2024 Women’s National League – Team of the Season
After another thrilling season of National League football... the expected outcome prevailed for Auckland United to complete their quadruple and make it through the entire calendar year undefeated. They were too good. They were too strong. They’ve raised the standard for women’s football in this country and now it’s up to everyone else to rise to the challenge. Before they do that though... we’ve got an annual tradition to uphold. The Niche Cache’s National League Team of the Season. Three of them, in fact. Tier one, tier two, and tier three... just to make sure there’s enough love to go around. No secret formula here, it’s the same as always. Individual stats mixed with team context mixed with analytical insight mixed with personal opinion. Let us waste no more time before beginning.
The Roll Of Honour
FIRST ELEVEN
GK – Hannah Mitchell (Auckland United)
She certainly didn’t have the busiest goalkeeping schedule but that didn’t stop Hannah Mitchell from emerging as number one in her position. The American had as many clean sheets as she did goals conceded (more if you don’t count the grand final). Her steadiness on the ball, combined with a hoofing boot, even earned her an assist in the week three game against Central. There were big time saves when needed. Great leadership and composure from the back. Can’t ask for anything more.
RB – Shontelle Smith (Southern United)
The midfield for this first eleven had already picked itself with a couple weeks still remaining. There was simply no way to move any of those three around. But as Shontelle Smith continued to do spectacular things for Southern United it became clear that she needed to be here too... luckily she also played several games as a right wing-back so problem solved. Smith’s combative and tireless work wherever she was deployed was so often what carried her Southern team and the five goals that she scored were pretty much all glorious ones. The dipping long volley for the winner against Wellington United. The cross/shot against Western Springs. That outrageous finish against Auckland United from way out. The olimpico against Waterside Karori. She was so good that NZF even gave her the league MVP award. Wouldn’t go that far myself, Southern’s record didn’t quite justify it, but the hype was deserved nonetheless. Smith’s one of those players who charges headfirst into everything, leading the vanguard, and when she’s doing that in a team that already has Rose Morton and Georgia Keen you know she’s going next level.
CB – Zoe Barrott (Wellington United)
Long established as one of the best defenders in the country, no surprises here. Zoe Barrott is the only defensive player in this competition who has the ability to completely take over a game. She’ll win tackles and block shots for days... but she’ll also carry the ball forward and try to create for her team, leading to spells where it feels like she could go 1v11 and still hold her own. ZB also tallied up a goal and two assists. Excellent work on top of a pretty decent defensive record for the Diamonds. Barrott played wide all across the backline, wherever she was needed, and never served up anything less than pure quality. But then we’ve come to expect that by now, right?
CB – Sarah Morton (Waterside Karori)
Another one of those incredibly handy players who’ll do a job in whatever position the coach tells them to. Sarah Morton fluctuated between fullback, centre-back, and defensive midfield for the Wharfies as they charged their way into the grand final. Grabbed a couple of assists along the journey but mostly it was her defensive presence that led the way. The workrate. The dedication. The passion. Surely one of the most popular players in the National League. She’s never not smiling. Two recurring memories: the way she rarked up the travelling support during her post-match interview despite having lost the grand final... and also the time she did the ol’ uh-oh-too-slow handshake to her sister when they captained against each other in week nine. Classic.
LB – Saskia Vosper (Auckland United)
She’s got that A-League experience locked and loaded so of course Saskia Vosper was going to look sharp. But what really impressed was how relentlessly she maintained that intensity. With two goals and two assists she was a menace going forward... and plenty of wingers would stand in line to tell you that SV doesn’t back out of a challenge either. Vosper never coasted. She played every single game for the champs during this National League phase and she played them all like they were grand finals. Including the grand final where her battle with Nikki Furukawa was one of the joys of the occasion.
CM – Yume Harashima (Auckland United)
All the things that were said about Yume Harashima last season remain true in 2024. She’s the kind of defensive midfielder that never looks flustered, who calms everyone else around her (except those in the different jerseys). Reads the play like its a picture book. Times a tackle to the millisecond. Very rarely misses a pass. The pattern was clear in so many games: Harashima wins the ball, feeds the teammates in front of her, and Auckland United create a good chance. The way she marshalled Emma Starr in the grand final deserves extra praise too. Literally nobody else did a job like that on Starr all season.
CM – Chloe Knott (Auckland United)
It’s a shame she missed the last two weeks, including the grand final, because for the rest of this National League (and most of the year before that) Chloe Knott was the driving force for this undefeated Auckland United side. The heartbeat of the team. If Harashima hadn’t already win the ball then Knott probably would... and often it was Knott collecting the ball from her Japanese teammate to instigate attacks. One goal and two assists from midfield plus countless more moments in which she offered a deeper influence. Would say she’s too good for this level but you already know that. Hopefully the impending Auckland FC women’s team know it too.
