Mackenzie Barry

Mackenzie Barry was one of five players who joined the Phoenix women for their inaugural season from New Zealand Football’s Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP) and is now the team’s most capped player.

The combative centre back went on to lead the Nix in clearances, blocks and interceptions during the 2021-22 A-League and captained the Phoenix in the absence of club skipper Lily Alfeld and vice-captain Kate Taylor.

Her performances caught the eye of Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimková, who named Barry in the New Zealand squad for June’s internationals against Norway and Wales.

She went on to make her Football Ferns debut against Japan in October 2022 and has been a regular in national team squads since.

Barry was part of the history-making New Zealand team that claimed a bronze medal at the 2018 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.

Originally from New Plymouth, Barry played for Central Football and Northern Lights in the national women’s premiership before joining the Nix.

In the 22-23 season she was one of just three Wellington players to start all 18 of the team’s matches and was substituted just once. Barry signed a new two-year deal with the Phoenix in June 2023.

She was again an integral player for the Phoenix in the women’s team’s third season and became the first player to reach 50 games for the club in their final round match against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Barry was selected in the Football Ferns for the Paris Olympics and she scored the team’s first goal of the tournament, opening the scoring against Canada with a rasping shot from a corner.

> 2024-25 season

Mackenzie Barry was again one of the first names on the team sheet in the women’s fourth campaign.

Barry started 21 of the team’s 23 matches, only missing two games in March because of injury.

She signed on for a fifth season with the Phoenix in July.

“I’ve really enjoyed my past four years with the club. I love playing in New Zealand, I love being near my family and the fans are amazing, of course. The team’s grown and improved so much.

“The first two years at the Phoenix were very much a learning curve for me as they were my first couple of years in professional football.

“The last two years we just fell short of the finals unfortunately, but I really want us to get into the top six.

“I’m committed to getting us into the finals.”