The 2022–23 season was Western United Football Club (women)'s first season in the A-League Women. Coached by Mark Torcaso, Western United finished 2nd in the regular season and reached the Grand Final, losing 4–0 to Sydney FC.
Review and events
Pre-season
Mark Torcaso; former head coach of affiliated club Calder United was appointed as the inaugural head coach for Western United on 29 June with Helen Winterburn appointed as assistant coach a month later. The first player signing occurred on 4 August where Australian defender Alana Cerne signed for the season. Five days later, their first international signing was American striker Hannah Keane. Australian youth international Kahli Johnson signed on 10 August, Adriana and Melissa Taranto on 16 August, Filipino international Jaclyn Sawicki on 18 August, Emma Robers and Julia Sardo on 23 August Aleksandra Sinclair on 26 August, Francesca Iermano on 30 August, Alyssa Dall'Oste and Natasha Dakic on 1 September, Australian youth international Silver Bell Morris on 8 September, and Australian international Chloe Logarzo on 13 September.
The 2022–23 A-League Women fixture draw was released on 15 September, with the opening round for Western United confirmed to play at home against rivals Melbourne Victory. The day after, City Vista Recreation Reserve was confirmed as the home venue and training base for Western United during the 2022–23 season. With that, Serbian international and four-time A-League Women champion Tyla-Jay Vlajnic signed ahead of the season. Five days later, attacking trio of Harriet Withers, Raquel Deralas, and Stacey Papadopoulos all signed for Western United. On 26 September, Kahli Johnson and Silver Bell Morris were called-up to an extended Australia under-20 squad.
American goalkeeper Hillary Beall signed for the season on loan from NWSL club Racing Louisville on 28 September, and Guyanese international Sydney Cummings signed ahead of the season from NWSL club San Diego Wave on 29 September. American international and FIFA Women's World Cup winner Jessica McDonald signed for Western United in a guest contract on 19 October. On 3 November, Western United's first friendly was confirmed to play Melbourne Victory at Morshead Park Stadium in Ballarat in two days time. In the match, Western United won 1–0 through a late goal from Hannah Keane. Five days later, they played against Melbourne City in their last friendly before their first competitive match, winning 3–0 thanks to two goals from Hannah Keane, and one for Jessica McDonald.
November
Western United's first extended squad for the 2022–23 A-League Women opener against Melbourne Victory was confirmed two days prior with all but Harriet Withers and Nataska Dakic both injured. With this, Jaclyn Sawicki was announced as captain. The match resulted in a 1–0 win for Western United with Jessica McDonald scoring the goal in front of 2,753 spectators; the highest home attendance for Western United (women). Four days later, Aimee Medwin signed a scholarship contract with Western United.
Ahead of Round 2's clash against Wellington Phoenix away, Natasha Dakic returned. During the week, Chloe Logarzo featured in episode 7 of the A-Leagues All Access docuseries of her return to club football after more than a year and behind-the-scenes of the previous week's match against Melbourne Victory. Western United won 4–1, heading to the top of the table after two rounds thanks to two goals by Hannah Keane, and one for Jessica McDonald and Sydney Cummings.
December Aimee Medwin joined the squad heading into Round 3 against Adelaide United away; the match resulting in a 2–1 win, from a comeback of two late goals in stoppage time by Sydney Cummings in the 91st minute and Emma Robers in the 97th minute for three wins in three matches to start the campaign. Within this, Stacey Papadopoulos had suffered a concussion early in the match and was taken from the field by paramedics and taken to hospital for precautionary scans of which have all come back clear.
Western United were dropped to third place during their bye in Round 4. On 12 December, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced that the 2023, 2024, and 2025 A-Leagues Grand Finals would be hosted in Sydney as part of a deal with Destination NSW in which the following day, the club issued a statement condemning the decision saying that they do not support it. Kahli Johnson made a return to the squad after a minor knee injury for Round 5's clash against Melbourne City away. Western United won 3–1, for their fourth consecutive win to start the campaign thanks to two goals from Chloe Logarzo and Adriana Taranto regaining top spot.
Round 7's match against the Newcastle Jets at home, originally scheduled for 28 December had been postponed to a later date due to extreme heat forecast in Victoria. An unchanged extended squad was confirmed heading to Round 8 against Perth Glory away.
January Western United won 3–2 against Perth Glory away, with Hannah Keane, Chloe Logarzo, and a late own goal securing their fifth consecutive win of the first five matches to start the campaign. On 4 January, three fixture changes were confirmed: Round Revised fixture Original fixture Notes 10 11 January: Western United v Sydney FC 11 January: Sydney FC v Western United Home-away reversal 7 8 February: Western United v Newcastle Jets 28 December: Western United v Newcastle Jets Changed date 16 5 March: Sydney FC v Western United 5 March: Western United v Sydney FC Home-away reversal
The same day saw the signing of Canadian attacker Danielle Steer signing on for the remainder of the season. Ahead of Round 9's match against Wellington Phoenix at home, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic returned after missing out against Perth Glory the previous week. Western United won 1–0 for six consecutive wins to start the campaign with Tyla-Jay Vlajnic scoring the decisive goal. Two days later, Australian defender Angela Beard signed from Danish club Fortuna Hjørring on a two-year deal.
