Natalie Lawrence - Wellington roots

On November 20, under the lights at Sky Stadium, and in front of up to 34,500 fans, Wellington Phoenix will make history.When the team kicks off their 2022-23 A-League Women campaign, it will be thefirst time a professional women’s soccer team from New Zealand have played on the country’s soil.Phoenix joined the league last season as an expansion team, but - like their male counterparts - played their home games in Australia, to avoid the travel complications associated with Covid restrictions.Now, though, they are able to return home - and head coach Natalie Lawrence says their first game, against Melbourne City, will be “a pretty incredible moment for women’s football in New Zealand”.She added: “To be able to walk out with the team, see that and be part of that, is going to be one of those moments I don’t even properly allow myself to fully take in until after the game.“And to do it with this group of players, who I’ve worked with for a number of years, that moment after the game – win, lose or draw – will be one of pride.”