2023–24 A-League Women
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 13 October 2023 – 4 May 2024 |
Champions | Sydney FC (5th title) |
Premiers | Melbourne City (3rd title) |
Matches played | 106 |
Goals scored | 321 (3.03 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Michelle Heyman (13) |
Biggest home win | Melbourne Victory 4–0 Newcastle Jets (12 November 2023) Canberra United 5–1 Brisbane Roar (10 December 2023) |
Biggest away win | Adelaide United 0–8 Newcastle Jets (29 March 2024) |
Highest scoring | Melbourne City 5–3 Brisbane Roar (28 December 2023) Melbourne Victory 5–3 Wellington Phoenix (3 March 2024) Adelaide United 0–8 Newcastle Jets (29 March 2024) |
Longest winning run | 6 matches Western United |
Longest unbeaten run | 7 matches Melbourne Victory |
Longest winless run | 9 matches Perth Glory |
Longest losing run | 4 matches Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix |
Highest attendance | 11,471 Sydney FC 2–0 Western Sydney Wanderers (14 October 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 263 Melbourne City 1–1 Adelaide United (18 February 2024) |
Total attendance | 240,898 |
Average attendance | 2,273 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 8 March 2024.(Note: Longest runs only include regular season results) |
The 2023–24 A-League Women, known as the Liberty A-League for sponsorship reasons, was the sixteenth season of A-League Women, the Australian national women's soccer competition.
The season commenced on 14 October and had a full double round-robin regular season for the first time.[1] The Grand Final was contested on 4 May 2024.[2][3]
Central Coast Mariners re-joined the competition, having played in the first two seasons before exiting due to financial reasons.[4][5]
Sydney FC were the defending premiers and champions, and successfully defended their championship. The premiers were Sydney's defeated opponent in the Grand Final, Melbourne City FC.
Ahead of the season, a new collective bargaining agreement was agreed, including a 20 percent increase to the salary cap, removing the cap of New Zealand players for Wellington Phoenix, and expanding the foreign player spots from 4 to 5, in line with the A-League Men competition.[6]
With a total attendance of 284,551 as of 15 April 2024, the 2023–24 A-League Women season set the record for the most attended season of any women's sport in Australian history,[7][8][9][10] with the season finishing with a final total attendance of 312,199.[11]
Clubs
[edit]Stadiums and locations
[edit]Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Adelaide United | Adelaide | Coopers Stadium Marden Sports Complex |
16,500
6,000 |
Brisbane Roar | Brisbane | Ballymore Stadium Perry Park |
8,000
5,000 |
Canberra United | Canberra | McKellar Park | 3,500
|
Central Coast Mariners | Gosford | Industree Group Stadium | 20,059
|
Melbourne City | Melbourne | AAMI Park City Football Academy |
30,050
9,000 |
Melbourne Victory | Melbourne | AAMI Park The Home of the Matildas |
30,050
3,000 |
Newcastle Jets | Newcastle | Newcastle Number 2 Sports Ground McDonald Jones Stadium |
5,000
33,000 |
Perth Glory | Perth | Macedonia Park HBF Park |
7,000
20,500 |
Sydney FC | Sydney | Jubilee Oval Leichhardt Oval Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre |
20,505
20,000 5,000 |
Wellington Phoenix | Wellington Porirua Auckland |
Sky Stadium Jerry Collins Stadium Go Media Mount Smart Stadium |
34,500
1,900 30,000 |
Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney | Marconi Stadium CommBank Stadium Wanderers Football Park |
9,000
30,000 1,000 |
Western United | Wyndham | City Vista Recreation Reserve | 4,000
|
Personnel and kits
[edit]Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position on table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Coast Mariners | Inaugural manager | Pre-season | ![]() |
2 March 2023 | ||
Wellington Phoenix | ![]() |
End of contract | 5 May 2023[49] | ![]() |
7 May 2023 | |
Western Sydney Wanderers | ![]() |
Resigned | 4 October 2023 | ![]() |
4 October 2023 | |
Brisbane Roar | ![]() |
Sacked | 13 November 2023[52] | 4th | ![]() |
14 November 2023 |
Western United | ![]() |
Resigned | 1 December 2023 | 8th | ![]() |
1 December 2023 |
Newcastle Jets | ![]() |
Signed by Chinese Football Association | 15 January 2024 | 6th | ![]() |
15 January 2024 |
Transfers
