8 h. ago Sandberg’s superb strike denies Chelsea as Manchester United hold WSL leaders

Chelsea and Manchester United both maintained their unbeaten starts to the Women’s Super League season, although the defending champions’ 100% winning record was brought to an end by an entertaining contest between the top two.The result extended United’s agonisingly long wait for a first WSL victory over Chelsea but they will have taken great encouragement from their performance, on a night when both teams created plenty of chances to win and the home side showed they may well have the qualities to mount a serious title challenge. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Emma Hayes: ‘I don’t think coaches are always thought about as human beings’

The USA women’s manager on the death of her predecessor at Chelsea, Matt Beard, and how managers need more support to navigate the modern gameEagerly with hands raised in the air, the children from Abbott Community primary school all want to quiz the United States head coach. The plan was for Emma Hayes to just take a few questions from the youngsters at the National Football Museum, but she wants to answer them all. Even her son, Harry, watching on, raises his hand. The tone is light, fun and educational as Hayes celebrates being inducted into the Hall of Fame.The former Chelsea manager, who is being honoured by the National Football Museum for her coaching achievements so far, not least her seven Women’s Super Leagues titles and Olympic gold medal, is quick to point to how glad she is that the “women’s game is in a better place in this country” compared to when she took on the Chelsea job in 2012. Alongside her smiles, though, there is a deep sadness at present. When later sitting...

Politics

4 d. ago London Broncos denied as Featherstone Rovers return to Women’s Super League

London Broncos denied as Featherstone Rovers return to Women’s Super League  South West Londoner

Politics

5 d. ago Ella Toone leads Manchester United to WSL derby win over lowly Liverpool

Liverpool’s wait for their first points of the Women’s Super League season continued as a well-oiled Manchester United side enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable derby victory in St Helens. United had lost three of their past four WSL meetings with Liverpool, but on Sunday there appeared to be a significant gulf in quality between the two sides as the visitors extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign.Liverpool’s German goalkeeper, Rafaela Borggräfe, made her first WSL appearance and started her second consecutive game in all competitions, despite currently being under investigation by the Football Association for an alleged racist comment that was overheard by teammates and staff during pre-season. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Ella Toone leads Manchester United to WSL win over lowly Liverpool

Gareth Taylor was frustrated by his Liverpool side’s lack of energy in the first half, as the wait for their first points of the Women’s Super League season continued with a home defeat against Manchester United.United, who fully merited their ­victory, had lost three of their ­previous four WSL meetings with ­Liverpool, but On Sunday there appeared to be a significant gulf in quality between the sides as the ­visitors extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign thanks to Hinata Miyazawa’s and Ella Toone’s goals. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago WSL clockwatch: Liverpool v Man Utd, Man City v London City Lionesses and more – live

⚽ Women’s Super League: four 12pm BST fixtures⚽ Email Dom | Get our women’s football newsletterOur matches today:Aston Villa v Fulham Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago What makes a good women’s football stadium? Everton point the way

Stadiums have traditionally catered for men but the growth of the women’s game is rapidly changing the landscape“It was a pitch in the middle of a park, basically,” Peter McFarlane, secretary of the Everton Women Official Supporters’ Club, says in describing Walton Hall Park, the 500-seat stadium that eventually held a further 1500 spectators before the team moved to Goodison Park.Walton Hall Park was the smallest stadium in the Women’s Super League, charming and nostalgic with its railed-off standing space, somewhat isolated outside of the city, and otherwise simply lacking food options and a bar. “It’s worlds apart compared to what Goodison offers us,” McFarlane says. “I mean, it helps we have a roof for the fans.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago WSL talking points: Beard remembered as ‘incredible human’ on sombre weekend

While tributes poured in for the former Liverpool manager, Katie Reid, Aggie Beever-Jones and Rosa Kafaji all produced moments of excellenceKatie Reid impressed again as she helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet against a Manchester United side that had scored nine times in their opening two league games. The 18-year-old centre-back has stepped up to the starting XI in the absence of the injured Leah Williamson. “She’s really good,” said the Arsenal manager, Renée Slegers. “She has a growth mindset, so she always wants to learn and wants to get better. But doing those things in your safe environment [at] training where everything is isolated, that’s something; coming out into the Women’s Super League and doing that on such a high level against top opposition, top players, I’m just so impressed with her. We knew that she could do this and this is the type of player she is.” TG Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Matt Beard tributes: Man Utd boss Marc Skinner remembers ‘beautiful human’

Beard, who won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014, died on Saturday, aged 47.

