:Grace Wisnewski
{{short description|New Zealand association footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Grace Wisnewski
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Grace Cecilia Wisnewski
| height = {{height|m=1.64}}
| position = Central midfielder
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|6|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place = New Zealand
| currentclub = Lexington SC
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Hamilton Wanderers
| years1 = 2021–2024
| clubs1 = Wellington Phoenix
| caps1 = 28
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Lexington SC
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U17
| nationalcaps1 = 10
| nationalgoals1 = 9
| nationalyears2 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand U20
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| pcupdate = 16 December 2024
| ntupdate = 21 February 2022
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition|FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup}}
{{MedalBronze| 2018 Uruguay |}}
{{MedalCompetition|OFC U-19 Women's Championship}}
{{MedalGold| 2019 Cook Islands |}}
}}
Grace Cecilia Wisnewski (born 28 June 2002) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Lexington SC of the USL Super League and the New Zealand national team.
Club career
In October 2021, Wisnewski joined Wellington Phoenix in A-League Women from Hamilton Wanderers. Growing up a club fan, she joined their first women's team.{{Cite news |last=Rollo |first=Phillip |date=25 November 2021 |title=Grace Wisnewski grew up watching the Wellington Phoenix on TV, now she's playing |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127072411/grace-wisnewski-grew-up-watching-the-wellington-phoenix-on-tv-now-shes-playing |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717121144/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/127072411/grace-wisnewski-grew-up-watching-the-wellington-phoenix-on-tv-now-shes-playing |url-status=live }} She played every minute of all of the eleven games she played in the team's first season; she cut her season short to return to New Zealand when it lifted COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. She had struggled with her mental health and was contemplating quitting football. The break she took helped her be more excited about football, and six months later, she signed a new deal with the Phoenix in September 2022.{{Cite web |last=Rollo |first=Phillip |date=2022-09-02 |title=Grace Wisnewski welcomed back by Wellington Phoenix after mental health struggles |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129763138/grace-wisnewski-welcomed-back-by-wellington-phoenix-after-mental-health-struggles |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Stuff |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722002315/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/129763138/grace-wisnewski-welcomed-back-by-wellington-phoenix-after-mental-health-struggles |url-status=live }} She got a calf injury shortly afterward, keeping her from playing for some time.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zfhHo-vVXI |title=Grace Wisnewski on her potential return |access-date=2023-07-22}} Back by April 2023, Wisnewski scored the latest-minute goal in regulation time in A-League history with what A-League statistician Andrew Howe called an "acrobatic equalizer" in the 99th{{Nbsp}}minute of a match against defending league champions Melbourne Victory, providing a 2–2 draw for the last-placed Phoenix.{{Cite web |title=Phoenix break Melbourne hearts with 99th minute equaliser |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/01/phoenix-break-melbourne-hearts-with-99th-minute-equaliser/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=1 News |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722021201/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/01/phoenix-break-melbourne-hearts-with-99th-minute-equaliser/ |url-status=live }}
In June 2024, Wisnewski announced she was departing Wellington Phoenix to explore other opportunities.{{cite web|url=https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/goalscoring-midfielders-move-on/|title=Goalscoring midfielders move on|website=Wellington Phoenix|date=4 June 2024}} On June 17, Wisnewski was announced as the first ever USL Super League signing for Lexington SC for the league's inaugural 2024-25 season.{{Cite web |title=Lexington SC announces official signing of Grace Wisnewski to inaugural USL Super League roster |url=https://www.lexsporting.com/news/lexington-sc-announces-official-signing-of-grace-wisnewski-to-inaugural-usl-super-league-roster/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=LexSporting.com |publisher=Lexington SC |language=en-US}}
International career
