National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW 2025 Season Preview
With season 2025 set to kick-off for the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, we take a look at what to expect from the new campaign.
Fresh ideas, exciting football, extraordinary goals scored every week, and an early glimpse at the stars of the future – what’s not to love about the NPL Women’s NSW?
The lead-up to this highly anticipated 2025 season has many wondering whether somebody will finally knock the Macarthur Rams off of their throne after successfully securing a three-peat of successive Championships who will feature a new coach in Victoria Guzman.
The season begins with a bang on March 9th with the Premiership and Grand Final winning Rams hosting APIA Leichhardt in a Grand Final rematch.
As clubs, coaches, players, fans and volunteers prepare for another exciting season of football, have a read of our Season Preview to get some insight into what you can expect from teams this campaign.
APIA Leichhardt FC
Is this the year APIA Leichhardt win the Championship trophy that has eluded them over the past three seasons?
Slow starters in 2024, APIA eventually weathered the storm of their early misfortunes to reassert their place as a contender for the NPL NSW Women’s title and earn a place in the Grand Final against the Macarthur Rams.
In what proved to be a fantastic Grand Final matchup, APIA equalised twice before sending the match into extra time at 2-2 and eventually taking it to penalties. It was here where, in the end, the Rams prevailed yet again for their third Championship in a row after defeating APIA at the spot kicks.
This season APIA will be primed and ready to knock the Rams off their perch, having already made a statement signing in bringing in Rams star NPL Women’s legend Melissa Caceres for the season ahead.
Coach Brad Attard will want to guide his side to top spot and silverware this campaign and will be aided by the signing of A-League Women’s star Jessica Seaman. Northern Tigers midfield dynamo Hannah McNulty also joined the club in the off-season and is set to bring her relentless style of play to the base of APIA’s midfield.
Moreover, APIA have re-signed a large number of key players from 2024, including Tanya Borazio, Mona Walker, Charlotte Lancaster, Ash Crofts, Gisella Pipino, Estelle Fragale and exciting youngster Zoe Panagopolous.
Bulls FC Academy
Attacking quality and a leaky defence summed up their 2024 campaign, but what is next for Bulls FC Academy?
Though they were viewed as plucky underdogs two years ago when they joined the NPL Women’s competition as A-League Men’s side Macarthur Bulls’ representative women’s side, Bulls FC Academy played with a fearlessness that led them all the way to a 4th place finish in their inaugural season in the top division.
Having impressed in their newly promoted 2023 campaign, the Bulls endured a mixed 2024 season with the highlight being their incredible attacking output for the year. Although they ended up in 8th spot by the end of the season, the Bulls were one of the NPL Women’s great entertainers last campaign, having notched 60 goals – third best behind the Northern Tigers and Macarthur Rams.
But what a season it was for the then 17-year-old Amber Luchtmeijer, who catapulted her name into the conversation around future Matildas with a brilliant individual 2024 campaign. Luchtmeijer scored 22 of her side’s 60 goals and took out the Golden Boot award in the process, leading to a move to Sydney FC as a result of her incredible performances.
The experience of Elizabeth Grey will be there once more while the likes of players such as Daniella Naeimi, Ashlee Brodigan, Mio Nemoto, Tamires Souza and Isabella Coco-Di Sipio will also feature prominently during the 2025 season.
Emerging Jets
The Emerging Jets were one of the best footballing stories to come out of the NPL Women’s competition in 2024.
Having endured a tough few years of struggling to win games in the NPL Women’s, the Jets experienced an improved 2024 season and would in fact find the three points more often last year (5) than they did in the previous two seasons combined (1).
The Jets scored 31 and conceded 101 in 2023, with zero wins on the board. And although they still copped a large number of goals against them (98), the Jets improved their overall results by earning five victories in 2024.
Turning the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility into a difficult away day for their opponents will do this youthful Jets side a world of good, as they focus on improving their defence going forward.
Josie Allan was the key cog in the Jets machine last season, and often got her side out of trouble through sheer will and individual brilliance. The young midfield maestro was often spotted carrying the ball up the field for her side, providing a reprieve when the defence needed it whilst always staying involved in her side’s attacking chances.
Gladesville Ravens
The Gladesville Ravens were an improved outfit in 2024, jumping from 9th in 2023 all the way up to 7th as they pushed the sides around them all the way to the end.
The Ravens were strong contenders throughout 2024, but consistency eluded them in their effort to push for a spot in the top four.
