’s season saw Western Sydney Wanderers finish bottom of the table with only five wins, four draws and a shocking 11 losses. Whilst there were plenty of promising moments throughout their season including a 3-2 away win in their Round 15 Sydney derby clash and a victory over eventual premier Melbourne City. Inconsistency ultimately cost the Wanderers their season as they struggled to turn strong performance into regular points.
After a major clean out in the off season the Wanderers look to take the pitch this year with an almost entirely new look squad. With some of their key players from last season leaving including their captain Amy Harrison and the club’s highest capped player Danika Matos who has 111 games of experience under her belt. It would make sense for many to question how this team is going to perform this year.
Replacing that experience will be a major challenge, but the Wanderers have responded with some impressive new signing.
With the team coinciding 34 points during their 2025/26 campaign, the signing of 2024/ 25 A-league women’s Goalkeeper of the year Sarah Langman brings many positives to the club. Langman brings a wealth of experience between the sticks helping guide Central Coast Mariners to a championship in their 2024/ 25 campaign, and it’s hoped she can provide her new team with a wealth of leadership and knowledge to help guide a relatively young Wanderers side.
Two Western Sydney products are also returning back to their home town clubs this season. Tiana Jaber and Rhianna Pollicina are expected to bring a whole lot of spark to both Wanderers attack and defence this year. After 5 seasons away from the club it’s hoped that Pollicina can continue her high goal scoring rate from last year continuing to score many more points for her new colours. Her experience, creativity and proven ability to score goals could provide exactly what the Wanderers lacked last season.
Despite all the changes one familiar face remains at the center of the Wanderers attacking plans: Talia Younis, despite only being 17 years old Younis has already managed to make 50 appearances in the A-league and wrapped up an incredible 2025/26 season with the silverware to show it as she was named both the Wanderers Members player of the year and the clubs player of the year.
Younis has established herself as one of the league’s most exciting young players and with the Western Sydney junior staying loyal to her club it gives the coaching staff a strong foundation to build around.
Sofia Sakalis, an impressive performer in the A-League Women for several years also joins the club after spells with both Melbourne clubs as well as Perth Glory.
With so many new faces patience may be required early on in the season as the squad continues to develop its combinations, but after a difficult 2025/26 campaign where the Wanderers walked away with the wooden spoon it can only be up from here for this new look Wanderers side.
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