Football NSW League One Women’s 2026 Season Preview
The Football NSW League One Women’s season will spring back into action this weekend, with thirteen teams all primed and ready to go to test themselves across 26 rounds. After Hills United secured the Premiership, Championship and promotion through the Club Championship last season, who will lift silverware in 2026?
We’re going to run the rule over all the teams in our comprehensive season preview. Let’s go!
Bankstown City Lions FC
Last season: 7th
Kicking us off is Bankstown City Lions FC. The Lions had an up and down time last season and they will be a more cohesive campaign in 2026. Once again, Ante Covic is the man tasked with leading the Lions side.
The Lions had a youthful side on the park last season and they will have a similar look to them again as Covic wants his side to push forward and play on the front foot. It is a side primed to compete and do their best to improve on last year.
They have brought across Ashley Limnios from Marconi Stallions FC to help the midfield while the versatile Angelique Lynch also joins from Spartans. Zahli Dean returns to the club after a year away to shore up the defence.
Covic has also promoted a promising talent in Crystal Woods as the Lions are well prepared for their tilt at a finals spot. Bankstown City Lions FC start the season off with a pair of trips to Nepean FC and Newcastle Jets FC before their first home game against Sutherland Strikers FC in Round 3.
Blacktown City FC
Last season: 12th
Blacktown City FC are the next cab off the rank, as they look to improve themselves in the League One Women’s competition after a 12th place finish in 2025. Nick Verdos takes over as head coach and is aiming to build up confidence in his side.
Verdos has retained a strong core from last year including captain Paris Kambouris, keeper Amy Harkin. Up front, they have the attacking talents of Layla Hamdan and Nyssa Casstillo while stalwarts Samantha Cole and Nicola Ciocca return for their fifth season at the club.
Blacktown City FC are looking to build for the future which is shown in the additions from other League One Women’s sides. Both Kahtia and Kyah Bedano had flashes for Bankstown City Lions FC last year.
Molly Reckless from Northern Tigers and youngster Isabella Roderique from Sydney University bring some extra energy to the side. Verdos has also brought in Jaime Clarke, Caley Donoghue and Julia Morales returning from injury to complete the team.
They have a younger squad headed into 2026 but it one that will continue to grow across the season and might surprise a few sides.
Blacktown Spartans FC
Last season: 11th
There is a spirit of rebirth at Blacktown Spartans FC for the 2026 season under new management including coach Andrew Ienna who returns to the club after his time at Western City Rangers.
He brings with him some players making a homecoming to the Spartans headlined by a trio who will help make up their leadership group – Peyton Crye, Sheiden Jabour and Holly Pender to help them get back to their former glory.
They recruited Gemma Woolley who scores for fun and has helped two sides be promoted into the top grade as a big stamp of intent. Another big signal of intent is bringing in Adelaide Wryzynski, Rita Boateng and Renee Houliaras from Rangers alongside the Camden duo, Deanna Carrona and Maja Prostan.
Ienna has a long-term vision for the club which should help bring them back to the top which includes some retained players from last season including Melina Visser, keeper Ella Stewart, Paris Vinuya and Riddae Mohammedi.
Spartans will be a team to watch in the 2025 League One Women’s competition as they look to restore the club back to their previous heights starting with their home game against Inter Lions FC in Round 1.
Camden Tigers FC
Last season: 10th
Camden Tigers FC are roaring into the 2026 season with a renewed vigour after making a splash with their squad additions to help them move themselves up the League One Women’s competition under the leadership of Jamie Jones.
The headline act for the Tigers is bringing in former Matilda Kylie Ledbrook who brings plenty of experience and winning with her to help co-captain this Tigers side. Another big addition for them is Dani Bishop who has lifted plenty of trophies and will bring valuable knowledge as will Logan Garard who returns to the field and has a knack for goal scoring.
Those might be the headline but the Tigers have a squad ready to do battle starting with Ashlee Taff to direct things from midfield alongside Sophia Pacheco, Angelique Skapetis who joins the club from Marconi Stallions and the dependable Charlotte Taylor.
This is shaping up to be a big season for Camden Tigers FC who have brought in some impressive signings and aim to push themselves further.
