Striker Rola Badawiya believes that a fresh mental approach can help Glory Women maintain their 100% start to the new season when they take on Adelaide United in Saturday’s Round 2 clash at Service FM Stadium (kick-off at 2pm WST, watch live and FREE on 10.com.au).
Check out Rola’s full pre-match media conference HERE.
Click HERE for Head Coach Stephen Peters’ pre-match media conference.
The 28-year-old opened her account for the year by converting from the spot to guide Glory to an impressive opening-day victory away at Newcastle Jets last Saturday.
And she feels that the squad is well-placed to repeat that feat against the Reds this weekend.
“I’m feeling really good and confident,” she said.
“It was such a good start from the team and I’m very happy about it.
“I definitely feel like a lot of us did some soul-searching over the off-season and even though we have a lot of the same players, I feel like they’re completely new with just their mindset and their competitiveness.
“So I’m super-excited for the rest of the season.
“I think we have the players to do it and it’s just about getting that connection, trusting in each other and I think we have that this year.
“I think they’re a lot of goals to be had.
“Everybody is hungry for a spot, everybody wants to play and that’s a really good quality to have in the team.”
The women in purple will be seeking a first win on South Australian soil in almost a decade and Badawiya feels that they are well capable of showing significant improvement in their performances on the road.
“It would be amazing if we could do that [win at Adelaide],” she said, “because last year I think we struggled a lot playing away.
“If we win this coming weekend, we would already be tied with what we did last year [winning two away games], so that would be really good for our confidence and bring all those positive vibes.
“They [Adelaide United] definitely have a completely new team and I think that’s really good for us.
“I’m really excited to play them.
“They were very strong at the back last season, so hopefully this season we can test their backline and see what we can come up with.”
The American import concluded by revealing what is driving her forward this season.
“As a forward, you want to score as many goals as you can,” she said.
“Of course I would love to be Golden Boot, I would love to have as many assists as a I can.
“But any role I can play within the team, I’m willing to do, whether that’s scoring, assisting, or helping somebody off the field, I’m willing to do it.”
In terms of early team news, meanwhile, Head Coach Stephen Peters confirmed that Teresa Morrissey could return to the selection frame this weekend as she closes in on making a full recovery from her elbow injury and although midfielders Izzy Dalton and Charli Wainwright are again set to miss out, both are progressing well and should be back in action shortly.
Olivia Wood has unfortunately been forced to drop out due to an ankle problem, paving the way for new recruit Chloe Murray to potentially come into the matchday squad.
As for Adelaide, they kicked off their 2026/27 campaign by coming from behind twice to secure a 2-2 away draw at Sydney FC on Sunday.
The off-season saw plenty of churn within the Reds’ squad with established figures such as Emily Condon, Ella Tonkin, Isabel Hodgson, Erin Healy and Dylan Holmes all departing the club.
Some of the notable players coming in, meanwhile, include Jamiaian international defender Tianna Harris, former Western Sydney attacker India Breier who scored in the draw with Sydney FC, American midfielder Bella Yakel and another US import, striker Tessa Salvestrin who won several trophies during a successful stint in Portugal with SCU Torreense.
Adelaide secured a fifth-place finish last year in what was Head Coach Theo Tsiounis’ first season at the helm, but were downed 3-0 by Brisbane Roar in the Elimination Final.
Saturday will mark the 32nd overall meeting between the two clubs, with Glory having claimed 16 wins to United’s 12.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2026/27 Season Round 2
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Service FM Stadium
Saturday 24 October 2026
Kick-off: 2pm WST
Adelaide United: 1.Ilona MELEGH, 2.Emily HODGSON, 3.Claudia CICCO, 4.Holly MURRAY, 5.India BREIER, 6.Melissa TARANTO, 7.Emilia MAKRIS, 8.Paige ZOIS, 9.Kiera MEYERS, 10.Chelsie DAWBER, 11.Tessa SALVESTRIN, 12.Carina ROSSI, 15.Adriana TARANTO, 16.Isabella YAKEL, 18.Amelie MILLAR, 21.Claudia JENKINS, 23.Tianna HARRIS, 25.Lara GOOCH, 27.Sian DEWEY, 29.Daisy DRAWWATER
(Two to be omitted)
In: N/A
Out: N/A
Unavailable: 14.Maeve Nicholas (International Duty)
Perth Glory: 1.Teresa MORRISSEY (GK), 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 3.Ella BUCHANAN, 5.Baxter THEW, 6.Emma TOVAR, 7.Megan WYNNE, 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Maggie JENKINS, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (C), 11.Ella ABDUL MASSIH, 12.Bronte TREW, 17.Rola BADAWIYA, 18.Theodora MOUITHYS, 19.Clancy WESTAWAY, 21.Alyssa DALL’OSTE (GK), 24.Julia SARDO, 25.Ella LINCOLN, 26.Chloe MURRAY, 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG, 30.Daisy MCGREADIE-COLE (GK)
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 26.Chloe MURRAY
Outs: 16.Olivia WOOD
Unavailable: 14.Charli WAINWRIGHT (injured), 16.Olivia WOOD (injured), 20.Sakura LEONG (international duty), 22.Hayley MUIR (international duty), 23.Isobel DALTON (injured)
#ONEGlory
ALW Match Preview: Badawiya hails new mindset as Glory seek back-to-back away wins