[edit]Foreign players
[edit]- A Australian citizens who have chosen to represent another national team
- B Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian citizenship
Regular season
[edit]League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne City | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 41 | Qualification to Finals series and 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League |
2 | Sydney FC (C) | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 20 | +11 | 39 | Qualification to Finals series |
3 | Western United | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 36 | |
4 | Melbourne Victory | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 36 | |
5 | Central Coast Mariners | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 31 | 24 | +7 | 35 | |
6 | Newcastle Jets | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 33 | |
7 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 33 | |
8 | Wellington Phoenix[a] | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 28 | |
9 | Brisbane Roar | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 26 | |
10 | Perth Glory | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 24 | |
11 | Canberra United | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 24 | |
12 | Adelaide United | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 21 | 56 | −35 | 15 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal difference; 4) goals scored; 5) head-to-head results; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away head-to-head results; 8) home head-to-head results; 9) toss of a coin[56]
(C) Champions
Notes:
- ^ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is under the Oceania Football Confederation.
Results
[edit]Individual matches are collated at each club's season article. Some fixtures in the first round were moved to larger venues following the success of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[57]
Finals series
[edit]The finals series used the same format as A-League Men; run over four weeks, and involving the top six teams from the regular season. In the first week of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams played a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches joining the first and second ranked teams in two-legged semi-final ties; this was the first season that the A-League Women held two-legged semi-finals.[58] The two winners of those matches met in the Grand Final.[59] The previous format, which saw Sydney hosting the Grand Final until the 2024–25 season, was overturned in October 2023, reverting back to the higher-ranked semi-final winner hosting the match.[60]
Bracket
[edit]Elimination-finals | Semi-finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||
1 | Melbourne City | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||
4 | Melbourne Victory | 0 (2) | 6 | Newcastle Jets | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
5 | Central Coast Mariners (p) | 0 (4) | 1 | Melbourne City | 0 | |||||||||||
2 | Sydney FC | 1 | ||||||||||||||
2 | Sydney FC | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | Western United | 2 | 5 | Central Coast Mariners | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
6 | Newcastle Jets (a.e.t.) | 4 |
Elimination-finals
[edit]Third-placed Western United, who qualified for successive finals series, played their first home finals match against sixth-placed Newcastle Jets (appearing in their first finals series since 2018).[61] Newcastle took the lead 11 minutes in through Sarina Bolden until Western equalised by Alana Cerne. Bolden scored a penalty for Newcastle to take the lead into half-time, as Catherine Zimmerman score a penalty for Western to equalize again. In extra-time, Newcastle scored two further goals through Melina Ayres and Sophie Haban to win the match.[62]
Fourth-placed Melbourne Victory hosted a finals match for the first time since 2020, against fifth-placed Central Coast Mariners who had not played in a finals series since 2009.[63]
Semi-finals
[edit]Summary
[edit]Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne City | 6–0 | Newcastle Jets | 3–0 | 3–0 |
Sydney FC | 2–1 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–0 | 1–1 |
Matches
[edit]Melbourne City | 3–0 | Newcastle Jets |
---|---|---|
Report |
Melbourne City won 6–0 on aggregate.
Sydney FC won 2–1 on aggregate.
