Grace Jale

Grace Jale
Jale playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2026.
Personal information
Full name Grace Joana Ella Jale[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Phoenix
Number 7
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 6 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Wellington Phoenix 12 (6)
2022–2023 Canberra United 17 (3)
2023–2024 Perth Glory 19 (3)
2024– Wellington Phoenix 43 (5)
International career‡
2016 New Zealand U-17 3 (0)
2016 New Zealand U-20 6 (0)
2018– New Zealand 37 (10)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 March 2026

Grace Joana Ella Jale (Fijian: [ndʒoana ndʒaːleː];[2] born 10 April 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for Wellington Phoenix and the New Zealand national team. She has previously played for Perth Glory and Canberra United.

Early life

Born and raised in Auckland to a Fijian father and New Zealand mother, Jale started playing football (soccer) at age 7.[3][4] She attended Mt Albert Grammar School where she helped the team to a national First XI championship. She also played for the Eastern Suburbs premier women's team.[5] During her first year playing for the Bay Olympic Club Team, she was named Player of the Year and was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.[5]

College career

In August 2018, Jale was offered a contract with Czech first-division club AC Sparta Praha,[6] but opted to attend and play for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States.[7] Jale made 6 appearances for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in 2019.

Club career

Wellington Phoenix

On 19 October 2021, Jale signed with the newly formed Wellington Phoenix team to play in their inaugural season of the 2021–22 A-League Women league.[8] Jale scored 6 goals in 11 appearances in 2021–22, winning the golden boot award for the club that season.

Canberra United

In July 2022, following a successful season with Wellington Phoenix, Jale joined for Australian A-League Women club Canberra United on a two-year contract.[9]

Perth Glory

In August 2023, Jale was signed by A-League Women club Perth Glory.[10] At the end of the season she departed the club.[11]

Return to the Wellington Phoenix

Jale playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2026.

In August 2024, Jale returned to Wellington Phoenix.[12] In the 2024–25 season, Jale made 21 appearances and scored 2 goals. During the 2025–26 regular season, Jale made 18 appearances and scored 2 goals. On 28 April 2026, the Wellington Phoenix held their annual end of season awards night, with Jale winning the Players' Player of the Year and the Women's Player of the Year awards.[13]

On 29 April 2026, the Phoenix renewed her contract until the end of the 2026–27 season.[14] On 3 May, Jale scored a goal two minutes into the match against Brisbane Roar, although Wellington would go on to lose 2–1 in the first leg of the A-League Women semifinals. This goal would mark her 11th goal for the Wellington Phoenix, making her the all-time leading scorer with 11 goals.[15]

In the postseason, Jale was selected for the A-Leagues All Stars Women team that will play against Women's Super League (WSL) club Chelsea in the 2026 game at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney as part of the 2026 Sydney Super Cup.[16]

International career

Jale made her debut for the senior national team and scored her first international goal during a match against Tonga at the 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup.[3] She previously represented New Zealand on the under-17 and under-20 national teams.[3] She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

In June 2023, Jale was selected as part of the 23 player Football Ferns squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which was co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand. She played two matches in the group stage.[17]

2024 Summer Olympics

On 4 July 2024, Jale was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[18]

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 November 2018Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia Tonga11–011–02018 OFC Women's Nations Cup
2.22 November 2018 Cook Islands6–06–0
3.7 February 2024FFS Football Stadium, Apia, Samoa Tonga1–03–02024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
4.3–0
5.16 February 2024 Fiji3–07–1
6.6–0
7.7–0
8.19 February 2024 Solomon Islands4–011–1
9.8–1
10.2 March 2026National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands Solomon Islands4–08–02027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players - 2018 FIFA Women's U20 World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  2. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPGLVtMidyW/?igsh=dm5pN29pd2szZnZ2
  3. 1 2 3 "Grace Jale relishing senior debut tournament". WN.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Football Fern's Grace Jale looking for more game time in Noumea". OFC Football. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Exams first for schoolgirl star". New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Grace Jale offered European football contract". Mount Albert Grammar School. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Da Luz Welcomes Seven on Signing Day". Wake Forest University. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Wellington Phoenix women sign New Zealand midfielders Chloe Knott and Grace Jale". Stuff. 18 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Jale, Burrows and Taranto sign for United". Canberra United. 15 July 2022.
  10. ↑ Morgan, Gareth (15 August 2023). "Glory land Women's World Cup striker". Perth Glory.
  11. ↑ "Women's football squad announced for Paris 2024". New Zealand Football. 4 July 2024. Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached
  12. ↑ "Football Ferns forward lured back to the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 27 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Nix come together to celebrate". Wellington Phoenix. 28 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Women's player of the year recommits to the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 29 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Rollo, Phillip (3 May 2026). "Wellington Phoenix face must-win second leg after narrow defeat to Brisbane Roar". Stuff. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Four Nix named to A-League All Stars". Wellington Phoenix. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Grace Jale National Team Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Women's football squad announced for Paris 2024". New Zealand Football. 4 July 2024.
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