SEASON PREVIEW: What to look for in this year's Women's National League

By Logan Smith and Warren Olson

Auckland United go into the Women’s National League as favourites, as this year’s 10 teams start their campaigns to earn a place in the grand final to determine the country’s champion team.

Reigning champions Auckland United remain unbeaten in 2024 and have swept the NRFL Premiership, OFC Champions League and Kate Sheppard Cup titles already this year.

Aiming to stop them will be a mix of clubs and federation teams, and in this preview, we’ll go region-by-region, looking at who might be up there.

Northern region

By Logan Smith

Auckland United
Last season: 1st (champions)
NRFL Premiership: 1st (champions)

Much has been made of Auckland United’s unstoppable form this year, as the club have not only charged to another NRFL Premiership title in unbeaten fashion but also gone all the way in the OFC Champions League and Kate Sheppard Cup.

It’s hard to look past United to clinch another National League title too, with their record on-field backed up by the strongest women’s club squad in the domestic scene. Michaela Foster won’t be around anymore as she’s signed for Durham in the United Kingdom, but they’ll still have A-League experience with the likes of Chloe Knott and Saskia Vosper.

Other standouts include forwards Rene Wasi and Charlotte Roche, as well as defenders Talisha Green and Jess Philpot, while head coach Ben Bate is well respected as a leader and coach.

Could the weight of expectation stop them? It might be the other sides’ best chance.

*Auckland United celebrate winning the National League Championship 2023. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.*

West Coast Rangers
Last season: Did not qualify
NRFL Premiership: 2nd

After not qualifying last year, West Coast Rangers supporters had to live vicariously through Kendrah Smith and Marissa Porteous, who played for Southern and nearly went all the way with them.

But there’s been few mistakes this time and not only have Rangers made it in this time, they did so with ease and sealed second place in the NRFL Premier.

Smith is overseas these days but Porteous will be a key player for West Coast Rangers if she’s fit, while Shannon Henson and Emily Lyon have been banging in the goals. In fact, as a team they scored just as many as champions Auckland United in the NRFL Premier.

It may be their first time qualifying but expect Rangers to be up there near the top.

Eastern Suburbs
Last season: 3rd
NRFL Premier: 3rd

Eastern Suburbs have been around the best in the country in the women’s space for a while, and yet there’s still a feel that their rise to the very top has come and gone in the last two years.

After commandingly winning the National League in 2022, they’ve since slipped away and last year blew their grand final hopes in a stunning 1-0 loss against Ellerslie.

This year, the club got locked in a real battle to even qualify for the National League, losing as many as they won in the end.

It’ll be a tough ask for them to challenge United or even Rangers for a top two place, but even still, you can’t write them off.

Sofia Garcia and Zoe Benson, in particular, are dangerous attacking players and can hurt any defence in the country.

*Western Springs head coach Maia Vink … what can she get from her squad this year? Photo: Andrew Skinner / Phototek.*

Western Springs
Last season: 4th
NRFL Premier: 4th

Like Suburbs, Western Springs also faced an inconsistent season and a battle to even earn a place in the National League, but they’re here now and recent form indicates they could be a dark horse.

Improvement in the second half of the season and results such as an away draw with Rangers, victory at Madills Farm against Suburbs and a narrow Kate Sheppard Cup final defeat to Auckland United indicate they could surprise some and launch a bid for a grand final place.

They’ve got options in the final third with capped Ferns in Megan Lee and Liz Savage, while Japanese duo Arisa Takeda and Rina Hirano combine well and add skill.

Add in talented young defender Ella Findlay and former Newcastle Jets midfielder Rebecca Burrows, and you’ve got to be at least curious what Maia Vink can bring out of this team in the National League.

Central region

By Warren Olson

Wellington United
Last season: 6th
Central League: 1st (champions)

League winners Wellington United proved solid as usual at the back, and if Anna Green is able to become a regular to support Zoe Barrott and Hope Gilchrist, that will continue.

However, their strength on the bench, a key factor in past years, may not quite be so prevalent this season, although Jemma Catherwood who recently starred for the Futsal Ferns will be a welcome return.

If they can convince Michaela Robertson to pull on an orange shirt again and join Natalie Olson up front, they could prove a dark horse as scoring goals against the Auckland sides, in particular, looks like the main hurdle to overcome.