Grand final
[edit]Melbourne City | 0–1 | Sydney FC |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Regular season statistics
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Canberra United | 17 |
2 | ![]() |
Newcastle Jets | 12 |
![]() |
Western Sydney Wanderers | ||
![]() |
Melbourne Victory | ||
5 | ![]() |
Western United | 10 |
![]() |
Canberra United | ||
![]() |
Wellington Phoenix | ||
![]() |
Sydney FC | ||
9 | ![]() |
Western United | 9 |
![]() |
Melbourne City |
Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Melbourne City | Western Sydney Wanderers | 4–3 (H) | 12 November 2023 | [64] |
![]() |
Perth Glory | Melbourne City | 1–3 (A) | 9 December 2023 | [65] |
![]() |
Canberra United | Brisbane Roar | 5–1 (H) | 10 December 2023 | [66] |
![]() |
Melbourne City | Brisbane Roar | 5–3 (H) | 28 December 2023 | [67] |
![]() |
Melbourne City | Adelaide United | 0–5 (A) | 6 January 2024 | [68] |
![]() |
Newcastle Jets | Brisbane Roar | 3–0 (H) | 17 February 2024 | [69] |
![]() |
Western United | Canberra United | 4–2 (H) | 1 March 2024 | [70] |
![]() |
Melbourne Victory | Adelaide United | 4–1 (H) | 10 March 2024 | [71] |
- Key
- (H) Home team
- (A) Away team
End-of-season awards
[edit]The following awards were announced during half-time of the 2024 A-League Women grand final that took place on 4 May 2024.[72]
- Julie Dolan Medal – Sophie Harding (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Young Footballer of the Year – Daniela Galic (Melbourne City)[73]
- Golden Boot Award – Michelle Heyman (Canberra United) (17 goals)
- Goalkeeper of the Year – Morgan Aquino (Perth Glory)
- Coach of the Year – Emily Husband (Central Coast Mariners)
- Referee of the Year – Casey Reibelt
- Fair Play Award – Melbourne City[74]
- Goal of the Year – Cassidy Davis (Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers, 5 November 2023)
- Save of the Year – Brianna Edwards (Wellington Phoenix)
- Playmaker of the Year – Alyssa Whinham (Wellington Phoenix)
- Fan Player of the Year – Mariana Speckmaier (Wellington Phoenix)
Club awards
[edit]See also
[edit]- 2023–24 A-League Men
- A-League Women transfers for 2023–24 season
- 2023–24 Adelaide United FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Brisbane Roar FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Canberra United FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Central Coast Mariners FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Melbourne City FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Melbourne Victory FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Newcastle Jets FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Perth Glory FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Sydney FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Wellington Phoenix FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women) season
- 2023–24 Western United FC (A-League Women) season
References
[edit]- ^ Pisani, Sacha (14 July 2023). "Confirmed: Start dates for 2023–24 A-Leagues seasons, FA releases Domestic Match Calendar". Keep Up (Press release). Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "A-Leagues announces full fixtures for season 2023-24". Football Australia. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Confirmed: Start dates for 2023–24 A-Leagues seasons, FA releases Domestic Match Calendar". 13 July 2023.
- ^ "Football Australia welcomes return of Central Coast Mariners to Liberty A-League Women's competition". Football Australia. 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners set for A-League Women's return in 2023–24". ESPN. 17 October 2022.
- ^ Comito, Matt (11 August 2023). "APL & PFA's six big Liberty A-League updates as salary cap goes up 20%: full details". Keep Up.
- ^ Tu, Jessie. "Women's A-League games most attended season of women's sport in Australian history". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "History made! 🥳⚽️🇦🇺 The most successful season in Liberty A-League history has set a new benchmark for women's sport in Australia". Facebook. A-Leagues. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "Women's A-League down to four contenders after first stage of finals series". Friends of Football. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "INVEST IN WOMEN'S SPORT. The Tillies effect 😤 In a record-breaking week one of the Finals Series, the A-League became the most attended season, of any women's sport, in Australia ever. Surpassing the AFLW 2023 cumulative attendance total for the regular season + finals series". Instagram. The Female Athlete Project. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "Thank you for making season 2023/24 of the Liberty A-League the biggest in the 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 🇦🇺❤️ A 127% increase on last year. Just incredible". Facebook. A-Leagues. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Adelaide United announce ALW leadership group". Adelaide United. 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Reds unveil majestic home kit for 2022/23". Adelaide United. 26 August 2022.
