US star on how A-League Women can 'compete with major leagues'
Melbourne City defender Taylor Otto, who has played in high-pressure rivalries in the US and Scotland, is focused on overcoming Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women semifinal. She believes the A-League Women has the potential to compete with top global leagues but requires greater investment to retain elite talent. Despite consistent finals appearances, Otto has yet to reach a grand final in her three seasons with the club.
- ▪Taylor Otto has played for Melbourne City since the 2023/2024 season and helped the team win three consecutive premiership titles.
- ▪She has experience in intense rivalries from college soccer in the US and professional play in Scotland with Celtic.
- ▪Otto believes increased investment could make the A-League Women a top-tier global competition.
- ▪The semifinal against Melbourne Victory will be played over two legs at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, with aggregate scoring determining advancement.
- ▪Despite never missing a finals series in Australia, Otto has not yet played in an A-League Women grand final.
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Melbourne City to face 'team we never want to lose to' in A-League Women semifinalTopic:A-League Women6h ago6 hours agoThu 30 Apr 2026 at 3:57amTaylor Otto joined Melbourne City ahead of the 2023/2024 season. (Getty: James Worsfold)abc.net.au/news/melbourne-city-to-reignite-rivalry-with-victory-2026-semifinal/106620994Link copiedShareShare articleTaylor Otto knows a thing or two about rivalries.The Melbourne City defender grew up in the Midwest of America and played college soccer for North Carolina, which has a renowned rivalry with Duke University.Then, after a stint in the National Women's Soccer League, she found her way to Scottish heavyweights Celtic, whose intense rivalry with Rangers is one of the best known in the world.It's an antagonism that extends well beyond the pitch.For…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).