CM – Emma Starr (Waterside Karori)
Popping up in New Zealand after many years spent playing at a very good level in her native America and all across Europe (then a bit of state league footy in Australia too), it didn’t take long to realise that Emma Starr was a step above. Didn’t play the first week when Karori drew with Auckland Utd. Was rested for week nine when they lost to Southern United. In between she started every game for the Wharfies as a lock-picking midfielder, superb on the ball and always searching for positive actions. At one stage she scored in four consecutive weeks while Karori tallied up the results that’d take them all the way to the final. Four goals and four assists overall. Absolute class throughout. Didn’t quite have the same effect in the final but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Not only is Emma Starr a First Eleven player but she’s The Niche Cache’s pick for season MVP.
FW – Britney Cunningham-Lee (Eastern Suburbs)
There were times this season when Britney Cunningham-Lee looked absolutely unstoppable. Maybe not when Eastern Suburbs were shut out in their first three games in a row... but guess whose unique combination of speed, strength, skill, and directness it was that inspired the Lilywhites to overcome that hiccup to somehow still finish the season in third place as the top scoring team in the WNL? BCL, naturally. Once part of that legendary U17 World Cup bronze medal squad, Cunningham-Lee’s kinda been slept on in recent years despite scoring copious goals through multiple winter seasons. She helped carry Ellerslie to the Nats in 2023 but struggled for service in an overmatched squad when they got there. She actually then spent the winter with Franklin United outside the top division in Auckland... but a loan move to Eastern Suburbs made perfect sense for all parties and led to an incredible seven goals and five assists. Nobody had more goal contributions. She dominated from wide positions, she dominated through the middle. She dominated fullstop.
FW – Charlotte Roche (Auckland United)
It made sense for Charlotte Roche to make the move from Canterbury United to Auckland United. University probably had something to do with it... but the footballing reasons were sound too. Get into a great team full of former and future pros and develop outside of the ol’ comfort zone. Sweet as. But even Rochey can’t have imagined it’d go so perfectly as this. She was always a goal scorer with the Cantabs but the rest of her game has grown so much in this AUFC environment. Her hold-up play is genuinely great now. Her touch is softer. Her movements are more decisive. Roche scored eight goals with two assists and then added two more goals in the grand final. Golden Boot of the WNL (thanks to doubles in weeks eight and nine – then another in the final to make it three in a row). Champion of the WNL. Champion of everything, in fact, because she was with Auckland Utd for all four of their trophies this year (also scoring the winner in the Kate Sheppard Cup final). Lovely stuff.
FW – Kendall Pollock (Waterside Karori)
Pipped at the post for the Golden Boot by Charlotte Roche but it was a wonderful effort from KP regardless. The American seems to have been more of a defensive midfielder back in her college days but for the Wharfies she was a proper number nine. Absolutely tenacious, always hunting for goals. Really clinical finisher too. A hatty against Central was pretty cool (in a 3-0 win) but the goals that Pollock scored to equalise against Auckland Utd in week one and to complete a crazy 3-2 comeback win against Canterbury Utd in week six were even more crucial. Seven goals and one assist, starting every single game. Great addition to the league. Let’s hope she’s back again next time.
SECOND ELEVEN
GK – Nikki Whyte (Eastern Suburbs)
Where did Nikki Whyte come from? The Lilywhites picked her up from Otumoetai FC at the start of the year and by the end of the National League term is was clear that whoever scouted that move needs a pay raise. Don’t be fooled into thinking that all the best footy talent in Aotearoa comes out of the three major cities – that’s never been less the case than it is these days. Whyte has got the complete goalkeeping toolkit. Great saves, strong in the air, patrols outside her area, good with her feet. Her performances in back-to-back wins against Western Springs and Canterbury United (weeks 6-7) were the stuff of magic.
RB – Tiana Hill (Western Springs)
One of those players who probably didn’t have a particular standout game but never dipped below a minimum level of reliability either. Ideally, Hill would have been surging up that right edge, burning all challengers, but with the injuries that Springs kept suffering ‘ideal’ had nothing to do with it. Hill often had to fill in as a centre-back or a midfielder. She’s also worn the captain’s armband for this team. There’s no squad in the country that wouldn’t be improved by Tiana Hill’s presence.
CB – Yukino Nishizono (Eastern Suburbs)
Nishizono was with Eastern Suburbs last season but got injured so hardly played. This time there was no such bad luck as she started every single game in a Lilywhites defence that conceded one goal per game despite constant changes in personnel around Nishizono. Yet when you’ve got a CB who controls the game as well as this one does then what’s the problem with that? Yuki Nishizono even grabbed the first goal to get the parade moving in the 10-0 win against Central in week five.
