Wellington Phoenix's fairytale run in the A-League Women's finals series ended with a 2-0 loss to Melbourne City in the grand final on May 16, 2026, at AAMI Park.
Melbourne City scored twice in the first half, with goals from Holly McNamara and Rhianna Pollicina, to secure their fourth ALW championship. The Phoenix, playing in their first-ever grand final, were unable to mount a comeback in the second half.
Despite the defeat, coach Bev Priestman said the experience could be a building block for the future. 'You come back stronger,' Priestman said after the match. 'This is a young group, and they've learned what it takes to compete at this level.'
The Phoenix finished the regular season in third place before defeating Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the playoffs to reach the final.
