History awaits in the 2026 Ninja A-League Women Grand Final, with serial contenders Melbourne City hosting a Wellington Phoenix side chasing a maiden championship in their first-ever decider.
Melbourne City head into their sixth A-League Women’s Grand Final following two derby wins over the Melbourne Victory. A Leticia McKenna strike saw them claim the first semi-final leg 1-0, before Shelby McMahon’s lone goal led them to a 1-0 win over Victory in the second leg. The win earned City hosting rights at AAMI Park.
Meanwhile, the Nix will make the trip across the ditch to Melbourne to play in the club’s first-ever A-League Grand Final. After losing the first leg of their semi-final 2-1 to the Brisbane Roar in Queensland, Wellington flipped the semi-final series on its head in the second leg. A brace from American forward Makala Woods in front of a record 5923 fans saw the Phoenix etch their name into the A-League history books, with a 2-0 victory in extra-time.
Melbourne City - 12W, 4D, 4L
This year, Melbourne City were crowned Premiers after winning 12 of their 20 games in the Ninja Women’s A-League season. The achievement sees City become the first women’s side in A-League history to win three straight Premiers Plates in the full home-and-away era.
The four losses they suffered this season were:
- 2-1 loss to Canberra United in Round 4
- 1-0 loss to Wanderers in Round 5
- 3-1 loss to Newcastle Jets in Round 13
- 2-1 loss to Adelaide United in Round 15
Image by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)
Melbourne City first entered the A-League Women’s competition in 2015 and have been crowned A-League Women’s Champions four times [2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2019/20] as well as A-League Women’s Premiers on four occasions [2015/16, 2019/20, 2023/24, 2024/25].
However, when it comes to the big dance, that’s where City have struggled in recent years.
The last time Melbourne City won the Grand Final was in the 2019/2020 season with a 1-0 victory over Sydney FC. Since that Championship season, City have qualified for just one of the last five Grand Finals, the most recent being in 2024, when they lost 1-0 to Sydney FC.
Now back in the big dance after missing last year's final and already crowned Premiers, Melbourne City will be eager to complete the A-League double in 2026.
Wellington Phoenix - 10W, 4D, 6L
If Grand Finals are unfamiliar territory for City, then finals football is an unknown entity altogether for the Wellington Phoenix. But this year, a lot has changed. Not only did the Phoenix women finish inside the top six for the first time, but they only finished six points behind their Grand Final opponents, Melbourne City.
The Wellington Phoenix finished 2nd on the A-League Women’s ladder this season after winning 10 of their 20 games, as well as recording four draws.
The only six losses they suffered this season were:
- 1-0 loss to Melbourne City in Round 6
- 1-0 loss to Perth Glory in Round 7
- 2-1 loss to Melbourne City in Round 12
- 2-1 loss to Mariners in Round 17
- 2-1 loss to Mariners in Round 5
- 1-0 loss to Wanderers in Round 21
Photo by Hagen Hopkins via Getty Images
After only entering the Ninja A-League in 2021, the Phoenix spent their first two seasons at the bottom of the ladder, winning just five of their first 32 matches. But the Nix have slowly been rising, finishing the 2023/2024 season in eighth position and ending the 2024/2025 season in ninth on the ladder.
Now, the Wellington Phoenix have become the first-ever New Zealand club to reach an A-League Grand Final. After ending the club's 19-year Grand Final drought, the Nix will be eager to capitalise on this historic moment by winning the Club’s Inaugural Championship Trophy.
Players to Watch: Melbourne City
Rebekah Stott (C)
POSITION: Defender
Melbourne City captain Rebekah Stott is the only player to have featured in all five of City’s Premiership-winning campaigns and will be looking to add a fifth Championship to her trophy cabinet this weekend.
Rebekah Stott has over 100 caps for the New Zealand Football Ferns and played a key role in New Zealand’s qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
Stott took out both the Player of the Year and Players’ Player awards this year for Melbourne City and just last week became the first Women’s player to reach 150 appearances in City blue.
Image by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)
Shelby McMahon
POSITION: Midfielder
Shelby McMahon first joined Melbourne City as an injury replacement for Holly McNamara in January 2024, netting two crucial goals in her maiden season.
The now 17-year-old has since gone from strength to strength, scoring in this year’s A-League Women’s semi-final before being named the Club’s Rising Star winner at its annual awards night.
“I’ve prepared a lot and had a lot of injuries, but my preparation is my confidence, so I’ve got to make sure I’m switched on in every moment.” - Shelby McMahon
As a member of the Young Matildas squad, McMahon also represented Australia at the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, playing 90 minutes in the side’s quarter-final loss to Korea.
Holly McNamara
POSITION: Forward
Holly McNamara is one of the A-League’s most electrifying attackers. McNamara was the competition's leading goal scorer for a second-straight season, scoring 12 goals to win back-to-back golden boots.
McNamara was also part of the Matildas squad that won the FIFA Series in Kenya in April this year, also scoring her second Matildas goal in the series.
