Alyssa Whinham

Alyssa Whinham joined the inaugural Phoenix women’s squad on a scholarship contract but quickly established herself as an integral member of the squad and is one of a select group of players to play 50 matches for the club.

The attacking midfielder was part of the Canterbury United Pride side that won a third successive national league title in 2020, along with young Phoenix teammates Kate Taylor and Zoe McMeeken.

Whinham played for Coastal Spirit in Mainland’s WPL competition in 2021 before being one of the breakout stars of the women’s team’s inaugural season and being a finalist for the young women’s footballer of the year award.

She featured in all 14 of the Phoenix’s matches, starting 12 in a row after impressing as a substitute in the team’s opening two games.

Whinham became the club’s second ever goal scorer when the then 18-year-old found the back of the net against Brisbane Roar in January and her priceless reaction was one of the moments of the season.

She received her first Football Ferns call-up in 2022, but she didn’t feature against Japan in October.

Whinham also trained with the Ferns in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

She began the 23-24 A-League outside of the Phoenix first team but grew into the season and ended it as an important player.

Whinham started six of the team’s final seven matches and contributed with a goal and two assists, including a slide rule pass against Perth which won the A-League assist of the season.

She signed a new two-year contract with the club in the off-season.

Whinham reestablished herself as a regular in the Phoenix starting XI in her fourth campaign, featuring in 22 of the team’s 23 A-League matches.

She scored a spectacular long-range goal against Western Sydney Wanderers in January 2025 after providing an assist in a win over Sydney FC the previous month.

Whinham played her 50^th A-League match for the Nix, also in January, and wore the captain’s armband in the come-from-behind 3-2 win over Newcastle Jets.

> 2025-26 season

Alyssa Whinham ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee in the Phoenix’s round three match against the Newcastle Jets at Porirua Park.

Whinham had surgery soon after and missed the remainder of the season.