American midfielder Maya McCutcheon is joining the Wellington Phoenix for the 2024-25 Ninja A-League from National Women’s Soccer League side North Carolina Courage.
She is the third visa signing for the Phoenix.
McCutcheon (23) signed her first pro contract with the Courage this year after a decorated college career at Oklahoma and then West Virginia, where she won the Big 12 Championship in 2022.
At high school, she led FC Dallas to an Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) championship, as well as numerous conference titles.
Main photo: Maya McCutcheon … ‘it felt like the right step to make.’
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple believes McCutcheon will be a great fit for the team and the club, and he can’t wait to start working with her.
“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.”
Maya McCutcheon is looking forward to taking the next step in her football career.
“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 was convinced after speaking to former Nix forward Isabel Cox and some of her Courage teammates.
“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.”
And McCutcheon believes she has the attributes to help the Phoenix.
“I’m very athletic,” she said. “I have a physical presence, I’m good at ball distribution and I really cover the field.
“I would say I’m a box-to-box player and I’m pretty strong defender.
“I hope I can be another piece of the puzzle to help the team become great.”
McCutcheon will join the Phoenix in Wellington once she obtains a New Zealand work visa.
Maya McCutcheon is the 17th player confirmed in Paul Temple’s first team squad a week out from the start of pre-season training.
Players signed for next season
Phoenix women’s head coach Paul Temple has 17 players contracted for the 2024-25 A-League season, a week out from the start of pre-season training.
The players signed are Maya McCutcheon, Grace Jale, Olivia Fergusson, Alyssa Whinham, Carolina Vilão, Tiana Jaber, Emma Main, Mackenzie Barry, Olivia Ingham, Zoe McMeeken, Manaia Elliott, Daisy Brazendale, Rebecca Lake, Aimee Danieli, Ella McMillan, Ela Jerez and Ella McCann.
However, Ella McCann has suffered a season-ending injury, tearing her ACL at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
READ MORE: Major injury setback for young Wellington Phoenix striker Ella McCann >>>>
READ MORE: Wellington Phoenix sign Ferns forward Grace Jale for women’s A-League season >>>>
READ MORE: Phoenix sign goalkeeper Carolina Vilão from Portugese title winners Benfica >>>>
READ MORE: Defender Tiana Jaber becomes ninth women’s A-League signing for Phoenix >>>>
READ MORE: Wellington Phoenix agree new contract to keep forward Emma Main >>>>
READ MORE: Wellington Phoenix sign new deal with women’s vice captain Rebecca Lake >>>>
This story was first published on September 17, 2024.
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