Intriguingly, coach Guillermo Rubio – who made the switch to the Ravens after guiding UNSW FC to promotion the year prior – departed the club in the off-season and was replaced by Lauren Phelps, who mastered a Reserve Grade Premiership with the Ravens in 2024.
Phelps has a brilliant opportunity to take her side to the next level this year, as the Ravens appear to be a side on the precipice of a sensational campaign after a few consistent years of establishing themselves in the NPL Women’s following their promotion to the top flight in 2023.
Although it is tough to predict how exactly the Ravens’ season will transpire, there is excitement building at Christie Park as they enter the season readied to match it with the best of the best in the NPL Women’s. Expect plenty of entertaining football as Phelps looks to bring the best out of this Ravens side which will feature the likes of Claudia Cholakian, Annabelle Daczko, Keisha Allen, Lexie Moreno, Annie Halls, Allyssa Ng Saad, Elizabeth Gilbane, Kimberly Davey, Patty Charalambous and Isabella Habuda to name a few.
Illawarra Stingrays
Fresh off of a fantastic 3rd place finish in the 2024 season, the Illawarra Stingrays have a lot to be excited for as they head into 2025 confident and ready to rattle the competition yet again.
It was a strong season for the South Coast side in 2024 as they slowly built-up momentum before solidifying their spot in the top four with aplomb. Their improvement in attack proved to be essential in 2024, as even though they only conceded one less goal than they did in the 2023 season, they significantly exceeded their 2023 goalscoring tally by a sensational 14 goals.
What’s most impressive about the Stingrays’ 2024 success is the fact it had been patiently built by the club over the past few years. An 8th place finish in 2022 and 6th place finish in 2023 shows that the side have been going from strength-to-strength each season, meaning 3rd felt like a fitting result for the Stingrays last year.
Adding to the positive energy around the club is the fact that the Stingrays will finally have their own home ground as Lakelands Oval in Dapto undergoes a $2 million upgrade. Having played out at several home grounds throughout their time as a football club, it will make for brilliant viewing once the Stingrays are able to run out in front of the home faithful at their own ground.
Siobhan Edwards will be once again a player to watch out for as will the likes of experienced campaigners Chloe Middleton and Caitlin Cooper. Alexia Karrys-Stahl, Genevieve Nisbet and Kiara Rochaix will also be the other stars the Stingrays will be banking on in securing silverware and playing finals football.
Macarthur Rams
Having been crowned Premiership and Championship winners in 2024, the Macarthur Rams enter 2025 excited by the challenge of defending their place at the top of the NPL Women’s competition.
The Rams have been the NPL Women’s form side over the past few years and have consistently proven their quality time and time again, year after year with successive Championships.
The big question for the Rams to answer ahead of the new campaign is how will the three-peat Championship winners handle the departure of coach Stephen Peters to Perth Glory?
In heading over to Western Australia, Peters also brought over NPL Women’s Player of the Year Miku Sunaga, the dynamic attacking midfielder who showcased endless flair and creativity throughout the year. Alongside the departure of Peters, replacing Sunaga is no easy feat.
Keeping a hold of experienced players like Tegan Bertolissio, Maya Lobo and India Brier will be integral to the Rams staying competitive for 1st place. However, with the NPL Women’s looking more competitive than ever before, the Rams will need to be head and shoulders above the rest in order to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.
Ultimately, it will be intriguing seeing how exactly the Rams look to approach this season in the post-Peters era.
Manly United
The Cromer Park faithful will be hoping for more from their side in 2025, as Manly United gear up for another year in the NPL Women’s competition.
Having been league leaders at one stage early on in 2024, Manly eventually finished the season in 9th place (though they were only 8 points away from 4th placed Sydney Olympic). Inconsistency meant the prospect of finishing in the top four fell away from them, but they remained a competitive side right to the very end.
Keeping a majority of their 2024 playing squad intact will help with keeping consistency, as coach Tom Hopley is set to lead a side filled with talents like Nicole Simonsen, Phoebe Gilbane, Grace Arnold, Ariella Cabezas, Nicole Stuart, Ruby Jackson, Emily Minett, Tegan Biasi and Sienna Dale.
Despite losing the experience of midfielder Alexia Karrys-Stahl and centre back Corinne Winkler, Manly have looked to fill the void quickly by signing two American visa players to their squad. Centre-back McKaela Schmelzer has arrived in the Northern Suburbs alongside utility Peyton Starner.