Central Coast Mariners FC
Last season: 3rd
Next up is Central Coast Mariners FC who were a side that challenged hard last season and finished in a superb third spot after a strong end to their season before they bowed out in the semi-finals to SD Raiders FC in extra-time.
They have a new coach at the helm with Cas Wright taking the reigns from Greg Hartge and has a squad filled with plenty of options. Due to the nature of academy sides, they have seen departures with Jessica Garrett, Kyara O’Brien, Annalise Brewster and Claire Denning all leaving the side.
The Mariners are rebuilding their squad but still have the talented Peyton Scollay who scored important goals for the yellow-and-navy in 2025. She is joined by some exciting talents in Chloe Cattley, Scarlet Gray, Sara Casey and Sarah Pollard who might have a breakout season.
They will also have players come from their A-League Women’s side after the completion of the season which will help make Central Coast Mariners FC one of the more intriguing sides for the upcoming season.
Inter Lions FC
Last season: 9th
Inter Lions FC enjoyed an improved season in 2025 which saw them finish in 9th spot on the ladder and now the Lions side looks to continue that improvement and help restore the Inter Lions FC name to the top of the division.
John Di Biase is at the helm again, with a side that has raised its overall quality to arrest the slide they had in the second half of the 2025 campaign. He has kept some important pieces from last season – goal scorer Hannah Charak, Kiara Coscia, Welsh star Jenny Hughes and captain Zoe Katsionis.
Inter Lions FC have also brought in some good signings to help their push including former Northern Tigers keeper Ana Ivanovic, Abbey Harrison who joins from Sutherland Strikers FC and NPLNSW duo Poppy Davidson and Cate Gyzen to add depth.
Rounding out the squad is French star Ambre Canado who joins with college teammate Chelsea Hendra who come from Cleary University in the USA. Inter Lions FC will be a team that might catch some teams by surprise in 2026.
Marconi Stallions FC
Last season: 4th
The Marconi Stallions fell short of glory in the semi-finals last season and they return a majority of the squad ready to have another shot at silverware. The Stallions will once again be led by former Wanderer Michael Beauchamp in the dugout.
Beauchamp has brought together a strong squad which has plenty of self-belief headed into the 2026 season. He has brought in custodian Elizabeth Kerkham bringing her experience from NPL Women’s NSW to help marshal the side from between the sticks.
Alongside her, former NPLNSW names Jasmyn Winter and former APIA Leichhardt player Kaitlin Kiparizov are the other two signings for a Marconi side who have lost influential keeper Isabella Sollecito, winger Shelby Milton and defender Asiyah Zrieka to NPL Women’s NSW sides.
Otherwise, the Stallions have stuck solid with their core group including captain Emma Voloder who will return from an ACL injury, defender Daniela Brekic and sensation Tsoler Nazarian alongside promoted youth products Carisa Hererra, Elana Lekov, Llana Kola and Talia Kupceric to create a formidable team in 2026.
Nepean FC
Last season: 13th
Nepean FC are looking to the bright side in 2026 after a downbeat campaign which saw them finish on the bottom of the League One Women’s ladder. They have rebuilt the side and look to set up a foundation for the future.
Sean Payer will be the man in charge for Nepean FC and he has wasted no time in refreshing the squad headed into the new season. Nepean FC has brought in a host of players from Western City Rangers FC which will lift the side.
Key amongst them being Ash Irwin who joins after success with Central Coast Mariners FC I the A-Leagues Women’s. Adding to that is a whole host of former Rangers including Holly Dalrymple who is returning from an ACL injury, Sarah Polinsky, Alyse-May McCutcheon to name a few.
Tiana Barton and Laura Tredinnick who started the Sapphire Cup final for them round out the Rangers contingent while Payer has also added Ellie Howard who has former NPL Women’s experience and Kellie Wilding who makes a return after a decade away from the game.
Nepean FC also has one of the stronger keepers in the league Jasmine Crouch and the experience of Gemma Morgan in the middle of the park might help launch Nepean FC up the ladder.
Newcastle Jets FC
Last season: Relegated from NPL Women’s NSW
Relegated Newcastle Jets FC start their life in League One Women’s as they look to plot a flight path back towards the top division. It is a Jets team which has stuck solid to the players who appeared in the NPL Women’s NSW competition.
