Janae DeFazio, the new recruit of the Western Sydney Wanderers FC and the Filipinas teams enjoyed a warm welcome by the Fil-Aus supporters on the first game of the Ninja A League season on October 31, 2025. The heavy downpour and lightning delayed the start of the game, but the supporters stayed and were rewarded with meeting Janae during the half time break.
The supporters who have come from various areas in Sydney cheered excitedly when Janae joined them for photos and happy chatter. Amidst the excitement, Janae also obliged a short interview by yours truly which was aired on Radyo Bayanihan 2MCR 100.3FM hosted by Charles Chan.
Definitely there was a great feeling of pride among the supporters in meeting Janae who have successfully represented aspiring young girls in the sport of football, especially in the popular women’s Sydney Wanderers team as well as in the country’s national women’s football team.
Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1afPUhU2Ne/
About Janae DeFazio
Janae’s Filipino heritage comes from her mother Judith who hails from Pangasinan. She was born in Folsom, California. The 24-year old football star boasts of a sound collegiate career at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where her record includes 37 appearances and great contribution to the Bruins’ midfield and defensive lines from 2019 to 2023. She has superb technical ability, tactical awareness, and work ethic, which did not go unnoticed during her time at UCLA, paving her way to a professional football career.
Her past football professional involvement includes debut in the the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024. This was followed by a short stint with Portugal’s Racing Power in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino. And closer to Filipino hearts, she featured for Makati FC in the Philippines’ PFF Women’s League, where she showcased her talents in defense.
Of particular pride to her supporters, she has been a proud member of Filipinas, the Philippines women’s national football team since 2024. She was proudly part of the team that had a 3–0 victory over Jordan during the Pink Ladies Week tournament in Turkey, where she was applauded for an early assist in the match.
The Australian Filipina wishes Janae DeFazio more success in her football journey. We are all looking forward to watching her as part of Filipinas which will be competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 to be held during March 2026. Get your tickets here.