after a five year absence from the premier women's football competition in south australia, 2016 saw stella rigon return to the wnpl with fulham united fc with max primaro at the helm. season 2016 saw fulham united fc achieve results that saw it return to the wnpl top 4 with an appearance in the inaugural wnpl finals series. fulham united fc advanced into the wnpl final's with a first week win over adelaide university thereby setting up a semi-final match against rivals adelaide city football club. the semi-final saw fulham united fc take on adelaide city (after defeating adelaide city to take out the wnpl premier reserves cup for 2016). the game was locked away at 1-1 after normal and extra time with only a penalty shootout splitting the two. adelaide city defeated fulham united fc 5-4 to advance to the grand final against metro united wfc the following week.