A-League Women: Wellington Phoenix win against Melbourne Where: Polirua Park, Polirua When: Sunday, 4 p.m Cover: Live on Sky Sport 7, updates on Stuff
Wellington Phoenix new signing Isabel Cox believes a season alongside England star Alessia Russo has prepared her for her first foray into professional football.
The Phoenix have strengthened their injury-plagued A-League women's squad with the signing of the NCAA star until the end of the 2023/24 season.
The American forward was recruited from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – the most successful program in US women's soccer.
Cox appeared in two NCAA Championship finals for the Tar Heels, playing in the first two games in her first year alongside World Cup runner-up Russo.
The 22-year-old's signing will provide a timely boost to the Phoenix after they lost Grace Wisnewski and Marisa van der Meer as well as Chloe Knott to season-ending knee injuries.
UNC Athletics/Delivered
Alessia Russo (left) and Isabel Cox (center) during their time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Over the last four and a half years I have played with some great elite players. My first year at UNC I played alongside Alessia Russo. We played in a 3-5-2 system and me and them were the two at the top,” Cox said.
“It was honestly one of the best experiences I've ever had because I came to UNC and I already idolized her because I knew how good she was. She took me under her wing and guided me. She was also very humble and very hardworking and a great leader for the team.
“She worked for me, I worked for her in the fields and off of it we were good friends.”
Cox was officially signed as a backup to midfielder Wisnewski, but she is a more attacking player who can play anywhere in the front three.
She said her biggest strengths were her crossing and her ability to beat defenders in 1v1 situations.
The Phoenix are still looking for additional defensive reinforcements to cover the loss of van der Meer.
They have until Boxing Day to make signings but will be limited to players from New Zealand and Australia as all five import slots have been exhausted.
After a record 110 appearances for UNC, the third-most in NCAA history, Cox announced that she had elected to forgo next year's National Women's Soccer League draft and remain out of the remainder of the 2023/2023 season. 24 to sign with the Phoenix.
Jeffrey Camarati/UNC Athletics
Wellington Phoenix have signed American striker Isabel Cox.
She said there was no guarantee she would be drafted high enough to earn a professional contract and didn't want to take the risk.
“I always heard about going to Australia and playing and how cool that would be.
“It definitely crossed my mind to go for the draft and play in the NWSL, but as I did more research and really thought things through, I thought going to Wellington would just suit me better and playing in the A-League.”
Some of the biggest names in women's soccer have emerged from UNC, including U.S. World Cup winners Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Crystal Dunn and Tobin Heath, current England stars Russo and Lucy Bronze, and Football Ferns centurion Katie Bowen.
England coach Sarina Wiegman also played for the Tar Heels during her playing career.
Cox failed to add to her record 21 NCAA titles, but came close a few times.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Cox said she remembered meeting Bowen at a UNC football camp when she was 11 and thought she was “the coolest person ever,” in part because of her New Zealand accent.
“I wanted to talk to her all the time just so I could hear her voice. She was always hilarious and had a great time with all the campers. She definitely impressed me because I remember all the little things she did and the things she said.”
Cox is scheduled to arrive in Wellington next week ahead of the Phoenix's game against Adelaide United on December 16 and will join his American teammates Hope Breslin, Mariana Speckmaier and Hailey Davidson.
Third-placed Phoenix host Melbourne Victory at Porirua Park this Sunday.
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