- ^ "United extends partnership with Kite Property". Adelaide United. 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar's captain Ayesha Norrie signs on for Liberty A-League 2023/24 season". Brisbane Roar. 11 August 2023.
- ^ "New Balance to Bring The Roar as new Official Apparel Partner". Brisbane Roar. 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar continues partnership with Ausenco for 2023/24 Liberty A-League season". Brisbane Roar. 27 July 2023.
- ^ Mee, Cameron (28 August 2023). "A-League Women: Canberra United looking to fill half of squad with season looming". The Canberra Times.
While skipper Michelle Heyman is back for her 12th season with Canberra United...
- ^ "Canberra United & ISC Sport announce new apparel partnership". Canberra United. 10 September 2021.
- ^ "United reveal 22/23 home kit". Canberra United. 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Striking new away kit for United". Canberra United. 28 October 2022.
- ^ "Taren King named Central Coast Mariners A-League Women's captain". Central Coast Mariners. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners announce club record apparel partnership with Cikers Australia alongside launch of 2023 Australia Cup kit". Central Coast Mariners. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Long term partner DMC Conveyor Services becomes Mariners A-League Women's front of shirt sponsor". Central Coast Mariners. 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Rebekah Stott named Melbourne City Women's Captain". Melbourne City. 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Manchester City replaces Nike with Puma in kit deal". BBC News. 28 February 2019.
- ^ "Melbourne Victory announce Men's and Women's Captains". Melbourne Victory. 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Victory joins forces with Macron". Melbourne Victory. 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Melbourne Victory and MATE extend their partnership". Melbourne Victory. 15 November 2022.
- ^ Gardiner, James (11 October 2023). "A-League soccer, 2023: Jets name captains for 2023-24 A-League assault". The Newcastle Herald.
- ^ "Newcastle Jets launch new season kit with Legend Sportswear". Newcastle Jets. 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Port of Newcastle renews major partnership with Newcastle Jets". Newcastle Jets. 23 September 2022.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (11 October 2023). "Glory captains confirmed at glittering Season Launch". Perth Glory.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 January 2021). "Glory confirms four-year extension to Macron partnership". Perth Glory.
- ^ "Gold Valley is the Principal Partner of the Perth Glory Women's Team". Gold Valley. 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Tobin ready to lead once again". Sydney FC. 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Tobin To Miss Season With ACL Injury". Sydney FC. 17 October 2023.
Princess Ibini will take over captaincy duties in her absence.
- ^ "Sydney FC In Australian First Partnership With Under Armour". Sydney FC. 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Sydney FC announce five year principal partnership with Macquarie University". Sydney FC. 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Longo to lead new-look Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Paladin to keep kitting out the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 2 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Spark and OPPO double their support for the Phoenix". Wellington Phoenix. 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Harrison named Liberty A-Leagues captain". Western Sydney Wanderers. 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Three stripes for three years: Wanderers announce three-year partnership with Adidas". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Wanderers announce Westfield W-League major partnership with Intermain". Western Sydney Wanderers. 26 September 2019.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (13 October 2023). "Sawicki and Logarzo to lead Western United Women in season two". Western United.
- ^ a b Hughes, Nick (5 October 2023). "Western United drops bold 2023/24 kits inspired by the West". Western United.
- ^ "Emily Husband appointed Mariners A-League Women's head coach". Central Coast Mariners. 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Lawrence decides to move on". Wellington Phoenix. 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Academy technical director to take charge of the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Wanderers Liberty A-League coaching update". Western Sydney Wanderers. 7 May 2023.
