Now it’s the 2024/25 Ninja A-League Women’s turn to kick-off with a bang!
The Ninja A-League Women’s season is back, with a new naming right’s sponsor and plenty of fresh faces in the side. We kick things off with a bang against our biggest rivals, Melbourne Victory this Saturday at ServiceFM Stadium.
How we start
What better way to kick-off then with an Original Rivalry on home soil. We host 2022 Champions, Melbourne Victory, looking to replicate the scenes of Wort’s hat-trick when we last snatched the 3-points from the Navy Blue.
DON’T MISS OUR OPENER AGAINST MELBOURNE VICTORY Click here to get your tickets!
We then venture to the Capital to face the Territorians, Canberra United at McKellar Park before opening Unite Round against the Nix at Leichhardt Oval in Round 4.
Pre-Season Friendlies
- 5 October: Adelaide United 2-0 Western United
- Abby Middleton, Miley Grigg
- 26 September: West Adelaide 1–4 Adelaide United
- Emily Condon, Erin Healy (2), Sian Dewey
- 22 September: Go Sunny Solar WNPLSA All-Stars 1–2 Adelaide United
- Erin Healy
We finished our pre-season undefeated against both local Women’s National Premier League and A-League Women’s opposition. After a disappointing 23/24 campaign, significant investment was made in the Women’s program to find competitive pre-season matchups given the small six-week pre-season window to prepare for a 22-round home-and-away season.
Our Squad
The 24/25 campaign sees some Club Legends sign on as well as highly experienced international additions paired with local young stars making their mark.
Here are your Reds superstars for this season:
GOALKEEPERS: 1. Annalee GROVE, 21. Claudia JENKINS, 30. Ilona MELEGH.
DEFENDERS: 2. Emily HODGSON, 4. Matilda MCNAMARA, 13. Ella TONKIN, 11. Isabel HODGSON, 17. Zoe TOLLAND, 14. Lucía LEÓN, 24. Abby MIDDLETON.
MIDFIELDERS: 5. Sarah MORGAN, 6. Tiarna KARAMBASIS, 7. Abby CLARKE, 8. Emily CONDON, 12. Nanako SASAKI, 16. Dylan HOLMES, 27. Sian DEWEY.
FORWARDS: 3. Meleri MULLAN, 10. Chelsie DAWBER, 19. Katie BOWLER, 20. Miley GRIGG, 22. Erin HEALY, 23. Fiona WORTS, 28. Chrissy PANAGARIS.
Leadership Group
An all-South Australian leadership team has been announced for the upcoming 2024/25 Ninja A-League Season led by Captain, Isabel Hodgson, Vice-Captain Dylan Holmes, supported by experienced defender, Matilda McNamara and rising star, Ella Tonkin.
New Faces
Abby Clarke, Erin Healy, and Lucía León round out three impressive international signings made by Adelaide United to bolster the squad across the park, whilst Tiarna Karambasis joins from Ninja A-League Women’s newcomers, Central Coast Mariners.
Twenty-year-old Abby Clarke joins the Reds on a one-year contract following her time in the Women’s Super League. The midfielder began her football journey with Everton at the tender age of nine, progressing through the club’s ranks to sign her first professional contract in 2023. Her time with Everton saw her make her senior debut in a Continental Tyres League Cup clash against Durham in December 2022, followed by a league debut against Manchester City six months later. Last season, Clarke made a huge move by joining Burnley Women and now makes the jump to Adelaide United to further hone her skills.
American forward, Erin Healy also signs on a one-year deal from Portugese Women’s League side, Club de Albergaria. The San Diego born striker brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the squad, providing a composed attacking option as well as the ability to play central in attacking and defensive roles.
Spanish Under 23 and Dominican Republic capped right back, Lucía León joins on a one-year deal from FA Women’s National League South side, Watford after amassing 20 appearances with The Golden Girls. León’s impressive playing history spans across both the United Kingdom and Spain, starting with an impressive nine-year stint for Women’s Super League outfit, Tottenham Hotspur. León wrote herself into Spurs’ history books, scoring their first ever London Derby goal against Arsenal before moving to Liga F sides Madrid CFF and Real Betis for a further 56 appearances.
Midfielder, Tiarna Karambasis joins on a one-year deal from Ninja A-League Women side, Central Coast Mariners, where she made 11 appearances and netted one goal. Karambasis was also an integral part of Queensland’s Lions FC outfit that completed the NPL double in 2019.
Returning Reds
Homegrown hero, Isabel Hodgson extends her reign at Adelaide United until the end of the 2025 season. The Club legend signs on after first debuting for the Reds in 2013 and has adapted her game in that time to play as a winger as well as a full-back, whilst cementing herself as one of the Club’s most experienced and influential players.