In addition, one of Football NSW Institute’s standout players from last season Anita Zordan has joined the club with Lucy Richards, who is arriving from A-League Women’s side Western United.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC
Freshly promoted at the conclusion of the 2024 Football NSW League One campaign, new arrivals Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC are looking to make an immediate impact this season.
With an extensive pipeline of junior talent coming through and strong foundations in the Mt Druitt community, it is shaping up to be a memorable year for the Rangers in green and yellow.
As a club known for its positive culture and for its endeavour to play entertaining football, the Rangers will hope to excite the Popondetta Park faithful this campaign, with several members of their Championship winning squad – including Holly Williams, Tiarne Flavin, Renee Krstanovska, Holly Pender and Rita Boateng – remaining to ensure that the club gives a good account of themselves in the top flight.
The side has recruited well in the off-season, bringing in a variety of experienced NPL Women’s players including Natalie Casha, Kaiya Buchanan, Clare Holder, Erin Tavares, Keiko Tanaka and Olivia Sloan.
Add to the equation former Matildas and Macarthur Rams striker Leena Khamis, as well as recent senior international Clare Holder, and the Rangers are looking well-equipped to leave their mark on the competition this season. Coach Ben Gough will know his side’s quality, it is now just about translating it onto the field.
Northern Tigers
The Northern Tigers will enter 2025 looking to fight for a spot in the finals having just missed out over the past few seasons.
As stalwarts of the NPL Women’s competition, the Tigers are known as one of the strongest sides in the league, with a healthy and proactive club culture matched by a clear attacking ethos on the field.
The Tigers finished 2024 in 5th place, just two points shy of 4th placed Sydney Olympic. Despite this, the Tigers still led the league in goals scored with 65; two ahead of the next best (the Premiership-winning Macarthur Rams). Had they equalled Olympic’s points tally, they would have leapfrogged them into a finals spot.
Despite this, the Tigers were able to lift some silverware as back-to-back Sapphire Cup finalists, redeeming their 2-1 loss to APIA Leichhardt in 2023 by lifting the trophy as 2-1 winners over Sydney University in 2024.
Coach Chris Wood remains in charge of the side, with the likes of Beth Bernardi, Olivia Cartwright, Nicola Dominikovich, Saffron Grass and Jade McAtamney remaining for another big season.
Joining them is the return of former Matildas midfielder Servet Uzunlar, alongside goalkeeper Anna Norton from the relegated Blacktown Spartans and Anna Ivanovic from Sydney Olympic.
NWS Spirit
NWS Spirit ended up finishing just five points shy of a top four spot at the end of 2024, which begs the question: will they return to finals football in 2024?
Taking the reins from longtime coach Tiana Gauci – who departed at the end of 2023 to take up an opportunity with Perth Glory’s A-League Women’s side – former Marconi Stallions First Grade Men’s coach and Blacktown City coach Tony Candy had a solid first year in charge of Spirit.
The Northern Suburbs side had a stuttering start to their season, but began to find their footing as the campaign went on, eventually finishing in 6th place.
Having finished in 3rd place in 2023, NWS Spirit will be itching to improve on last year’s performance and push the likes of APIA Leichhardt and Macarthur Rams for a spot in the top four. Keeping the core of their side together will be essential to Spirit finding success again in their hunt for finals football.
A full season under the helm of new coach Candy leaves the side best placed to improve on a strong 6th place finish. With the talent at their disposal, one can expect to see Spirit battling out for a spot at the top of the ladder this campaign.
Victoria Martin, Erin Pridmore, Katie Offer, Rachel Perrins, Matilda Gilbert and Shani Cooney-Cross are just some of the names set to feature at the Spirit this season.
Sydney Olympic
After an impressive season in 2024, Sydney Olympic will be hoping to go one step further and push for the coveted spot at the top of the ladder.
A 4th place finish in 2024 is a fantastic foundation for Olympic to build off in the new campaign, with several players remaining on board for 2025. Keeping a hold of the dynamic Maxine Peak, who was one of the standout performers in a strong Olympic side last year, will retain experience in the front third.
The departure of their coach, Geoff Abrahams, ahead of the season to the newly introduced Western Sydney Wanderers women’s side undeniably leaves a huge gap to be filled. Abrahams was instrumental in helping the progression of players in Olympic’s Academy and proved to be an adept coach, having led his side to semi-final appearances in the NPL Women’s and Sapphire Cup competitions.