Wisnewski scored three goals as part of the New Zealand U-17 side that won the bronze medal at the 2018 Women's World Cup. At the under-19 level, she won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament at the 2019 OFC U-19 Women's Championship that New Zealand won. She was a member of the New Zealand U-20 side and took part with them in the 2022 World Cup.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2022 |title=Junior Football Ferns squad announced for U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/118206?newsfeedId=1253682 |publisher=New Zealand Football |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404070417/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/118206?newsfeedId=1253682 |url-status=live }}
Wisnewski made her senior début for the Football Ferns as a substitute in a 0–4 loss to the United States on 18 January 2023.{{Cite web |title=Spielbericht - Spielbericht Neuseeland - Vereinigte Staaten, 18.01.2023 - Freundschaftsspiele - Frauenfußball auf soccerdonna.de |url=https://www.soccerdonna.de/de/neuseeland-vereinigte-staaten/index/spielbericht_107568.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |website=soccerdonna.de |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714063930/https://www.soccerdonna.de/de/neuseeland-vereinigte-staaten/index/spielbericht_107568.html |url-status=live }} A few days later, she came on again in the second half when they met again.{{Cite web |title=Spielbericht - Spielbericht Neuseeland - Vereinigte Staaten, 21.01.2023 - Freundschaftsspiele - Frauenfußball auf soccerdonna.de |url=https://www.soccerdonna.de/de/neuseeland-vereinigte-staaten/index/spielbericht_107569.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |website=soccerdonna.de |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714063925/https://www.soccerdonna.de/de/neuseeland-vereinigte-staaten/index/spielbericht_107569.html |url-status=live }}
On 30 June 2023, Ava Collins, Meikayla Moore, and Kate Taylor were named as reserve players for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite web |date=30 June 2023 |title=Football Ferns squad named for FIFA Women's World Cup |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130236?newsfeedId=1275622 |publisher=New Zealand Football |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705011838/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130236?newsfeedid=1275622 |url-status=live }} The following week, however, Moore declined to join the squad as a reserve player and Wisnewski was called up as a reserve player instead of her.{{Cite news |last=Voerman |first=Andrew |date=6 July 2023 |title=FIFA Women's World Cup: Meikayla Moore turns down Football Ferns training invite |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/132496145/fifa-womens-world-cup-meikayla-moore-turns-down-football-ferns-training-invite |access-date=17 July 2023 |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162006/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/132496145/fifa-womens-world-cup-meikayla-moore-turns-down-football-ferns-training-invite |url-status=live }}
Family and personal life
Grace has three brothers Logan, Kyle and Blake.{{Cite web |date=28 November 2018 |title=Hamilton footballer taking her chances on the world stage |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/hamilton-footballer-taking-her-chances-on-the-world-stage/FH2ECH7PW26G4VW5WHFDFHKMA4/ |publisher=New Zealand Herald |access-date=24 October 2023 }}{{Cite web |date=2 December 2018 |title=Whistlestop tour for Wisnewski family to witness goalscorer Grace's World Cup highlight |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/109026209/whistlestop-tour-for-wisnewski-family-to-witness-goalscorer-graces-world-cup-highlight |publisher=Stuff |access-date=24 October 2023 }} Logan and Kyle play professional futsal,{{Cite web |date=16 January 2023 |title=Futsal Whites trio join London club to play in top tier of UK competition |url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/01/16/futsal-whites-trio-join-london-club-to-play-in-top-tier-of-uk-competition/ |publisher=friendsoffootballnz.com |access-date=24 October 2023 }} with Logan playing for the New Zealand national futsal team.{{Cite web |date=30 September 2023 |title=Good luck to the @nzffutsal #FutsalWhites who begin their OFC Futsal Nations World Cup Qualifying campaign against Vanuatu in Auckland tomorrow! |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxzmV03C3H4/ |publisher=Wellington Phoenix |via=Instagram |access-date=24 October 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|grace-cecilia-wisnewski/580494}}
{{Lexington SC (women) squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wisnewski, Grace}}
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC (women) players
Category:New Zealand women's international footballers
Category:New Zealand women's association footballers
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:New Zealand expatriate women's association footballers
Category:New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States
Category:USL Super League players