Dynamic duo, Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts return on one-year contracts to strengthen the Reds’ forward-line. The pair lead the all-time goal scoring charts for the Reds, amassing 41 goals between them.
Centurion Emily Condon furthers her legacy with United, leading the midfield for a further season, with the option to extend for an additional year. The 26-year-old first joined the squad in the 2013/14 season, becoming a cornerstone of the team with her technical prowess.
2023/24 Dianne Alagich medallist, Nanako Sasaki has committed to another two seasons with the Reds. The midfield engine has amassed over 50 appearances with the Club, scoring four goals along the way.
Local talented defender, Ella Tonkin re-signs on a one-year contract, with an option for a second year. The 21-year-old South Australian defender first joined in 2019 from Football SA’s NTC program, making 37 appearances and scoring one goal since joining with the Reds. Her impressive performances culminated in winning the Young Player of the Year award for her 2023/24 season.
Shot-stopper Annalee Grove has penned a two-year deal, bringing a wealth of experience from her 53 appearances and 9 clean sheets with the Reds.
Katie Bowler and Zoe Tolland have also signed on for two-year deals, whilst Meleri Mullan and Sarah Morgan have committed to another season with the Club.
Tolland has made 23 appearances for the Reds across two seasons at just 21-years of age, whilst Katie Bowler looks to extend on her 20 games and two goals with the Club.
Meleri Mullan is gearing up for her fifth season and 26 appearances as a Red alongside Young Matilda, Sarah Morgan, who joined the Club back in 2023.
The return of Matilda McNamara caps off a strong 24/25 side. Matilda returns to the reds after a stint with Danish side, AGF Fodbold. Matilda is no stranger to the Reds, previously cementing the backline in both 2015 and 2022 for Adelaide United between making her Matildas debut in November 2022 against Thailand.
Future Stars
Adelaide United adds six young talents to the squad to further their footballing journeys. South Australian trio, Claudia Jenkins, Chrissy Panagaris, and Abby Middleton bolster Adelaide United right across the park, signing scholarship contracts with the Reds for the 24/25 season whilst Dewey, Grigg, and Melegh join on Youth Development Agreements.
Local Star, Chrissy Panagaris signs on following her first full season with the Reds in 23/24. Her contract comes as a timely reward for her dedication to the professional game, culminating in her first professional goal in front of a roaring Cooper’s Stadium against Western Sydney Wanderers last season. Panagaris’ experience as both a train-on and scholarship player means she brings a level of familiarity and determination to the side.
Adelaide United’s defensive ranks have also been strengthened through securing Abby Middleton on a one-year scholarship deal. The formidable right-back returns to the Reds following seasons with both the Northern Tigers in NSW’s NPLW and the Football South Australia Women’s National Premier League (WNPL) NTC side who made the Grand Final in 2023.
Claudia Jenkins joins for another year to solidify the Club’s goalkeeping ranks after making four appearances from Adelaide United.
Grigg re-signs after a stellar 24 months growing her footballing career; commencing with setting a record as the youngest ever Adelaide United player to debut at the age of 15 years and 54 days, to being called up to two Commbank Junior Matildas training camps. The box-to-box midfielder will continue to bring her dynamic style of football and strong presence to the Red’s attack.
Dewey comes in as a classic defensive midfielder, bringing in technicality and composure on the ball beyond her years. The Salisbury Inter junior is also no stranger to the National Team environment after being selected for the final AFC U17 2024 Women’s Asian Cup squad: coming off the bench against China and starting in their final group game against Thailand.
In a look to the future, Adelaide United have also secured the services of the 2024 National Youth Championship U16 Goalkeeper of the Tournament and 2024 Football South Australia Rising Star, Ilona Melegh. The shot-stopper signs post 2024 season with Football SA’s NTC WNPL side after spending her junior years with Adelaide University.
Coaching Update
Former Adelaide United alumni, Tiarn Powell, returns to the Reds as an assistant coach for the upcoming season.
Powell, who made 34 appearances up front for the Reds across three seasons between 2013-2016, will join Head Coach, Adrian Stenta and Assistant Coach, Michele Lastella, in the senior coaching team.
Tiarn comes into the coaching group in place of Alice Gorman, who is currently on maternity leave, whilst Luke Harris signs on as Strength and Conditioning Coach. Michael Cooper departs from his assistant coaching tenure to focus on his Subway Joey’s National Team duties, replaced by Marcus Deluca in a dual role as both Assistant Coach and Football Analyst.
Become a Member!
Support our A-League Women with a variety of memberships to suit your needs. Sign up as a Full-Season member to cover all games and home stadiums or purchase a 5-game package for our Marden and Gepps Cross fixtures to cheer the women on! If you’re already a full-season A-League Men’s Member, then you have access to EVERY Adelaide United home women’s match!
