Rebekah Stott

Rebekah Ashley Stott (born 17 June 1993) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Australian A-League Women club Melbourne City and the New Zealand women's national team. She previously played for Australian W-League teams Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, and Melbourne City as well as German Bundesliga, team SC Sand, Sky Blue FC, and the Seattle Reign in the NWSL and Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Women's Super League.

Club career

After previously playing for Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in the W-League, Stott joined Melbourne City for their inaugural season in 2015. She has played three seasons with Melbourne City winning three straight Championships.

On 17 January 2017, Stott signed with the Seattle Reign in the National Women's Soccer League. She made 22 appearances for the Reign in 2017.

On 11 January 2018, she was traded along with teammate Katie Johnson to Sky Blue FC. Due to injury Stott only made 9 appearances for Sky Blue.

After the 2018 NWSL season concluded, Stott signed with Avaldsnes IL in the Toppserien.

On 20 November 2019, Stott signed with Melbourne City.

On 2 September 2020, Stott signed a one-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion who play in the FA Women's Super League however she returned to Australia in February 2021 for medical treatment, cutting her stint short. After four months of treatment, Stott got back on the field, playing a few minutes for Bulleen Lions in the Australian National Premier Leagues.

In August 2021, Stott returned to the W-League, re-joining Melbourne City.

In July 2022, Stott rejoined Brighton on a two year contract.

On 11 August 2023, Stott rejoined Melbourne City on a two year contract.

International career

Having represented Australia at the U-17 and U-20 age group level, Stott chose to represent the country of her birth at senior level, making her senior début for New Zealand as a substitute in a 3–1 win over China on 17 June 2012, her 19th birthday.

In July 2012, Stott was named to the New Zealand squad for the London Olympics but did not play in any of the tournament games. Stott did play in all of New Zealand's games of the 2013 Valais Cup competition including a historic 1–0 win over Brazil and the 4–0 victory over People's Republic of China in the final.

She featured in all of New Zealand's three matches at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

Stott was named to New Zealand's team for the 2016 Summer Olympics, she played every minute of their three games.

Stott was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

On 4 July 2024, Stott was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

On 4 March 2021, Stott revealed on Twitter that she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma while she was in quarantine after returning to New Zealand. The illness cut her time at Brighton & Hove Albion short, and she ended up losing all her hair. She documented her journey on a second Instagram account and stated that she hoped to recover in time for when her country of New Zealand cohosts the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. On 23 July 2021, Stott announced on her personal website that her cancer was now in remission, and on 30 June 2023, she was named in New Zealand’s squad for the tournament.