Yahoo Sports A-League Women season preview: Form, transfers and what to expect from all 12 clubs
The latest A-League Women season has arrived. After a record-breaking 2023/24 season, the newly branded Ninja A-League aims to further build on the momentum generated by last summer’s FIFA World Cup.
With each new season comes renewed optimism as teams strive for the championship in May. But how do the 12 clubs look heading into the new campaign? We’re here to provide answers.
Welcome to the Her Football Hub 2024/25 Ninja A-League preview — let’s dive in.
Adelaide United
Last season finish: 12th
Manager: Adrian Stenta
Adelaide’s struggles last season can be summed up with two statistics: goals for and goals against. Worst in the league in both metrics, their goal difference of -35 was also markedly worse than the next side, Canberra, on -8. Unsurprisingly, Adelaide finished rock bottom, collecting just 15 points from 22 games.
The Reds’ problems in front of goal were laid bare by the fact that their joint top scorers — Hannah Blake, Isobel Hodgson and Dylan Holmes — only found the net three times each.
Manager Adrian Stenta has sought to rectify that during the off-season with the return of Fiona Worts, who is back in the City of Churches following a single season with Sydney FC. Meanwhile, Blake’s departure was announced at the end of last season.
Also returning is one-time capped Australian international Matilda McNamara after two years in Denmark with AGF. Coupled with the signing of former Tottenham, Real Betis and Watford right-back Lucía León, Adelaide should be more resolute at the back.
Having finished so far adrift at the bottom last time out, success for United may well be just being a competitive force again.
Brisbane Roar
Last season finish: 9th
Manager: Alex Smith
It was another disappointing campaign for the Brisbane Roar as they missed out on Finals football for the third consecutive season.
Previous manager Garrath McPherson left the Queensland outfit four games into the season. They’d taken maximum points from matches against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in their opening two games. But after Alex Smith took the reins, they went winless in their next six games and would win just five more times all season.
Smith has had to contend with losing last season’s top scorer Mia Corbin. The American joined Carolina Ascent in the new USL Super League in her homeland last May. Also leaving the club was the vastly experienced Jenna McCormick. The centre-back played in all 22 league games last season.
Brisbane will hope the signings of Danielle Tan and Evdokiya Popadinova will replace the goals Corbin provided. Popadinova joins from Lazio, whom she helped gain promotion to Serie A last season. She also had brief stints with Napoli and Sassuolo in Italy.
Tan, a 20-year-old Singapore international, arrives after a productive spell with Borussia Dortmund. She bagged 16 goals in 27 appearances to aid Dortmund’s promotion from the German fifth tier.
The news that newly capped Matilda Sharn Freier has signed a new deal will be welcomed. She’ll be joined by twin sister Laini, who has signed from Brisbane City in the NPLW QLD.
Together, they helped City to the title last season, with Laini scoring in the semi-final and final. Sharn assisted her on both occasions. Roar fans will hope that combination will prove just as successful in the A-League this season.
Canberra United
Last season finish: 11th
Manager: Antoni Jagarinec
Canberra United may have secured their biggest win before a ball has even been kicked by simply still being in existence. There are very real concerns about the long-term future of the side from the capital. Financial worries were eased at the 11th hour following a cash injection from the ACT State Government.
On the pitch, there’s a new manager, Antoni Jagarinec, who replaced Njegosh Popovich after two seasons.
The first item in Jagarinec’s inbox has been shaping his squad. Among the incoming signings, former Melbourne Victory attacker Maja Markovski has joined from Bulleen Lions.
A big loss heading overseas is Vesna Milivojević, who departed for IFK Norrköping in Sweden. She appeared in all 22 league games last season, bagging 10 goals along the way. The departures of goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln to Western United and Emma Ilijoksi to Hearts in Scotland may also prove difficult to deal with.
One bright spot is the return of the immortal Michelle Heyman. The 67-time capped Matilda will be the focal point once again, having finished last season as the league Golden Boot winner with 17 goals. This season could be one where the biggest wins come off the pitch rather than on it.
Central Coast Mariners
Last season finish: 5th
Manager: Emily Husband
The Mariners returned to the league last season after 13 years away. Emily Husband’s side made up for lost time, finishing fifth and making the Finals.
Success has come at a price, however. Casey Dumont has departed for Perth Glory, and both Faye Bryson and Kyah Simon have moved to Sydney FC. Last season’s top scorer, Wurigumula returned to China following the end of her loan spell.