Having former Mariners coach Greg Hartge at the helm is a shrewd move from the Jets, as Hartge brings plenty of experience in this competition, being in the Mariners dugout for the last few seasons.
One of the names to watch out in regard to the Jets this season is Layla Sharpe who will spearhead their attack. Others include Navah Crofton, Hope Cleur, Lacey Dobson, Lily Dunbar and Damikah Barwick-Taylor.
The Jets will hope to get off to a flying start but they do have a stern test where they face off against St George FC away from home. They also have the F3 derby in Round 4 against the Mariners academy.
SD Raiders FC
Last season: 2nd
Beaten Grand Finalists in 2025, SD Raiders FC return for the new campaign looking to once again be one of the most exciting teams in the competition under the stewardship of Bojan Radmilo once again.
One thing which plagued SD Raiders FC last season was goalscoring and they have brought in Republic of Ireland youth international Aoife Horgan, to help solve that problem headed into the new campaign.
SD Raiders FC have kept much of the side that swept to the Grand Final including the dynamic duo of Taiana Almeida and Abigail Boag. Further to that they have one of the top keepers in the division in Natasha Pentecost plus Sharina Harris and midfielder Madeliene Malone who bring plenty of quality.
Captain Jessica Neville is the consistent presence for SD Raiders FC in their midfield and will link well with their revitalised attack to push them forward. Alongside her, Jasmin Zourdoudis returns after a year away to add further grit to a side ready to challenge again.
South Coast Flame FC
Last season: 6th
South Coast Flame FC fell just short of their stated aim of finals football last season and they will be burning for a chance to address that in 2026. The Flame will once again make Sir Ian McLennan Park a tough for visiting sides.
Daniel Naumovski returns to the dugout for his fifth season coaching South Coast Flame FC and has been busy assembling a side ready to fire. Leading the new additions is Olivia Cornall who makes her way across the country from Balacatta FC in NPL WA.
Stingrays pair Sophie Emery and Kaitlyn Colwil are two other exciting signings for the Flame alongside a promising talent in Shaylee Meehan from local club Shoalhaven FC and Rams product Lara Dipple.
They furnish a talented spine which has forwards Cristina Barraza and Emily Kostovski, set piece wizard Alexis Malizis and two solid options in midfield Abigail Jordan and Ruby Blanch who have been at the club since the beginning.
St George FC
Last season: 5th
Last year stung for St George FC who missed the finals in League One Women’s for the first time since 2022. Mark Greenfield’s side are ready to get themselves back into the mix for the new season.
St George FC have maintained the core of their side which has a contender across Greenfield’s tenure in the job. Golden Boot Jordan Baker returns with her 29 goals scored alongside Janan Codmani, Jaslyn Moore and winger Lulu Lozano.
Joining them is a sprinkling of new talent including experienced keeper Stephanie Grimbillos, exciting talents in Alice Bowles, Denise Justice, Caitlin Webster and Amelia Dixon. Rounding it out is Kyla Vanderlaan rejoins the Saints after being overseas to bolster their attack.
They have seen Caitlin Russell, Tara Palmer and Emilija Vidakovic leave the club to step up to NPL Women’s NSW football while Genevieve Russo has retired. St George FC has built a squad ready for action and if they can turn the draws into wins, 2026 could be a better season.
Sutherland Strikers FC
Last season: 8th
Last but definitely not least, Sutherland Strikers FC round out our preview. They had an up and down campaign last year and have addressed this by bringing in Guillermo Rubio, who helped UNSW FC to promotion back in 2024.
Rubio has developed a squad that will be quite competitive this season and arrest the slow start which hindered them in 2025. Paola Andrea Giraldo Uribe comes across from Inter Lions FC bringing her goal scoring talents alongside talismanic defender Lili Rosandic and the talents of Jasmine Maguire and Lara Coward in quite the change up.
It hasn’t been all change for the Strikers. They have retained keeper Chantelle Symes who will be vocal from the back, speedster Alliyah Yamaguchi also returns alongside standouts Matilda McParland and Lily Warnes who enjoyed solid campaigns last season.
The Strikers are looking for an improved campaign under Rubio and there will be plenty of talent to watch out for in their matches across the upcoming season.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