Danielle Steer entered the extended squad for Round 10 against Sydney FC, as Western United won 2–0 via a double from Hannah Keane moving back to the top of the table and extending the win streak to seven. On 12 January, Mark Torcaso was awarded the A-League Women Coach of the Month for December. Continuing in Round 10, their squad against the Western Sydney Wanderers away saw three major inclusions of Angela Beard, Jaclyn Sawicki, and Chloe Logarzo. The match resulted in a 2–1 loss; ending the run of seven consecutive wins to start the campaign with Hannah Keane scoring the goal.
Jessica McDonald was confirmed she would play her last match for Western United before the end of her guest stint from Racing Louisville, whilst Melissa Taranto returned to the squad to face Brisbane Roar at home after missing out in the previous match against Western Sydney Wanderers. Western United returning to winning ways in a 2–0 win over Brisbane Roar with Hannah Keane and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic scoring the goals.
On 24 January, a friendly was confirmed to take place in February against the Australia under-20 team as part of their training camp from 13–22 February in partnership with the Wyndham City Council. The squad reduced from 20 to 18 in preparations for Canberra United away losing Jessica McDonald due to her departure, and Stacey Papadopoulos due to knee injury. Despite this, Western United won 5–0; their biggest win of the season with all goals scored in the first half by Hannah Keane scoring two, Danielle Steer, Melissa Taranto, and Sydney Cummings.
February Julia Sardo and Francesca Iermano returned to the squad against Perth Glory at home at Morshead Park Stadium in Ballarat for the first time since the opening friendly of the season. It resulted in a 3–1 loss; their second of the season with Emma Robers scoring the goal. The squad remained unchanged ahead of the revised fixture against the Newcastle Jets at home. During so, Kahli Johnson was called-up to the Australia under-20 squad on 8 February for a 10-day camp ahead of friendlies against Western United themselves and Melbourne City. The squad remained unchanged ahead of the revised fixture against the Newcastle Jets at home, and fell to a second consecutive defeat in a 2–0 loss.
The squad was again unchanged heading into Round 14 against Melbourne City at home. Western United went back to winning ways in a comeback win after half-time; 2–1 over Melbourne City thanks to goals from Hannah Keane and Sydney Cummings. On 14 February, A-League Women awards for January were awarded to Mark Torcaso for Coach of the Month, and Hillary Beall for Player of the Month. On 22 February, Hannah Keane signed a contract extension on a further year. International representations occurred during the week with Jaclyn Sawicki playing for Philippines in the Pinatar Cup and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic playing for Serbia against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovakia, as both players returned without missing any Western United matches.
On 23 February, Aimee Medwin was confirmed an ACL injury in her knee during the friendly against the Australia under-20 team ruling her out in Round 15's squad to face the Newcastle Jets away whilst Silver Bell Morris, Natasha Dakic, and Aleksandra Sinclair entered the squad. In the lead-up to the match, Chloe Logarzo departed the club returning to parent club Kansas City Current after the end of her loan spell. Western United won 6–0 over the Newcastle Jets; setting their new biggest win record with Kahli Johnson and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic scoring two, and Danielle Steer and Hannah Keane scoring one. Two days later, Australian defender Tiana Jaber signed for the remainder of the season as an injury replacement deal for Aimee Medwin, whilst Kahli Johnson was again called up to the Australia under-20 squad.
March The squad saw Silver Bell Morris, Francesca Iermano, and Tiana Jaber as Western United newest signing enter, whilst Kahli Johnson was out due to international duty for Round 16's top-of-the-table clash against Sydney FC away. The match resulted in a 3–0 loss as Sydney FC topped Western United on goal difference. Silver Bell Morris and Aleksandra Sinclair entered the squad in Round 17's clash against Brisbane Roar away, where Western United lost 2–0. This result was however overturned by the APL and was awarded a 3–0 win to Western United, due to Brisbane Roar fielding an ineligible player.
During the next week it was confirmed that Western United had qualified for the finals series and confirming a finish in the top two ensuring a double chance in the finals series. On 24 March, Chloe Logarzo returned to Western United exactly a month after her initial departure returning for the remainder of the 2022–23 season and the full 2023–24 season. Ahead of Round 19's clash against Canberra United at home, Stacey Papadopoulos returned from injury, Kahli Johnson returned from international duty, and Francesca Iermano entered as well. The match resulted in a 3–0 loss.
For the final match of the regular season against the Western Sydney Wanderers at home, it was confirmed Chloe Logarzo would not yet return to the squad, whilst Natasha Dakic, Aleksandra Sinclair, and Tiana Jaber had entered with Emma Robers out due to injury.
April
The Round 20 final match against the Western Sydney Wanderers at home resulted in a 2–1 win via a double from Hannah Keane who she was confirmed the winner of the 2022–23 A-League Women Golden Boot as Western United finished the league season in second place to set up a semi-final match away against Sydney FC. The semi-final was confirmed to be played on 16 April at Allianz Stadium.