The signings of Taylor Ray from Sydney FC and Jessika Nash from Melbourne Victory could prove to be very shrewd. At 23 and 20, respectively, both have plenty of experience and caps at full international level.
Jade Pennock has joined on loan from English Championship side Birmingham City. The Mariners will need her to pick up the goalscoring mantle if they’re to make the Finals again.
New season Down Under, Let’s go! 💛💙🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/9dIfHUiDtT
— Jade Pennock (@JadePennock) October 30, 2024
Melbourne City
Last season finish: 1st (Premiers)
Manager: Michael Matricciani
It was another successful season for Melbourne City last time out. They clinched the A-League Women Premiership as the best team in the regular season ahead of Sydney FC. However, they lost the Grand Final on home turf to the Sky Blues 1-0.
Boss Dario Vidšić has since departed for Women’s Super League side Brighton and Hove Albion. In his place, Michael Matricciani has taken the reins following a long stint within NPLW South Australia.
It was straight into competitive football for the new boss in the AFC Women’s Champions League. They topped their group with three wins from three to book a quarter-final spot. That will be a single-legged game in Melbourne when the draw is made.
On the transfer front, Hannah Wilkinson and Daniela Galic are the most notable departures. New Zealand international Wilkinson has retired as City’s all-time leading goal scorer with 30 goals in 51 appearances. Galic has left Melbourne to join the Dutch side of FC Twente. The 18-year-old is the reigning A-League Women Young Footballer of The Year.
Mariana Speckmaier has arrived from Wellington Phoenix off the back of a 10-goal haul last season. City fans will be hoping she can replace Wilkinson’s output.
One signing to watch out for is centre-back Alexia Apostolakis. The 18-year-old Young Matilda has joined from Western Sydney Wanderers. She made 42 appearances during her time in Parramatta and started all three of City’s Champions League games.
If their continental form is anything to go by, Matricciani will have his side challenging for honours once again.
Melbourne Victory
Last season finish: 4th
Manager: Jeff Hopkins
By the lofty expectations of Melbourne Victory, last season was a disappointing one. The three-time champions finished fourth in the league and were eliminated from the Finals at the first hurdle on penalties by the Mariners.
The club has bid farewell to the vastly experienced defensive duo of Emma Checker, who has retired, and Elise Kellond-Knight, who’s moved onto Avondale in the NPLW Victoria. Polly Doran, Jamilla Rankin and Jessika Nash have also departed to complete a defensive exodus.
In their place, manager Jeff Hopkins has signed New Zealand international Claudia Bunge from Danish side HB Køge. English defender Ellie Wilson also joins from Wolves.
The goals of Emily Gielnik and Rachel Lowe will again be key to Victory’s chances of winning silverware. However, a lack of depth in defence could prove to be costly as the rigours of a season take their toll.
Newcastle Jets
Last season finish: 6th
Manager: Ryan Campbell
For a club beset with financial issues, the Jets worked wonders last season to make the Finals for the first time since 2017/18. Led by Gary van Egmond, they dispatched Western United in the Elimination Final before falling to Melbourne City over two legs.
Van Egmond has departed, with his assistant Ryan Campbell stepping up in his place. The new boss has had to contend with losing last season’s top scorer, Sarina Bolden, to Como. Melina Ayres has stepped away from football for the time being. Experienced duo Gema Simon and Alexandra Huynh have hung up their boots, and first-choice goalkeeper Izzy Nino has left for the USL Super League.
Bringing some much-needed experience to a young squad is Canadian goalkeeper Danielle Krzyzaniak who has joined from Sparta Prague. Swiss international defender Lorena Baumann and stalwart Cassidy Davis have signed one-year contract extensions.
In truth, the losses of Bolden and Ayres could prove too big an obstacle to overcome for the Jets’ Finals hopes.
Perth Glory
Last season finish: 10th
Manager finish: Stephen Peters
A 10th-place finish for the Glory last season marked a fifth straight year without Finals football.
Manager Alexander Epakis has departed and been replaced by Stephen Peters. The new head coach has had considerable success in the NPLW NSW with Macarthur Rams, winning two straight championships in 2022 and 2023.