CB – Hannah Mackay-Wright (Southern United)
Didn’t always get the reward for her mahi in a Southern Utd team that had a pesky habit of losing close games. But they were all close – Southern only conceded 12 goals in nine games. HMW was her typical self within all that, defending aggressively on the front foot and you know what else? Three goals and an assist. She even got penalty taker duty in the Wellington United game... she missed it but scored on the rebound so no dramas. Talk about an all-action defender.
LB – Arisa Takeda (Western Springs)
The instability around her, plus the outstanding Saskia Vosper, prevented Takeda from her usual spot in the first eleven but she wasn’t going to fall any lower than this. Not with that technique. Not with those set pieces. Not with those defensive instincts. Not with that experience. Not with a banger goal and an equal league-best five assists. Need I say more?
CM – Kate Loye (Canterbury United Pride)
Love seeing the older guard hanging around and imparting a bit of wisdom... though Kate Loye went far beyond mere mentor status. She was probably the Cantabs’ most consistent player, hovering around the base of midfield and shielding what was often a very inexperienced defence, then swinging the ball around the place with her passing range. A hard-worker with a calm head and cheeky Footy Ferns cap from back in 2015. Long may it continue. I also tried very hard to find room for her Pride teammate Anna McPhie with all her banger goals but she just didn’t get the minutes… but shout outs all the same.
CM – Hope Gilchrist (Wellington United)
Acknowledgement here for Carolyn O’Reilly who had a really tidy season sitting deep in that Diamonds midfield. She was on the longlist for these teams but didn’t quite make the cut. However, thanks to her role it means that Hope Gilchrist could do her thing further up the pitch... with thrilling results. She scored a couple of goals, she pressed high up the pitch, she linked defence to attack. She also scored a torpedo header against Southern which defied all belief.
CM – Rina Hirano (Western Springs)
For the first three weeks of the term, Hirano was the MVP frontrunner having scored triumphant goals in each of those games. That eased off as Western Springs stumbled against the three best teams and then let their wingers do the work in the last third of fixtures. Nevertheless, Rina Hirano produced four goals and four assists with recurring moments of sumptuous skills like no others can in this National League. She’s a legend of the WNL, along with Arisa Takeda, the pair of them also proving lynchpins for a Swans squad that went through plenty of change this year.
FW – Natalie Olson (Wellington United)
Speed is such an asset... but you’ve also gotta know what to do with it. Natalie Olson’s had many years around this Welly Utd side having plenty of success as one of a bunch of good young forwards. This season she moved to the top of the class. She was the instigator, she was the creator with three goals and four assists from the left wing. The confidence was high and the influence flowed on from there with Olson scoring in all three of the Diamonds victories. A breakthrough year, putting the Nat in National League.
FW – Nicola Dominikovich (Canterbury United Pride)
Here’s another one who catapulted her status upwards in 2024, though in Dominikovich’s case it was much more expected. After that goal-stacked year with Northern Tigers in Australia during the winter season there were high expectations for what ND would do returning to Canterbury United as the leader of their attack... and with five goals in seven games she easily met those expectations with her lively, mobile efforts as the Pride striker. Like Olson for WU, Dominikovich scored in all three of the Pride’s wins this year. She was the one who delivered when it mattered.
FW – Shannon Henson (West Coast Rangers)
Watching Shannon Henson for Auckland United last year, it was hard not to think she needed to move to a team where she could play more regularly. Timely contributions off the bench are helpful but Henson was capable of more. This year she, and a few others, moved from AU to West Coast Rangers and lo and behold the more that she was capable of came true. After winning the NRFL Premiership Golden Boot, Henson proceeded to deliver five goals and five assists through the National League to emerge as one of the most reliable strikers going around.
THIRD ELEVEN
GK – Molly Simons (Wellington United)
2024 was a career-best year for Molly Simons. She’s worn the gloves for Welly Utd for several campaigns and has always shown glimpses of her superb shot-stopping. This year she found the top tier consistency to go with it that’s made her one of the best in the country. Simons won the Central League Player of the Year award and then carried that form on flawlessly into the Nats. Some of the saves that she makes... jeepers. There were only two penalties saved in the WNL this season (from a mere seven attempts overall) and Molly Simons was responsible for both of them.
RB – Talisha Green (Auckland United)
Probably would have made at least the second team if she’s played more but Green was hampered by injury during the first few weeks. She may have still been managing that niggle even afterwards but that didn’t stop her going hundies into every tackle and whipping in wicked crosses and even taking a few thumping snapshots herself. Green’s got a reputation to uphold now. Full commitment at all times yet with a silky touch when necessary. She’s also an early childhood teacher and you may have noticed a bunch of the kids she teaches out on the pitch celebrating with her after winning the grand final. Very sweet.
