Manaia Elliott

Manaia Elliott has been an ever-present member of the Wellington Phoenix women’s team since being promoted from the club’s academy in 2023.

The winger joined the Phoenix academy from Melville United AFC in Hamilton at the start of 2022, with her parents following her to the capital soon after.

Elliott captained the Young Football Ferns at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, starting all three of their group matches.

She was also a key part of the women’s reserves side in 2023 and led New Zealand to an eighth OFC U-19 Women’s Championship title in July 2022.

Elliott was a regular contributor to the Phoenix during her first season in senior football, featuring in 16 matches and starting six.

She scored her first professional goal against Western Sydney in round two, coming off the bench and making a mark with an assist as well.

Elliott was named captain of the Junior Football Ferns side for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, where she played all three of New Zealand’s group matches and scored against Ghana.

She featured in all 23 of the women’s matches in her second pro season, making 14 starts.

Elliott finished as the Nix’s second top goal scorer, finding the back of the net four times.

She made her debut for the Football Ferns in the first of two internationals against Costa Rica in February 2025 and has featured in squads consistently since.

> 2025-26 season

Manaia Elliott featured in all 23 matches during the women’s historic campaign, scoring three goals and delivering four assists. She started 16 games, including the grand final.

In the process Elliott became just the fifth women’s player to play 50 matches for the Phoenix.

She signed a one-year contract extension in July as she feels she has unfinished business.

“Last season was amazing going as far as we went, but everyone feels that sense that we’ve still got one more thing to tick off.

“I definitely want to come back and do one better with the team and win the league.

“But the most important thing for me is to keep enjoying my football, and I love my football at the Phoenix.”