Goalkeeper Michaela Mitchell, who won a Kate Sheppard Cup winner’s medal with Western Springs last season, has left to join Australian club Devonport Strikers.
Mitchell (25) has signed for the Strikers, the current Tasmania Women’s Super League Finals champions.
On her arrival in Tasmania, the United States-born Mitchell posted on social media to her new club’s supporters: “I find myself faced with a new team in a new country. I am looking forward to new friends, a new adventure, and surely some new trophies as well!”
Main photo: Michaela Mitchell … looking forward to more trophies. Photo credit: Devonport Strikers.
Mitchell had an outstanding 2023 season with Auckland’s Western Springs, joining the club after three seasons with the League of Ireland’s Treaty United, where she was captain.
She was first-choice ‘keeper in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League season, and for the Kate Sheppard Cup final in which Springs beat Wellington United 2-1 at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
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Mitchell’s move was helped by the Lee Fratelli agency, based in Auckland/Sydney.
She becomes the latest in a line of players to leave New Zealand to play for the Devonport Strikers.
Others include former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Keegan Smith who moved there from the Central League, helping lead the Strikers to the men’s National Premier League1 title in 2022 and 2023.
New Zealand U-20 women’s international Nicole Mettam and goalkeeper Brooke Bennet had stints with the strikers before returning to Aotearoa to join 2022 Women’s National League winners Eastern Suburbs.