CB – Daphne Ranta (Waterside Karori)
Almost went with Caelin Patterson for this spot but then a remarkably mature grand final performance from Ranta tipped the scales. Even without it this would have been a close call. Thing is, Daphne Ranta is 18 years old and played every game for a Wharfies team full of experience that exceeded all expectations in going as far as they did. For Ranta to slip in alongside as though this was her tenth National League campaign... those are golden areas for an emerging player. Especially a defender. She’s brave, she’s athletic, she’s got a great touch. She’s going places.
CB – Marissa Porteous (West Coast Rangers)
Twelve months ago, Porteous had to travel all the way down to Dunedin as a guest player for Southern United to get National League footy (and was spectacular as SU went all the way to the grand final). This time around she was able to get to the Nats without the hassle, proving to be one of the leaders for WCR as they emerged as a force in kiwi footy. Rangers had some wobbles adjusting to the level but Porteous held things steady for them with her commanding work in the back three... except for week nine when she starred in a 2-1 win over Eastern Suburbs played in midfield instead.
LB – Rebekah Trewhitt (Wellington Phoenix Reserves)
Quite a few other fullbacks were in the hunt here, with Jemma Catherwood going closest but Kailey Short, Meg Simpson, and Lorna Selby also on the list. Also there are no Central players in the side, which shouldn't be controversial after a quick squizz at the ladder (as well as how many changes they made to the team along the way) but if there was to be a Central player in here then Zara Erol-Watt would have gone closest. Trewhitt gets the honours instead, the only Welly Nix player picked - again, lots of player turnover meant it was hard for any of them to get there, plus the Nix’s best players were the first teamers who sporadically dropped down. But Bex Trewhitt played every game. Bex Trewhitt grooved alongside the A-Leaguers when they were around and carried the youngsters when they weren’t. It’s a slightly different measuring stick but credit where it’s due. Strong and courageous and capable of scoring a banger of a goal. These are qualities that track at higher levels.
CM – Saki Yoshida (Eastern Suburbs)
Just realising that Saki Yoshida is one of five Japanese players in these selections. All three A-League clubs outta NZ have Japanese players this season and there were a few other brothers in the Men’s National League too, including a couple for the champion Auckland City side. Something about Japanese ballers in Aotearoa. Having said that, Yoshida’s been at it for several years. Relentlessly dependable in defensive midfield or in central defence. Nothing was any different this time around.
CM – Rose Morton (Southern United)
Very normal things for Rose Morton to be in Team of the Season territory. Only third team this time around because Southern did drop off a long way from last season, largely because of the injury to Amy Hislop, though you’re never getting anything less than maximum capacity from Rose Morton. Or from 2024 first-teamer Shontelle Smith. Or from Aussie import Georgia Keen who went very close to nudging into this spot ahead of Morton. Nothing wrong with that Southern midfield.
CM – Zoe Benson (Eastern Suburbs)
A year ago, Zoe Benson led the National League in assists as a 17 year old. Now she’s 18 and she’s just led the league in assists again. Technically she had to share the Assist Queen title this time (at least by TNC’s count) with Arisa Takeda, Britney Cunningham-Lee, and Shannon Henson also accounting for five set-ups. But you see the pattern, right? Benson is slippery and creative and incisive in the attacking third and she’s only getting started. One of the top young prospects we’ve got right now.
FW – Liz Savage (Western Springs)
This pick is made with respect here also to Aimee Phillips who could just as easily have been selected in this spot. A couple of capped Football Ferns still out there showing the youngsters how it’s done, especially in the latter rounds when Savage and Phillips really took it to the next level for the Swans combining for six goals as they won their last three games in a row. With Savage, it’s the direct running from out wide, it’s the clever decision-making, and it’s the powerful shooting. Four goals and an assist from a wing position. She was in great touch last year only for an injury to spoil her WNL campaign. This time we got the full capacity.
FW – Emily Lyon (West Coast Rangers)
Not happy at leaving Kaley Ward out by would have been equally unhappy ignoring the five goals and four assists supplied by 18yo Emily Lyon for WCR. Dunno why she kept finding herself in and out of the starting team when Rangers were clearly so much better with the Henson/Lyon/Johnson trio up top. Lyon’s physical presence and sharp finishing contributed to nearly half of her team’s goals and she’s only going to get better next year.
FW – Bree Johnson (West Coast Rangers)
Ever-reliable on that left wing, skipping past defenders and causing havoc. With four goals and an assist, she wasn’t quite as explosive as she was with Auckland United last season but she wasn’t far off. In fact, her transfer probably went a long way towards establishing West Coast Rangers as a National League calibre club. That Johnson/Lyon/Henson trio combined for 14 of WCR’s 20 goals. And there we are.
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