Western Sydney Wanderers forward Elexa Bahr is embracing life in the Red & Black, with the experienced attacker eager to make her mark both on and off the pitch as the Wanderers prepare to face Brisbane Roar at CommBank Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Having joined the Wanderers ahead of the 2026/27 Ninja A-League season, Bahr has quickly settled into her new surroundings, bringing international experience, attacking ambition and a desire to help shape the next chapter of the club’s women’s program.
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Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s home double header, Bahr reflected on her early experiences in Western Sydney and the welcoming environment she has found within the squad.
“I am actually really happy to be here. The girls are great. The team is great. The club’s great. Everything’s good,” said Bahr.
“The only thing that’s been bad is probably the time change. But it’s been good. I really like it so far this season.
“Pre-season has been good. Season’s been good so far, so I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
While finding the back of the net remains a clear ambition for the forward, Bahr’s focus extends well beyond her individual performances.
With a refreshed squad featuring a mixture of experienced internationals and emerging young talent, the attacker is determined to become a positive influence within the group, offering guidance, encouragement and leadership as the season progresses.
“That’s my goal, to score lots of goals,” said Bahr.
“But I just want to be a helping hand, another captain on the field or just someone that the girls can lean towards and relate to.
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“I just want to help at whatever role that I can throughout this season.”
The Wanderers opened their Ninja A-League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory at Wanderers Football Park last weekend, with Geoff Abrahams’ side showing encouraging signs despite being unable to find the breakthrough.
With several new faces arriving during the off-season and a condensed preparation period, Bahr believes the team’s development will be an ongoing process as combinations strengthen and the squad establishes its identity.
The forward acknowledged the challenges of bringing together a new-look group, particularly with international commitments limiting the time available for players to work together before the opening round.
“We had a short pre-season and we had a lot of girls that were travelling overseas. We just had Carleigh that came in from her national team,” said Bahr.
“So yes, gelling and finding combination plays is going to be tricky, but I thought we handled it very well.
“I think maybe in the next four games we’ll actually find our true identity. And I think in the middle of the pack of the season, and the way we finish is going to be great just for the younger girls coming up.”
For Bahr, that belief in the squad’s potential is matched by a determination to contribute to its growth, with the forward recognising the importance of building strong foundations early in the campaign.
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Saturday presents another opportunity for the Wanderers to take a step forward when they welcome Brisbane Roar to CommBank Stadium for their second fixture of the season.
The clash will also mark the Women’s first appearance at Wanderland this campaign, with the Red & Black set to take centre stage in front of the club’s home supporters as part of a blockbuster double header.
The Wanderers Women kick off proceedings against Brisbane Roar at 2:15pm before Ufuk Talay’s Men’s side faces Auckland FC at 5:00pm.
With a new chapter underway, a squad continuing to grow together and a home crowd ready to get behind them, Bahr and the Wanderers will be looking to make Saturday another important step in their journey.