Politics

1 week ago Olivia Smith denied as Arsenal secure WSL draw at Manchester United

Manchester United and Arsenal played out a goalless draw in front of the hosts’ largest-ever Leigh Sports Village crowd, as both teams continued their unbeaten start to the Women’s Super League campaign.On a sombre weekend for the sport after the news of the death of the former Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham United manager Matt Beard, at the age of 47, late on Saturday evening, there was a moment’s silence held before kick-off. Manchester United and Arsenal’s supporters then spontaneously applauded on 47 minutes, with the travelling Arsenal fans displaying the words “We love you Beardy” on handheld signs. Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago Skinner and Slegers pay tribute to Beard after Manchester United hold Arsenal

Managers Marc Skinner and Renée Slegers paid tribute to the warmth and “larger-than-life character” of Matt Beard after their teams Manchester United and Arsenal played out a goalless draw on a sombre afternoon for the Women’s Super League.Less than 24 hours after the news of the death of the former Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham United manager Beard, at the age of 47, late on Saturday evening, there was a moment’s silence held before kick-off. Manchester United and Arsenal’s supporters then spontaneously applauded on 47 minutes, with the travelling Arsenal fans displaying the words “We love you Beardy” on handheld signs, and after the game, both managers’ thoughts were clearly primarily with Beard’s loved ones. Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago Liverpool suspend women's match after tragic death of former manager Matt Beard at age of 47

Beard delivered back-to-back Women's Super League titles with the Reds in 2013 and 2014, with the club saying they are 'shocked and saddened' to learn of his passing.

Events

1 week ago Liverpool’s WSL match at Aston Villa postponed after Matt Beard’s death

Club announced death of manager on SaturdayBeard left Reds in February and won two WSL titlesLiverpool have postponed their Women’s Super League fixture against Aston Villa following the death of their former manager Matt Beard on Saturday. Beard, who had two spells in charge of Liverpool, left the club in February.Beard won back-to-back WSL titles with the Reds in 2013 and 2014 during his first spell and rejoined the club in 2021 following stints with Boston Breakers in the US, West Ham and Bristol City. He guided Liverpool to promotion back to the WSL in his first season back at the helm and remained in charge until February. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Women's Super League: Grace Clinton scores on Man City debut, London City Lionesses get first win

Women's Super League: Grace Clinton scores on Man City debut, London City Lionesses get first win  BBC

Sport

2 w. ago Everton vs London City Lionesses LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates

Everton vs London City Lionesses LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates  The Independent

Politics

2 w. ago FA investigates claim that Liverpool keeper Rafaela Borggräfe made racist comment

Liverpool say investigation has their full supportGoalkeeper understood to have denied allegationsThe Football Association has launched a racism investigation after the Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe allegedly made reference to skin colour in a comment overheard by some staff and teammates.The alleged incident is understood to have been heard while Liverpool were preparing to take a squad photograph, and the club are believed to have promptly looked into the matter internally. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Alessia Russo double seals victory for rampant Arsenal away to West Ham

Arsenal came from behind for the second time in two games to move top of the Women’s Super League. This time it was an own goal from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar that put them in trouble, before strikes by Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and two from Alessia Russo ensured the European champions maintained a 100% start to the season.It is early in the new campaign but in a 12-team league every point matters and for a side desperate to stop Chelsea from winning a seventh consecutive title, dropping points so soon into the campaign would be bruising. This is a new Arsenal though, one fuelled by a fire lit by their phenomenal defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League final in May. They know they can beat the best, now they have to prove they can beat the best, the worst and those in between consistently. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Grace Geyoro and Alyssa Thompson ready to take up Olivia Smith’s challenge in WSL’s £1m club

Women’s Super League’s new £1m players at London City Lionesses and Chelsea have a tough act to follow after Smith’s stunning Arsenal openerThe women’s game’s first £1m signing, Olivia Smith, wasted no time at all in demonstrating her worth as she scored a goal-of-the-season contender on her debut for Arsenal. As the Women’s Super League’s approaches its second weekend, the gauntlet has already been thrown down for the second and third players to command a seven-figure transfer fee to respond.Chelsea’s new signing, Alyssa Thompson, and the newest arrival at London City Lionesses, Grace Geyoro, are in line for their debuts on Sunday. Chelsea travel to Aston Villa and London City host Manchester United at midday. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Trouble in paradise: How Barcelona’s crisis left women’s team short of players

La Liga’s salary limit applies to the whole club and with six players leaving this summer, is the club’s golden era over?How times have changed. For the past few years Barcelona have been the team everyone wanted to join: five consecutive Champions League finals, stylish football, leaders in women’s football, a stunning city and Ballon d’Or winners for teammates. However, 10 years after becoming professional, the three-time European champions are a club in trouble.Restricted by La Liga’s financial fair play rules, the women’s team have had a calamitous summer transfer window. There have been six departures – all to the Women’s Super League – while the midfielder Alba Caño is leaving for the NWSL in January. They made only one signing, Laia Aleixandri on a free transfer from Manchester City. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action

Replacements help Gunners down newcomers, Vignola strikes three and Koga is backed to be ‘one of the best’Sonia Bompastor, the Chelsea manager, expressed her frustration at what she perceived to be a deliberate tactical timeout orchestrated by Manchester City during the first half of Friday’s season-opener. While the City goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was down receiving treatment, head coach Andrée Jeglertz used his tactics board to show instructions to his players. Bompastor could be seen remonstrating with the officials at the time and, after the game, she said: “For me, that’s not fair. It’s not in the rules. I mentioned that last season as well, with all the goalkeepers going down just for the coach to have a tactical stoppage to talk to the players. I’m not saying I will never use that, because I know that it can be part of a strategy, but tonight it was too much. It was a long break, it was obvious for everyone, they had the board and everything.” Tom GarryMatch report: Chelsea 2...

Politics