Headlining the departures, captain Natasha Rigby has called time on her career. Last season’s top scorer Millie Farrow has joined Sydney FC, as has midfielder Hanna Lowry. Meanwhile, Peters has returned to his old club to sign Japanese midfielder Miku Sunaga, who joins having scored 24 goals in 70 appearances. New Zealand youth international Kelli Brown arrives after a prolific spell, notching 34 goals for the Rams.
The signing of goalkeeper Casey Dumont from Central Coast could prove to be an inspired one. The Matildas international has won two Premierships and three Championships with Brisbane and Victory, respectively. Welsh international Megan Wynne also joins from Southampton and should add some quality to the Glory squad as Stephens looks to bring a winning formula to Western Australia.
Sydney FC
Last season finish: 2nd (Grand Final Winners)
Manager: Ante Juric
Three things in life are certain. Death, taxes and Sydney FC making the Grand Final. They’ve been involved in the big dance for the past seven years. In that time, the Sky Blues have won three Premiers Plates and three of those Grand Finals.
Manager Ante Juric remains in charge having seemingly ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Australia women’s national team job. Not that they’re immune to key losses. Charlotte McLean and Cortnee Vine have both joined the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL, and Jada Whyman has made the move to AIK in Sweden.
The signings of Farrow and Lowry from Perth, as well as Bryson and Simon from Central Coast, will add plenty to an already impressive squad. Contract extensions for the likes of skipper Nat Tobin, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Princess Ibini and Kirsty Fenton will also ensure Juric’s charges are in Finals contention once again.
Wellington Phoenix
Last season finish: 8th
Manager: Paul Temple
An eighth-place finish last season marked another year of progression for the Nix. In their previous two campaigns, they’ve finished 10th (last) and 11th out of 12.
The loss of Mariana Speckmaier, who topped the Phoenix goal tally last season, will be a big problem to overcome. Football Ferns forward Grace Jale is returning to Wellington after two years away and will hope to fill the void left by Speckmaier. Portuguese U23 goalkeeper Carolina Vilão has joined from Benfica, where she’ll take the place of the departed Brianna Edwards and Rylee Foster.
The loss of American trio Hope Breslin, Hailey Davidson and Isabel Cox, who returned to the United States, will be keenly felt. All three were an integral part of the Wellington side last season.
Another season of steady progression could be the best the Yellow Fever can hope for. That would be another positive season, though.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Last season finish: 7th
Manager: Robbie Hooker
This pre-season has been far more tranquil than last year for the Wanderers. A year ago, manager Kat Smith left on the eve of the season and was replaced by Robbie Hooker. Despite that turbulent start, Hooker led the Wander Women to a seventh-place finish. Only goal difference kept them out of the Finals.
The American duo of goalkeeper Kaylie Collins and defender Vicky Bruce have returned Stateside. Alexia Apostolakis’ move to Melbourne City completes the list of headline departures. Midfielder Sienna Saveska returns to Parramatta following a spell with cross-town rivals Sydney FC.
Other than that, the awarding of scholarship deals to players has headlined at a club where youth progression is a cornerstone of the club identity.
Contract renewals for last season’s top scorer Sophie Harding, midfielder Olivia Price and skipper Amy Harrison will add vital experience as Wanderers look to go one better this time around.
Western United
Last season finish: 3rd
Manager: Kat Smith
The beaten A-League Women Grand Finalists from 2023 will be hoping to maintain their impressive performances this campaign. Kat Smith, who took over from Mark Torcaso last December, will be embarking on her first full season in charge.
The loss of Hannah Keane to Tampa Bay Sun in the USL Super League is a huge blow. The American netted 24 times in 40 appearances for Western. Australian international Chloe Logarzo is back in black and green this season, as are the Taranto twins, Melissa and Adriana.
Another Chloe, goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, has joined from Canberra. Lincoln has just been called up to the Matildas squad for the first time. Western will be hoping she can fill the gloves of the departed Hillary Beall.
A lot will be expected of Colombian youth international Sandra Ibarguen to weigh in with goals. Having scored six times in 12 games for Deportivo Pasto last season, she knows where the net is. That could be the difference between another impressive season or one of frustration.
Don’t miss the 17th A-League Women season
So there you have it. The 12 A-League Women sides hoping to be crowned champions of Australia. Select A-League Women games may appear on TNT Sports channels in the UK, and ESPN platforms in the US. The A-Leagues YouTube channel will also carry plenty of coverage throughout the season.
