Michaela Foster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michaela Leigh Foster | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Hamilton, New Zealand[1] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Durham | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Claudelands Rovers | |||
| Hamilton Wanderers | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | San Diego Toreros | 44 | (6) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Northern Rovers | ||
| 2022–2024 | Wellington Phoenix | 37 | (2) |
| 2024 | Auckland United | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Durham | 30 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | New Zealand U17 | 10 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | New Zealand U20 | 5 | (3) |
| 2023– | New Zealand | 25 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 26 June 2025 | |||
Michaela Leigh Foster (born 9 January 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Women's Super League 2 club Durham and the New Zealand national team.[3][4][5]
Michaela Leigh Foster is the daughter of Ian Foster, a former rugby union player who coached the All Blacks from 2020 to 2023. In November 2022, she got engaged to her girlfriend.[6] She attended Hamilton Girls' High School, later working in its sports department while a National League player.[7]
Club career
Foster played college soccer at the University of San Diego in California for four years and, upon her return to New Zealand, worked different jobs while playing for Northern Rovers in the National League.[7]
Though a recognised youth international, she did not play for a top-flight football team until she was 24,[7] when she joined Wellington Phoenix in October 2022 ahead of the A-League Women season.[6] She had been offered a scholarship position on the squad, with a lower wage; with good performances despite the team's poor results, and having played every minute for the team, she was given a full contract after four matches. Foster is considered the set-piece specialist of the team.[7]
In June 2024, Foster joined Auckland United.[8]
Having joined Women's Super League 2 side Durham in September 2024, Foster signed a new contract with the club in July 2025.[9] She scored an olympico in Durham's 1–2 loss to Liverpool in October 2025 in the Women’s League Cup.[10]
