Round 25 Preview – NPL Women’s NSW

The penultimate round is upon us in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition and we are no closer to knowing who will take out the Premiership or be playing finals football in two weeks time.

NWS Spirit v Macarthur Rams @Christie Park, Saturday 3pm

The first game of round 25 takes us to Christie Park as NWS Spirit host the Macarthur Rams on Saturday afternoon.

Spirit snapped a three game winless run, which effectively ruled them out of finals football, with a comfortable 2-0 win over the Tigers last week.

Skye Halmarick returned for Tony Candy’s side and immediately found herself on the scoresheet.

The Rams also had a whole host of national team players return on Sunday, helping them to their biggest win of the season, a 4-2 victory over the league leading Bulls FC Academy.

Not for the first time this year, Vic Guzman’s side turned it on and deservedly took their chance, they’ll be looking to finish as high up the table as possible.

Bulls FC Academy v Gladesville Ravens @Northbridge Oval, Sunday 2:40pm

Sunday action in the competition kicks off at Northbridge Oval as Bulls FC Academy take on the Gladesville Ravens.

Bulls suffered a shock defeat last weekend against the Macarthur Rams, seeing them lose top spot.

Marty Garces team showed lots of good football throughout that one and will continue to play their style and hope to get back to winning way on Sunday.

The Ravens proved once more that their squad has enough quality across the park on Sunday but that things haven’t quite clicked throughout the season.

A comfortable win over Sydney University with Alyssa Ng Saad starring once more, not for the first time this season.

UNSW v Manly United @The Village Green, Sunday 3:15pm

At the unusual time of 3:15pm, UNSW welcome Manly United to The Village Green for a do or die finals clash for these two.

A win for Uni will mean it will all come to the last day for them and essentially eliminating Manly United from the finals race.

UNSW made it difficult for themselves last weekend against the Newcastle Jets but escaped with all three points late on, backing up from a similar scenario only a few days prior against Mt Druitt.

Tom Hopley’s team just won’t fade and continue to defy the odds, putting on a strong run hoe and keeping their finals aspirations alive.

A win here will go a long way to keeping them in the hunt, a defeat, the end of another campaign.

Illawarra Stingrays v APIA Leichhardt @Macedonia Park, Sunday 5pm

Macedonia Park will be the venue for another massive clash in round 25 as the Illawarra Stingrays host APIA Leichhardt.

The Stingrays were comfortable beaten against Manly United last weekend, only creating one clear cut chance in 90 minutes.

It won’t be any easier against the current league leaders but need to get the points or risk falling outside of the Top Four.

APIA’s incredible run of results continued, defeating Sydney Olympic 3-0 and stretching their win streak to eight!

They have also only conceded one goal in their last 5 outings, that is over 450 minutes and only one time has Sophie Magus capitulated.

A win will really set up the final day of the season and put them in the box seat to secure the Premiership.

WSW v Northern Tigers @Wanderers Football Park, Sunday 5pm

On Sunday at 5pm, the Western Sydney Wanderers face the Northern Tigers at Wanderers Football Park.

It has now been a long 12 rounds since the young Wanderers last tasted victory, June 1 to be precise.

They have drawn their last two games though, equalising in the dying moment against the Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday.

Olivia Vanderlaan has turned it on in the last couple weeks, more than doubling her goalscoring tally in that period, scoring 4 goals of her seven in 2025.

The Tigers continue their slide down the ladder, dropping to ninth place and making it four games without a victory.

A season to forget for Chris Wood and his side and perhaps an opportunity to start preparing for 2026.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Sydney Olympic @Popondetta Park, Sunday 5pm – MOTR

The Mt Druitt Town Rangers host Sydney Olympic on Sunday afternoon at Popondetta Park in the match of the round.

A tough couple weeks for Ben Gough’s side continues here, where they will need to back up after another mid-week clash.

One win in their last four outings and there is no doubt that fatigue is starting to set in for a team that has been excellent in 2025

After impressing and improving during the mid point of the season, Olympic have slipped back into some poor form, registering three straight losses.

Any points here will all but settle their position in the top tier for 2026 but a defeat could take it down to the dreaded last day.

These two met only a few weeks back in a rescheduled clash, that one finishing 1-1.

Sydney University v Newcastle Jets @Sydney Uni Football Ground, Sunday 5pm

Sydney University is at home on Sunday evening as they welcome the Newcastle Jets to Sydney Uni Football Ground.

Uni were defeated comfortably in the end against the Gladesville Ravens where once again, more was expected from them.

They still have the opportunity to move higher on the ladder and finish as high as eighth but need to win their two last games.

It was heartbreak for the Newcastle Jets last weekend, conceding in stoppage time to deny them a point against UNSW.

They need points here if they are to continue believing they can survive and remain in the NPL competition next season.

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-By Nikola Pozder