*Central League champions Wellington United. Credit Dave Webster.*

Waterside Karori
Last season: 5th
Central League: 2nd

Though they were pipped at the post by Wellington United in the Central League, Waterside Karori have imported a couple of American players to help boost their National League chances.

Player of the season Jess Shilton is a rock at the back and should be in the side, while leading goal scorer Nikki Furukawa may have to step up as her sharpness in exploiting errors made by defenders and goalkeepers in the Central League might not be as useful in the higher-level National League.

Karori are notoriously tough to beat at home but have often tended to struggle on their travels, which they will need to fix to do well in this years’ National League.

Central Football
Last season: 9th
League finish: N/A

*Promising goalkeeper Harriet Muller. Photo credit: Jeff Mein Smith.*

As usual, Central may find it difficult with their players scattered far and wide but do have some promising youngsters to call on as has been the case in the past with the likes of Mackenzie Barry.

As a combined team, they will draw players from the likes of New Plymouth, Hastings and Palmerston North.

One promising player to look out for this time could be goalkeeper Harriet Muller, who recently won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with New Zealand and kept clean sheets throughout.

With some of the attacking talent in other National League teams, she’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to shine in goal.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Last season: 8th
League finish: 7th (Boy’s U-15 Capital Development League)

Perhaps the strongest Central region team from the league season is the Wellington Phoenix academy.

The side has an age limit of 19, which in the harsh wonder of professional football means you either make it into the A-League side, try playing across the ditch in the NPL or fall by the wayside.

With squads yet to be finalised rating them is difficult but allowing they don’t lose too many key players to the A-League side, the daily training, skill and fitness of the academy girls could see them overcome their lack of physicality and become amongst the frontrunners.

Kate Sheppard Cup wins against Wellington United and Waterside Karori, as well as a narrow defeat to Auckland United, show they could be a dark horse, although they cannot qualify for the grand final.

Southern region

By Logan Smith

Canterbury United Pride
Last season: 7th
League finish: N/A

As a six-time national champion, last season was a very disappointing one for Canterbury United. Failing to gel, they only won two games out of nine and finished 7^th, losing every game they played against the top six teams.

Sights are set much higher this time though, with Cashmere Technical head coach Shane Verma taking the helm and preparations having gone on for some time now.

They will mostly draw from South Island League sides Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit, with the former winning the league and scoring for fun at times throughout the season.

Anna McPhie has stood out as a goalscoring midfielder for Technical this season, while the Pride will likely also have the experience of the likes of Whitney Hepburn, Britney-Lee Nicholson and Margi Dias.

Southern United
Last season: 2nd
League finish: N/A

After going under the radar last season, Southern United reached the grand final and only lost it to an Auckland United side that hasn’t lost a game since.

However, they probably can’t go under the radar again, and come in with another strong squad, with a core from Kate Sheppard Cup semi-finalists Dunedin City Royals and other additions from local rivals, the NRFL Premier and overseas.

Amy Hislop is a huge get even as she recovers from injury, returning from Australian club Northern Tigers to represent Southern again in the National League.

*Southern United’s Amy Hislop (left) returns for another season of National League. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.*

Hannah Mackay-Wright will be important in defence, while the likes of Rose Morton and Alisa Tuatagaloa will comprise a hard-working midfield.

Shontelle Smith may also be one to keep an eye on; an experienced campaigner for Dunedin City Royals, she opted not to play National League football last year, but this time returns to Southern and will offer a creative and goal threat.

The question for Southern is will they need to evolve, and if so, whether they can do so successfully.

Season predictions

I’d be surprised to see anyone but Auckland United win the league, but think we’ll see a fascinating race for who joins them in the grand final.

Northern outfits West Coast Rangers, Eastern Suburbs and Western Springs all stand a chance, while federation sides Canterbury United and Southern United have selected strong squads and could pack a punch.

I’ll plump for United beating Rangers on the big day.

— Logan Smith

Playing in a more challenging competition, the Auckland teams will be the ones to beat.

However, if not too many of the more senior academy girls get Phoenix first-time scholarships, the Phoenix could be the best hope from the Central region, though they can’t qualify for the grand final.

— Warren Olson