Wellington Phoenix have signed American midfielder Maya McCutcheon from NWSL side North Carolina Courage.
McCutcheon has joined Paul Temple’s Phoenix for the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
After a “decorated college career ” at Oklahoma and West Virginia – where she won the Big 12 Championship in 2022, the 23-year-old signed her first professional contract with NWSL’s North Carolina in 2024.
It is at the Courage she has been alongside CommBank Matildas star and A-Leagues graduate Cortnee Vine, Charlotte McLean, Hensley Hancuff, who was at Brisbane Roar last season and former Canberra United defender Kaleigh Kurtz.
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“When the opportunity came up to join the Phoenix it was kind of like a no-brainer,” McCutcheon said.
“I’ve learned a lot at North Carolina but now I want to gain some experience and I’m super excited about seeing another part of the world.
“When I talk to a lot of the girls here I feel like a lot of them regret not going abroad and taking the opportunity to learn a lot about themselves and the world when they were my age.
“After talking to Paul and learning about the team’s values it felt like a lot was aligning at the right time and it felt like the right step to make.”
She added: “I feel like the A-League and the NWSL seem to be pretty interconnected. There are at least four girls at North Carolina who have had experience in the A-League and played for Sydney and Brisbane.
“They all only said good things about the A-League. That’s what made me so eager to take up the opportunity because you’re talking to five people and you’re not hearing one bad thing.
“It seems to align with a lot of what I want to get out of my soccer career at this stage. The A-League is going to be a great league for me to compete in.”
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McCutcheon is Wellington’s third visa signing and the latest new arrival, after Carolina Vilão, Olivia Fergusson, Aimee Danieli (scholarship contract), Ella McMillan (scholarship contract), Ela Jerez (scholarship contract), Ella McCann (scholarship contract) and Grace Jale.
Rebecca Lake, Emma Main, Tiana Jaber, Alyssa Whinham, Olivia Ingham and Daisy Brazendale have re-signed.
“Maya is a player who I believe can make a big impact on the team and the A-League,” Temple said.
“She is everything I’ve been looking for this off-season, in terms of what the team needs for its balance and bringing something different that will complement the other players we have in the middle of the pitch.
“Maya can do a bit of everything and I think the supporters will love watching her play.”