Speaking about this week’s Grand Final, McNamara said,
“We’re not done yet. We fell short this time last year, so we’ve gone one better, but we want to win it.”
Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
Players to Watch: Wellington Phoenix
Pia Vlok
POSITION: Midfielder
Pia Vlok was just 13 when the Wellington Phoenix Women’s team first entered the A-League. Fast forward five years, and Vlok is now on a three-year contract with the Phoenix and has made quite an impact in her first season in the A-League.
“I’ve always looked up to the players in this team, and now playing with them is so cool.” - Pia Vlok
This season, Vlok became the club’s youngest-ever goal scorer in the team’s first win of the season at just 17 years old, in a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory. She also was responsible for scoring the team’s first-ever hat-trick.
Vlok was named the best player at the 2024 OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Fiji before going on to represent New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. She has since gone on to play three international games for the New Zealand Football Ferns.
Photo by Hagen Hopkins via Getty Images
Brooke Nunn
POSITION: Forward
When it comes to playing in an A-League Grand Final, Brooke Nunn knows what it takes to win the Championship. Nunn was an integral member of the Central Coast Mariners’ championship-winning side last season, featuring in all 27 of their matches on their way to beating Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final.
“I think it's just mostly about managing your emotions, you know, it’s going to be such a big game, but it’s all about going out there and enjoying it as we deserve to be here.” - Brooke Nunn
Since moving to Wellington this season, Nunn has led the league in goal assists [7] and ranked equal-first in chances created, creating 39 opportunities for the Phoenix this year.
Mackenzie Barry (C)
POSITION: Defender
Wellington Skipper Mackenzie Barry is the Phoenix women’s most capped player, starting 91 of the Phoenix’s 97 matches in the A-League.
“We’ve been working for this for five years now, we’ve had such a hard season, and I feel like we deserve this.” - Mackenzie Barry
Barry made her Football Ferns debut in October 2022 and has been a regular in national team squads since, racking up over 20 caps.
“I feel so proud of this club, we’ve had two bottom of the table seasons, and now here we are in the finals. We’ve grown so much, and the fans have stuck with us, and we couldn’t have done it without them”.
Barry is one of five players who have already re-signed for next season, alongside Grace Jale, Brooke Nunn, Makala Woods and Ellie Walker.
Photo by Hagen Hopkins via Getty Images
The Coaches
Melbourne's Magic Mike
Head Coach Michael Matricciani will lead Melbourne City for his first Grand Final since joining the club at the start of the 2024/2025 season.
“We try to set the top standards every season and whatever trophies are available, we want to win. Last year, we got one and missed out on two. So, this year, another trophy is on the line for us to be able to potentially win.” - Michael Matricciani
Matricciani was awarded the Ninja A-League Coach of the Month award five times this season, after steering his side to a third-straight Ninja A-League Premiership and helping his side win three of their final four regular-season matches.
Image by Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline)
Wellington's Bev-olution
Bev Priestman is one of the most-credentialed coaches in A-League history, having guided Canada to Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics and being an assistant coach when they claimed the bronze medal at the Rio Games in 2016. And now she’s led the Wellington Phoenix to the first Grand Final in the club’s history.
“You get to a final, it’s anyone’s game on the day, but this is the first time in 19 years, we want to create that moment. I think today is that moment, and we’re not done yet.” - Bev Preistman
Photo by Hagen Hopkins via Getty Images
In total, Priestman has coached at four FIFA Women’s World Cups, three Olympic Games and three FIFA Youth World Cups. In July 2025, she committed to the Wellington Phoenix for two A-League seasons. This was Priestman’s first return to coaching after receiving a one-year ban for her involvement in the drone scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“We can all wear the Phoenix badge with pride. You travel across the ditch, but this club’s doing it properly. You look at the pitch we played, the fans that turned out and the investment from the ownership group." - Bev Preistman
Head-to-Head History
This year, Melbourne City and the Wellington Phoenix played twice, with City emerging victorious on both occasions. City currently holds a perfect record over the Phoenix, winning all nine previous meetings between the two sides.
December 2025 – Melbourne City 1 Wellington Phoenix 0
Melbourne City captain Rebekah Stott popped up with the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to seal a 1-0 victory for the home side.
“When we played Wellington here, and they won 1-0, that was probably the first time that a team deserved to beat us and dominated us.” - Michael Matricciani
January 2026 – Wellington Phoenix 1 Melbourne City 2
Two goals inside the opening 20 minutes from Leticia McKenna and Aideen Keane proved decisive at Porirua Park. While a late Wellington goal from Makala Woods set up a frantic finish, it turned out to be a mere consolation.
Photo by Hagen Hopkins via Getty Images
How to Watch the Ninja A-League Grand Final
Coverage of the 2026 Ninja A-League Grand Final begins this Saturday, 16th May at 3:30 pm AEST.
You can watch and Stream live on 10 Drama and Paramount+.
Better yet, head down to AAMI Park and witness the action for yourself. Grab your tickets here, with an exclusive offer for the TFAP Community.
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