Makala Woods

Makala Woods signed for the Wellington Phoenix as an injury replacement for Tessel Middag at the start of 2026.

The American forward had previously featured in the Icelandic top flight after an impressive college career at the University of Illinois and the University of Kentucky.

She originally played as a defender before being converted further up the pitch in her sophomore year at Illinois.

The move paid off, as she scored a team-high 11 goals for Kentucky in 2024, and was named to the All-SEC (South Eastern Conference) first team.

Her first pro season came in Iceland with Tindastóll, where she netted 9 times in 21 appearances while also adding two assists.

2025/26 season

Makala Woods hit the ground running in Wellington, scoring on her debut just three days after arriving in the capital.

She ended the campaign with five regular-season goals and a further three in the playoffs alongside five assists.

Those strikes included both Nix goals in the semi-final second leg against Brisbane Roar at Porirua Park, plus scoring in the grand final against Melbourne City.

She signed a new one-year contract in March, just seven games into her Phoenix career.

“I genuinely feel so much joy when my teammates are doing well and when the team are doing well. For me that’s the only thing that matters.

“My goal is to give this programme everything I have and to help get us to a place I know we can be.

“I want to do something cool that’s never been done before here. I want to be a part of something that’s so special and that’s all I’m trying to do.”