The women’s National League Championship is back for 2023 and this time it is bigger than ever, growing from eight teams to ten, including for the first time Wellington Phoenix joining the competition. 

But who is going to be there come Grand Finals time? We've previewed the teams. 


Auckland United

After winning the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership this year, Auckland United will have serious National League Championship ambitions and will be keen to improve on last season’s sixth place. A solid defence conceding less than a goal per game, with a potent attack averaging 3 goals every round was the formula for a successful regional season but can United keep it up for the Championship?  

Player to watch: Rene Wasi (Forward)

As the joint top scorer for Auckland United in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership alongside Chelsea Elliott, Wasi is a versatile striker who is comfortable playing in a deep-lying striker position or right up front. A clinical finisher, Auckland United will hope Wasi can add to her seven league goals when she takes the field in the championship phase.

Head coach: Ben Bate

Opening Match: Home to Canterbury United Pride (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Canterbury United Pride*

The Pride of Mainland Football, Canterbury United Pride will hope improve on their fourth-placed  finish last season and, as former national winners, get back in to National League Championship title contention. Bringing together the best talent from clubs like Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit and Nelson Suburbs, the Pride will be keen to lay down a marker against Auckland United on the opening weekend.

Player to watch: Britney-Lee Nicholson (Winger)

Nicholson dominated to golden boot race in the South Island league winning it with 15 goals, double that of the player in second. Still only 23 but with a number of years of experience playing at national level, the Pride attacker will be looking to make an impact in the Championship this season.  

Head coach: Alana Gunn

Opening Match: Away to Auckland United (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Central Football*

The Central Football women’s National League Championship squad is made up of the best players from Palmerston North Marist FC, Palmerston North United FC, Whanganui City FC, Havelock North Wanderers AFC and Taradale AFC. After finishings bottom of the table in 2022, Central will be keen to improve in the expanded competition. 

Player to watch: Mikaela Bouwmeester (Forward)

With 18 goals in the Ultra Football Women's Central League, Bouwmeester was the runaway golden boot winner in 2023 scoring nearly half the team’s goals in a season that saw Palmerston North Marist FC finish the league in fourth. 

Head coach: Jamie Dunning

Opening Match: Home to Western Springs (12pm on Saturday 23 September)

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CF – Waterside Karori**

One of the club-federation partnership sides, Capital Football Waterside Karori will look to impress on National League Championship debut. Waterside Karori are the Ultra Football Women's Central League champions in 2023, losing just one game way back in June. This new team will look to make themselves just as hard to beat as they join the country’s best sides in the National League Championship, with the addition of some new players from the Capital Football region. 

Player to watch: Kaley Ward (Forward)

Experienced striker Kaley Ward is consistently in the mix at the top of the goal scoring charts. Her 12 league goals helped Waterside Karori to the title and they will be hoping she can continue to find the net in the Championship. Ward is also the Junior Lead Coach and Girls Coaching Director at Waterside Karori when she is not leading the line for the first team.

Head coach: Sam Morrisey

Opening Match: Home to CF Wellington United (4pm on Saturday 23 September)

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Credit: Photosport

CF – Wellington United**

Another club-federation partnership side with Capital Football is CF Wellington United. The Wellington United Diamonds were the runners-up in the Ultra Football Women's Central League in 2023 and the runners-up in the Kate Sheppard Cup final for 2023 too. With a league-leading 44 goals, CF Wellington United will want to continue that goal scoring form as they compete in the Championship for the first time. Having lost just one game all season in a league decided on the very last day, CF Wellington United know how to fight and for a title.

Player to watch: Hope Gilchrist (Defender)

With four players in the top-10 goal scorers in the Central League, Wellington United Diamonds are blessed with a talent with an eye for goal, but playing in the Championship for the first time, the leadership of captain Hope Gilchrist in defence could prove vital. 

Head coach: Guillermo Schiltenwolf

Opening Match: Away to CF Waterside Karori (4pm on Saturday 23 September)

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Eastern Suburbs

Scorers of a Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership leading 52 goals, Eastern Suburbs head into the National League Championship as defending champions. Their ability to score goals at will is key to their bid to win back-to-back championships. Suburbs are a strong squad across the park but will be without one of their star players, Deven Jackson, who has signed as a pro for Canberra United after an impressive campaign. 

Player to watch: Zoe Benson (Midfielder)

The New Zealand U-19 player finished the 2023 NRFL Women’s Premiership season as joint third top scorer with 8 goals from midfield and will be looking to make an impact at national level after a strong campaign. 

Head coach: Stephen Hoyle

Opening Match: Away to Southern United (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Ellerslie AFC

Ellerslie AFC had to wait until the final match of the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership season to guarantee qualification to the National League Championship for the first time, securing a narrow 2-1 win over Hibiscus Coast to book their place. With a goal difference of only +2 in the league, they will need to tighten up at the back as they step up to the next level. 

Player to watch: Brittany Cunningham-Lee (Forward)

Cunningham-Lee is the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership 2023 golden boot winner with 11 goals. Ellerslie AFC will look to Cunningham-Lee for inspiration in the Championship with the forward responsible for just under half the team’s goals this season. 

Head coach: Ryan Shiffman

Opening Match: Home to Wellington Phoenix (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Southern United*

The Southern Football federation team entry into the women’s National League Championship, Southern United, will be keen to improve on fifth-place finish last season after winning the reduced competion in 2021. Combining the best players from Otago University AFC, Dunedin City Royals FC and squad members from other clubs across New Zealand, Southern United open their campaign against Eastern Suburbs at Logan Park.

Player to watch: Rose Morton (Midfielder)

Experienced former New Zealand U-20 midfielder Rose Morton is a vital part of the Southern United team, as shown but her being named in the women’s National League Team of the Season in 2022. United's captain will need all her leadership skills with a tough task in the opening game against the title holders.  

Head coach: Luis Goncalves Paiva

Opening Match: Home to Eastern Suburbs (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Wellington Phoenix Reserves

As is the case in the men’s National League Championship, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves have been granted an automatic qualification spot, to support the youth development of the A-League Women side. The Nix under-20 women’s side will look to make an instant impact in the National League Championship, having not featured in the competition’s eight-team format in 2022.

Player to watch: Angela Pivac (forward)

Pivac was one of six Nix players to be called up by the Young Football Ferns for the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, and she has paid back the faith in her so far with 7 goals. 

Head coach: Katie Barrott

Opening Match: Away to Ellerslie (2pm on Sunday 24 September)

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Credit: Photosport

Western Springs

With four players in the top 10 goal scorers in the Lotto NRFL Premiership, finding the back of the net was not an issue for Western Springs as they qualified for the National League Championship again with a third-place league finish. Western Springs won the 2023 Kate Sheppard Cup and will look to take that taste of victory into the National League Championship, where they will be keen to avenge their 2022 Grand Final defeat. 

Player to watch: Ela Jerez (Forward)

It has been a good few weeks for Ela Jerez, scoring the winner in the Kate Sheppard Cup and scoring and captaining the U-16 team at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship. The forward may be young but definitely has the skill to scare opposition defences.

Head coach: Maia Vink

Opening Match: Away to Central Football (12pm on Saturday 23 September)

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* Federation team
** Federation and club partnership team

Article added: Friday 22 September 2023