Brianna Edwards

#12 BRIANNA EDWARDS – DOB 27/1/03

Brianna Edwards joined the Phoenix from the Football New South Wales institute in 2021 for the women’s inaugural A-League season.

The goalkeeper grew up in Australia and was involved with both the Junior Matildas and Future Matildas programmes in 2020.

But Edwards holds dual citizenship as her dad was born in Aotearoa and she pledged her allegiance to New Zealand in 2022.

She served at Lily Alfeld’s back-up during the women’s maiden campaign and filled one of the seven Australian berths in the Phoenix squad.

Edwards made her A-League debut as a substitute against Melbourne Victory in February 2022 and started the Nix’s match against Adelaide United a fortnight later when Alfeld was on international duty.

She was named in the Junior Football Ferns squad for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, where she deputised for New Zealand’s starting goalkeeper Murphy Sheaff.

Edwards played for Bankstown City FC in the National Premier Leagues New South Wales women’s first grade competition in 2022, starting 16 matches either side of her international commitments and helping the Lions to a mid-table finish.

She has a twin sister, Siobhan, who also plays football but is a forward.

> 2022-23 A-League season

Brianna Edwards was one of the Phoenix women’s breakout stars of the last Liberty A-League season.

In the absence of injured captain Lily Alfeld, Edwards started 17 of the team’s 18 matches, only sitting out their penultimate match against Adelaide United.

She kept two clean sheets and saved a penalty in the 5-0 win over Canberra United.

Edwards finished second in the league in saves made with 70.

Her performances caught the eye of Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková, who called Edwards into the Ferns for their matches against the U.S.A. in January.

Edwards kept her place in the national squad for their internationals against Portugal and Argentina in February and took part in the Football Ferns’ gruelling pre-World Cup camp in May and June.

She narrowly missed out on a place in the New Zealand squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and returned home to play for Bankstown City FC.

In August Brianna Edwards re-signed with the Wellington Phoenix for the 2023-24 A-League.