A-League Women’s stars ready to light up the NPL Women’s NSW competition

Over 70 players from the Ninja A-League Women’s competition have returned or signed for clubs in the 2025 National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition.

The abundance of talent that has arrived on the scene will not only continue to help raise the profile and quality of the game in NSW but also give the next generation of young stars something to strive for.

APIA Leichhardt have managed to snap up the likes of Sally James (Canberra United) and Jess Seaman (Central Coast Mariners) while Sophie Hoban, Tash Prior and club junior Claudia Cicco (all Newcastle Jets) all return to Lambert Park.

The Bulls FC Academy have also been busy recruiting bringing back to the club Young Matildas Avaani Prakash (Western United) and Ninja A-League Young Player of the Year Indiana dos Santos (Sydney FC), while sister Jynaya (Canberra United) also joins. Goal scoring machine Amber Luchtmeijer (Sydney FC) also returns to Northbridge Oval as well as Gemma Ferris (Perth Glory) and Claudia Valletta (Perth Glory).

Not too far down the M2, the Gladesville Ravens have brought in 2024 NPL Women’s NSW Player of the Year Miku Sunaga and Morgan Roberts (both Perth Glory), along with Central Coast Mariners trio Taren King, Eliza Familton and Bianca Galic. Shamiran Khamis (WSW) has also called Gladesville home and will be the club’s number one underneath the sticks.

Down the South Coast and the Illawarra Stingrays haven’t been quiet either signing Danika Matos, Brooklyn Hudson and Sienna Saveska from the WSW. Brianna Edwards returns from Sydney FC and Alex McKenzie arrives from Canberra United.

Last season’s NPL Women’s NSW Champions the Macarthur Rams have added a fair few players to their roster with a number of players who lifted silverware with the club. Bronte Trew, Maya Lobo (WSW), Tegan Bertolissio, Darcey Malone (Canberra United) and Indi Breier (Newcastle Jets) all returning to Lynwood Park. They have also signed Amelia Cassar (WSW) and Tahlia Franco (Sydney FC).

League leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers are obviously happy with the squad at their disposal adding only two players to their roster, Ena Harada and Ella Buchanan (WSW).

Josie Allan and Emma Dundas both return to the NPL from their Liberty A-League requirements with the Newcastle Jets.

Newly capped Matilda Isabel Gomez returns to North Turramurra with the Northern Tigers joined by fellow Liberty A-League Champions Lily McMahon, Shadeene Evans and Greta Kraszula (CCM). Josie Wilson (Newcastle Jets) returns home, while Jasmin Black (Sydney FC) and Mischa Anderson (Perth Glory) will also wear the Green and White.

NWS Spirit FC have seen a significant number of arrivals to Christie Park, Maddison McComasky and Sophie Harding (WSW), club junior Rubi Sullivan (Sydney FC), Ella Abdul Massih (Perth Glory), Tiahna Robertson (Newcastle Jets) and major coups Bethany Gordon (Canberra United) and Princess Ibini-Isei (Sydney FC) all join Tony Candy’s roster.

If any NPL Women’s NSW team needed reinforcements, then it was Sydney Olympic, and they’ve done so in style. Taylor Ray, Peta Trimis and Tiana Fuller all arrive from Champions Central Coast Mariners, Jaya Bowman and Aideen Keane come from Canberra United, while Alyssa Whyman (scored five goals in two games) has signed from the Wellington Phoenix as well as Annalee Grove (Adelaide United).

Sydney University have brought back some former graduates as well. Talia Kapetanelis (WSW), Maddie Caspers (Sydney FC) and Holly Caspers (WSW) have all signed.

There has been movement at The Village Green, three arrive from the Central Coast Mariners, Leia Puxty, Sarah Langman and Annalise Rasmussen, while Abbey Lemon comes in from Sydney FC.

Finally, the Western Sydney Wanderers see Talia Younis, Aimee Hall, Amelia Bennett and Amy Chessari all move to the NPL Women’s NSW squad.

Manly United are the only side that did not sign any A-League women’s players for the second half of the season preferring to stick to the quality local squad they have at their disposal.

 2025 Ninja A-League Women’s Player Movements to the NPL Women’s NSW Competition

• APIA Leichhardt FC – Sally James, Sophie Hoban, Claudia Cicco, Natasha Prior, Jessica Seaman
• Bulls FC Academy – Amber Luchtmeijer, Indiana dos Santos, Gemma Ferris, Claudia Valletta, Jynaya Dos Santos, Avaani Prakash
• Gladesville Ravens – Shamiran Khamis, Miku Sunaga, Morgan Roberts, Taren King, Eliza Familton, Bianca Galic
• Illawarra Stingrays – Brianna Edwards, Danika Matos, Alex Mackenzie, Brooklyn Hudson, Sienna Saveska
• Macarthur Rams – Bronte Trew, Amelia Cassar, Tegan Bertolissio, Darcey Malone, Tahlia Franco, Maya Lobo, Indy Breier
• Manly United – N/A
• Mt Druitt Town Rangers – Ena Harada, Ella Buchanan
• Newcastle Jets – Emma Dundas, Jose Allan
• Northern Tigers – Josie Wilson, Lily McMahon, Shadeene Evans, Isabel Gomez, Greta Kraszula, Jasmin Black, Mischa Anderson
• NWS Spirit FC – Rubi Sullivan, Ella Abdul Massih, Bethany Gordon, Maddison McComasky, Tiahna Robertson, Princess Ibini-Isei, Sophie Harding
• Sydney Olympic – Taylor Ray, Peta Trimis, Jaya Bowman, Tiana Fuller, Alyssa Whinham, Aideen Keane, Annalee Grove
• Sydney University SFC – Talia Kapetanellis, Maddie Caspers, Holly Caspers
• UNSW FC – Abbey Lemon, Leia Puxty, Sarah Langman, Annalise Rasmussen
• Western Sydney Wanderers – Talia Younis, Aimee Hall, Amelia Bennett, Amy Chessari