Wellington Phoenix will have a new-look goalkeeping unit in the Liberty A-League next season, having confirmed Rylee Foster and Brianna Edwards won’t return to the club for 2024-25.
Canadian Foster spent one season in Wellington, where she made her heroic return to professional football two years on from an horrific car accident that could have killed her.
Find out more about Rylee Foster’s incredible story below.
Foster started 19 of Wellington’s 22 league games in the 2023-24 season and has thanked the club for taking the risk to facilitate her return to football in the aftermath of the accident that changed her life.
“I just want to thank the Wellington Phoenix organisation; all of the staff, all of the players, all of the coaching staff, the fans and everyone in Wellington for accepting me with open arms,” Foster said.
“I always said the club took a big risk in taking me on and they were an instrumental part of my return to the professional game.
“If it wasn’t for the Phoenix I wouldn’t be able to take the next steps in my career like I’m able to now.
“It was an honour to be part of an historical run with the Phoenix this year. Although we didn’t achieve what we wanted to, I know the club has been put into a better position to achieve greatness and win some hardware in the future.
“I’ll miss everyone and I’ll be the Phoenix’s number one fan for the men’s and women’s sides for the season to come.”
Edwards, meantime, has called time on her stint at the ‘Nix after three seasons and 23 appearances.
The Australian-born New Zealand international made her professional debut at the club and was the undisputed Phoenix No.1 in 2022-23 but the arrival of Canadian shot-stopper Foster ahead of last season led the 21-year-old to make just four more appearances for the club.
“It has been an honour to wear the Nix jersey and live and play in Wellington,” Edwards said.
“New Zealand has become my second home and I’m so grateful to the club, my teammates and the fans for making the last three seasons so memorable.
“Walking out onto Sky Stadium in the first professional women’s football game played in New Zealand will always be one of the highlights of my career.”
Wellington also confirmed the departure of Isuzu UTE A-League Men goalkeeper Jack Duncan after one season at the club. Duncan has been signed by Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2024-25 season.
