UNSW FC, APIA, Bulls And Wanderers Set For Grand Final Battle

Then there were four…

It’s Semi-Final time in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, with just two matches standing between the remaining contenders and a place in the Grand Final at St George Venues Jubilee Stadium.

Four teams remain, but only two will emerge from the weekend with their Championship dreams alive.

The stakes could not be higher.

UNSW FC (2nd) v APIA Leichhardt (3rd)

5pm, Saturday 5 September – The Village Green

The first of our Semi-Finals kicks off on Saturday evening at The Village Green as UNSW FC host APIA Leichhardt in what promises to be another fascinating contest between two sides that have been among the competition’s best throughout 2026.

Clashes between these two have always been exciting and full of action, and this one should be no different with a place in the Grand Final on the line.

Along with Bulls FC Academy, these three sides pushed for Premiership glory throughout the season and there has been very little separating them.

UNSW started the season on fire and looked odds-on to run away with the Premiership, but the loss of Alexia Karrys-Stahl and a dip in form saw them drop to second after recording only six wins in the second half of the season, alongside six draws.

Their midfield maestro Karrys-Stahl returned to the squad at the perfect moment and will be there to support the likes of Chloe Smith and Demi Koulizakis in the front third.

Erin Nayler has been one of the standout goalkeepers in the competition in 2026 and, with Aya Yamahata and Leia Puxty sitting in front of her, UNSW are tough to break down.

They conceded only 20 goals throughout the campaign, giving them the best defensive record in the competition.

But arriving at The Village Green is the competition’s most lethal striker.

Ash Letta claimed the Golden Boot after scoring 30 goals in 26 games, finding the back of the net more than twice as often as her closest rival.

Letta has been in scintillating form throughout 2026, but she has also been well supported by an APIA attack that scored 65 goals during the regular season, with only the Premiers finding the net more often.

APIA lost just two games in the second half of the season, although a poor run of form in May, where they won just once in five games, ultimately cost them the opportunity to claim the Premiership.

This is a team built to win, and the Championship is the only major prize that has eluded them.

To get another opportunity at lifting that trophy, however, they must first overcome UNSW.

There is very little to separate the two sides this season.

Both regular-season meetings ended in 1-1 draws, with APIA taking the lead in each encounter.

That history only adds to the intrigue ahead of Saturday night, with both sides knowing that there will be no second chance if they fail to deliver.

A place at Jubilee awaits the winner.

Bulls FC Academy (1st) v Western Sydney Wanderers (4th)

3pm, Sunday 6 September – Northbridge Oval

The Premiers, Bulls FC Academy, will be looking to book their second consecutive Grand Final appearance when Western Sydney Wanderers come to Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon.

What a season it has been for Marti Garces’ side.

The Bulls enter the Semi-Final on a remarkable 22-game unbeaten run, with their last defeat coming all the way back in March against UNSW FC.

They secured back-to-back Premierships on Sunday and will now look to complete the next part of their mission — back-to-back Grand Final victories.

A team full of quality from front to back, it is difficult to pick just one standout player.

In saying that, Liz Grey has once again been a fantastic leader for this side and is no doubt one of the first names on coach Garces’ team sheet every week.

Their goal difference was a remarkable +43 for the season, with the Bulls boasting the best attack and second-best defence in the competition.

They also shared the goals around, with 16 different players finding the back of the net throughout the campaign.

Amber Luchtmeijer and Olivia Vanderlaan led the way, with both reaching double figures.

At the other end of the pitch, the Bulls kept 13 clean sheets, with Ashley Hughes responsible for 11 of those.

Standing in their way is a Western Sydney Wanderers side that comes into the finals as perhaps the biggest surprise of the Top Four.

Not many expected the Wanderers to be challenging for honours in 2026, but Jamie Dib’s team has been one of the competition’s most consistent sides.

The Wanderers held onto fourth place for the majority of the season and are deserving of their place in the Championship Series.

Only one loss in their last six matches demonstrates their improvement after a mid-season slump where they managed just one win in six.

Alyssa Ng Saad has been one of the competition’s standout performers, scoring 13 goals to finish second in the Golden Boot race.

But the Wanderers have danger players all over the park with the ability to find the back of the net, including Talia Younis, Alyssa McKenzie and Miriam Zumaya.

They improved defensively towards the back end of the season, although they fell back into a bit of a rut over the final two weeks, conceding six goals against APIA Leichhardt and Sydney Olympic.

They will nevertheless enter this match with nothing to lose, and a young side full of talent playing without pressure could prove to be a very dangerous proposition for the Bulls.

The two sides shared the points when they met for the first time this season, playing out a 1-1 draw.

The second encounter was perhaps the match of the season, with the Bulls scoring two late goals to secure a 5-3 victory after leading 3-0 before the Wanderers produced a remarkable fightback.

That result will provide the Wanderers with plenty of belief that they can compete with the Premiers, while the Bulls will know they cannot afford to take their opponents lightly.

The prize for the winner is simple — a place in the Grand Final at Jubilee.

With the Premiership already secured, the Bulls will now be chasing the Championship, while the Wanderers will be looking to produce one of the biggest upsets of the season.

Two Semi-Finals.

Four contenders.

One Grand Final.

The road to Jubilee starts this weekend.

Both matches will be shown live and exclusive on Football NSW’s YouTube channel.

By Nikola Pozder