Joining Olympic for the 2025 campaign is highly rated defender Baxter Thew, who arrives from Perth SC in the NPLWA. Alongside Thew, Olympic have announced the arrival of Gladesville Ravens goalkeeper and former Chilean international Romina Parraguirre, in what is an absolute coup for the club.
2025 will challenge this talented Olympic side to push on for an even stronger all-round performance, meaning we can expect to see a hungry Olympic team.
Sydney University SFC
A strong end to last season will have Sydney University primed and ready to take on the competition in 2025.
Although Coach Oz Rowley’s side resided in the bottom half of the ladder, they were actually the form side in the bottom seven, having transitioned from a team that struggled to secure the three points into a side capable of grinding out victories over small margins.
The team tidied up their defence in the last quarter of the season and subsequently turned the Sydney University Football Ground into a tough place to visit for their opposition.
Having won the Premiership only a few years ago in a terrific 2022 campaign, Sydney Uni will undoubtedly be driven to bring back silverware to their loyal fans. The first step to achieving this will be avoiding a third successive 10th place finish.
The loss of star striker Talia Kapetanellis – who had a breakout year in 2024 – to the newly-introduced Western Sydney Wanderers youth side will be a challenging hurdle for Sydney Uni to overcome in 2025. But this gives an opportunity to the side’s crop of junior talent to make up for the goals lost with Kapetanellis’ departure.
Sydney Uni is regarded as one of the competition’s powerhouses and will be hoping to rediscover their status as one of the NPL Women’s outstanding performers in 2025. Amelia Feeney, Jamie Beaufils, Charlotte Hogan, Amelia Kirby, Charlotte Young, Maddison Van Dijk and Ruby Egan-Brown are just some of the players that will hope to push Uni towards the right direction.
It is important to remind fans that it was only a few years ago where they set an unbeaten record of 18 games for the NPL Women’s competition.
UNSW FC
UNSW FC gave a solid account of themselves in what proved to be a rollercoaster NPL Women’s campaign for the newly promoted side in 2024.
Having held onto their spot in the top flight for 2025, UNSW will again be determined to prove that they are not just here to make up the numbers in a tough league.
The side set the standard two years ago in their promotion-winning 2023 season from the Football NSW League One competition and will be looking to rediscover that flair heading into 2025.
Although they finished the 2024 season in 11th, the side were not as troubled defensively as some of their opponents in the bottom half of the ladder. It is critical however, that they find that killer instinct in attack in order to push on in 2025, having tied with Football NSW Institute and the Emerging Jets for second-last in the goals scored tally.
Making The Village Green a nightmare ground for visiting teams to earn a single point from will be essential to the side retaining their place in the NPL Women.
It will be an intriguing watch seeing how UNSW look to shake up the league in 2025 as they take the field for their second consecutive season in the top light.
The team has been bolstered by a number of new faces as well as players that have been re-signed from the 2024 squad.
UNSW FC fans will be able to watch the likes of Tiana Petkovski, Sabine Montenegro, Stephanie Grimbilos, Skye Casacchia, Angelique Hristodoulou, Demi Koulizakis, Georgia Plessas, Trudy Camilleri, Marcella Santos, Talia Backhouse, Allira Toby and Aya Yamahata, all of which hope to spring a few upsets in this year’s competition.
Western Sydney Wanderers Academy
The Western Sydney Wanderers Academy are set to make their debut in the NPL Women’s competition in 2025.
Under the guidance of former Sydney Olympic coach Geoff Abrahams, the Wanderers’ youth side enter the NPL Women buoyed by their new status in the top flight.
Although the side is filled with young talent, the Wanderers have recruited excellently in the off-season, attracting he likes of Sydney University star Talia Kapetanellis, Blacktown Spartans attacker Christa Oliva, and last year’s Grand Final Player of the Match, Bronte Trew of the Macarthur Rams.
Joining them is Young Matildas and Wanderers A-League Women’s star Gemma Ferris, as well as former Football NSW Institute representatives Anika Stajcic, Amelia Cassar and Alvina Koshaba.
Abrahams, who guided Olympic to 4th place in the NPL Women last season, will be hoping his young side can spring a few upsets to get their season rolling in a competitive league. The Wanderers possess plenty of attacking weapons and are likely to form a troubling front line once they start clicking.
It is difficult to anticipate exactly what we can expect to see from the Wanderers this campaign, but regardless of the outcome we know the side will give it their all to represent the iconic red and black with pride.
By Matthew Badrov
