When New Zealand and Australia were confirmed as co-hosts of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals, it set off a series of events in both countries geared towards the success of the event. One of them was the inclusion of a New Zealand-based team in Australia's W-League, and in September 2021 it was confirmed that Wellington Phoenix would add a senior women's team to its portfolio, and join the competition in December that year. Leaning heavily on NZ Football's support and guidance, the club appointed Future Ferns Development Programme coach Gemma Lewis to the coaching role, with FFDP Assistant Coach Natalie Lawrence alongside her. Player recruitments began quickly, with goalkeeper Lily Alfeld the inaugural signing - she was later elected captain by her team-mates. Football Fern Grace Jale and former NZ age-grade international Chloe Knott (background pic) were added to the mix, along with five FFDP squad members, two scholarship recruits and a number of Australians, as one of the conditions of entry was that there must be a minimum number of natives in Australia's shop window women's league. Because of the restrictions arising from the coronavirus, the squad had to relocate to New South Wales and play their initial home games in Wollongong. For some of the Kiwis in the group, it was their first experience of living away from home for an extended period. Somehow, everything fell into place in time for the team's inaugural match on 3 December 2021 ...

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