- ^ Gould, Joel (13 November 2023). "Brisbane Roar sack ALW coach Garrath McPherson". The Women's Game.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco (14 November 2023). "Alex Smith to replace sacked Garrath McPherson as coach of Brisbane Roar women's team". news.com.au.
- ^ Lynch, Joey (1 December 2023). "Torcaso quits Western Utd to focus on Philippines". ESPN.
- ^ "Gary van Egmond to depart the club". Newcastle Jets. 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Competitions Rules". A-Leagues. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ Comito, Matt (22 August 2023). "Major stadiums announced for blockbuster opening round to 2023-24 Liberty A-League season". Keep Up.
- ^ Comito, Matt (8 April 2024). "Complete guide to the Liberty A-League Finals series: Everything you need to know". A-Leagues.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (28 March 2024). "Liberty A-League Premiership & finals race comes down to LAST ROUND: Every situation explained". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Kemp, Emma (18 October 2023). "A-Leagues reverse controversial grand final deal with Destination NSW". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Carr, Harry (10 April 2024). "Liberty A-League finalists assessed as key metric tips dark horse to come from nowhere". Football Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Comito, Matt (13 April 2024). "Jets end 16-year wait for finals win in extra-time thriller as star adds to staggering record". Football Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (14 April 2024). "Victory legend haunts former team in heroic display as Mariners reach semis for first time". Football Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Comino, Matt (12 November 2023). "McNamara's star continues to rise as hat-trick leads City past Wanderers in seven-goal thriller". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Smith, Ben (9 December 2023). "A-League Women: Millie Farrow's hat-trick leads Perth Glory to 3-1 win over Melbourne City". The West Australian.
- ^ Harrington, Anna (10 December 2023). "Milivojevic delivers Canberra's first win, Vine scores". FTBL.
- ^ D'Urbano, Nick (28 December 2023). "City star's hat-trick powers league leaders to victory over Brisbane in eight-goal thriller". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ Dodd, James (6 January 2024). "Teenage star scores stunning hat-trick as City run riot in Adelaide". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Alex (17 February 2024). "Bolden beautiful hat-trick takes Jets into ALW top six". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Dodd, James (1 March 2024). "Western United ONE SECOND away from Liberty A-League history after defeating Canberra United". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (10 March 2024). "Victory's Matildas forward boosts chances of re-call with first hat-trick in 3 years". The A-Leagues. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Every Liberty A-League award winner: Julie Dolan Medalist, Fan Player of the Year & more". A-Leagues. 4 May 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (3 May 2024). "Melbourne City sensation named Boost Young Footballer of the Year". A-Leagues.
- ^ "Congratulations @melbournecity: Winners of the Liberty A-League Fair Play award for season 2023-24!". A-Leagues. 29 April 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Every Liberty A-Leagues side's end of season award winners as international star cleans up!". A-Leagues. 15 May 2024.
- ^ @AdelaideUnited (15 May 2024). "Congratulations to Nanako Sasaki on being awarded the Di Alagich Medal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar 2023/24 Season Awards Night at Emporium Hotel South Bank". Brisbane Roar. 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Heyman wins Canberra United Player of the Year". Canberra United. 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Historic award for Galic, Izzy & Nizzy dominate 2024 MMD". Central Coast Mariners. 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Player of the Year: Hughes takes out top honours". Melbourne City. 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Damien Da Silva and Kayla Morrison take out Victory Medal". Melbourne Victory. 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Bolden and Stamatelopoulos take out top awards". Newcastle Jets. 30 April 2024.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (6 May 2024). "Taggart and Lowry claim top honours at glittering MGP Awards event". Perth Glory.
- ^ "Lolley And McLean Take Out Top Season Awards". Sydney FC. 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Barry and Barbarouses crowned players of the year". Wellington Phoenix. 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Matos, Marcelo take out top honours at 2024 Wanderers Medal". Western Sydney Wanderers. 1 May 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (8 May 2024). "Chloe Logarzo storms to Western United ALW Player of the Season win". Western United.