The 2018 Kate Sheppard Cup is New Zealand's women's 25th annual knockout football competition. This is the first year that the competition is known by the Kate Sheppard Cup, or New Zealand Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup for sponsorship purposes, after previously been known as the Women's Knockout Cup since its establishment.
The 2018 competition has three rounds before quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Competition will run in three regions (northern, central, southern) until the quarter-finals, from which stage the draw will be open. In all, 35 teams entered the competition.
The 2018 final was the first time a team from Football South played in the final with Dunedin Technical representing the region against Forrest Hill Milford from Auckland. The final was played at QBE Stadium before the men's Chatham Cup final. This was Forrest Hill Milford United's third final appearance, having won it once in 2016 and lost it previously in their first final appearance in 2014. Dunedin Technical went on to win the game 4âÂÂ2 meaning it was also the first time the trophy headed to the bottom of the South Island. Shontelle Smith from Tech was the winner of the Maia Jackman trophy for the most valuable player.
All matches were played on the weekend of 12âÂÂ13 May 2018.
All matches were played on Queen's Birthday weekend 2âÂÂ4 June 2018.
All matches were played on the weekend 23âÂÂ24 June 2018.
All matches were originally organised to be played on the weekend 14âÂÂ15 July 2018 however two matches were postponed due to weather conditions, the match between Hamilton Wanderers and Forrest Hill Milford was played on the 22 July 2018 and Eastern Suburbs v Glenfield Rovers was played on 26 July 2018.
Matches were played on the weekend 25âÂÂ26 August 2018. The draw was originally done before the results of the Eastern Suburbs v Glenfield Rovers and Hamilton Wanderers v Forrest Hill Milford postponed matches where known.
The final was played on the 9 September 2018.