Women's football

There was no shortage of big names on show when Manchester City hosted Arsenal in a bumper Women’s Super League clash in early October. A quick look through the teams and most would’ve been drawn to the likes of Chloe Kelly, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo, Vivianne Miedema and Mariona Caldentey, especially if they were picking out a potential match-winner. In the end, though, it was a rising teenage star who took up that role, one by the name of Iman Beney.

Who's hot, who's not? GOAL ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

Chelsea have ended speculation surrounding Sjoeke Nusken’s future by confirming the Germany international has signed a new contract until 2027. The 24-year-old midfielder, who impressed in her debut season with 12 goals in all competitions, has committed her future to the Blues despite previous hints that she could look to explore options elsewhere.

Plenty of American stars have played in Europe's premier competition but those who have won it make up quite an exclusive club

Just over four months after Arsenal stunned Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final to win their second European crown, the most prestigious club competition in the women's game is back this week, with the Gunners partaking in perhaps the most eye-catching fixture of matchday one as they prepare for a clash with eight-time winners Lyon, in a rematch of last season's semi-final.

With Arsenal the only English side to have been crowned champions of Europe in the women's game, the country's list of UWCL winners is quite exclusive

Chloe Kelly was trying her best to get the last laugh against Manchester City, as she cheekily replied to the taunts of a fan account with a photo of her celebrating Arsenal's Champions League victory last summer. Kelly had come off the bench to level the scores against her previous employers on Saturday, but her dreams were dashed by Iman Beney's late winner, giving City a 3-2 win.

Arsenal are only four games into their Women's Super League season and yet, their chances of seriously competing for the title are already under the microscope. That's because the Gunners, who won the Champions League back in May, have now dropped points in back-to-back weekends, with Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa ringing alarm bells.

Since reforming its women's team seven years ago, Manchester United have been working towards having weeks like this. On Friday night, they face champions Chelsea in a huge clash at the top of the Women's Super League. Then, five days later, they host Valerenga in their first-ever game in the Women's Champions League proper. So much work has been done to get the Red Devils to this point, where they are in Europe's premier competition and battling for the top domestic honours, and yet, it just doesn't feel like they are ready for the challenge ahead.

“Written in the stars, wasn’t it?” Mary Earps is referring to this season’s Champions League draw, which has pitted her Paris Saint-Germain side against former club Manchester United. Unsurprisingly, Earps’ phone pinged “straight away”, with Ella Toone the predictable name to pop up. “There’s a lot of familiar faces that I’m looking forward to seeing,” she says, with the two to meet at Old Trafford next month.

Who's hot, who's not? GOAL ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

Carla Ward has spoken bluntly about Manchester United and the club's commitment to its women's team this season. The Red Devils have started well but the former Birmingham City and Aston Villa boss took issue with Marc Skinner only naming four outfield players on the bench for Sunday's WSL win over Liverpool amid growing concerns from fans about squad depth.

Matt Beard passed away earlier this month, with news of his death rocking the football world and prompting outpourings of emotional tributes. Beard was known to have taken his own life following a devastating social media post from his son urging that suicide is "never the answer". The cause of death has now been confirmed at a coroner's court hearing in north Wales.

Manchester City have been dealt a blow with Andree Jeglertz confirming Lauren Hemp will be sidelined with the ankle injury she suffered last time out against Tottenham. The Lionesses winger, who has already endured long injury lay-offs in recent seasons, was seen emotional and in a protective boot after the Spurs game, but the damage is not as bad as first feared.

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor revealed an outrageous question she has been forced to answer that other clubs would "never ask" a man. Despite steering the Blues to a historic domestic treble last season, the Frenchwoman says people still question whether she can balance being a mother of four with leading one of the biggest clubs in women's football.

Last time Manchester City fans saw Grace Clinton in action, she was wearing the red of their biggest rivals and kickstarting a Manchester United comeback that allowed the Red Devils to secure Champions League football at their expense. They'll have had much more favourable feelings towards the England international last Friday, then, as she re-introduced herself to those who suffered in the away end at Old Trafford back in May by netting a goal for the other side of the city, one which put them 4-0 up at Tottenham.

The stadium used by Manchester United Women and the club's Under-21 men is officially being renamed from Leigh Sports Villag. The immediate change was approved by Wigan Council this week and reflects a renewed emphasis on community spirit and shared values. The rebrand comes just days after United Women set a new attendance record at the venue.

Lauren Hemp has spoken about a surprising and amusing routine she does before games, fake tanning in the buildup to be freshly bronzed out on the pitch. Speaking to ex-England internationals Karen Carney and Jill Scott, the Lionesses winger joked that she can't always be bothered do it properly and the Manchester City star laughed it off as 'a ritual of mine'.

Tottenham have condemned the "disgraceful" and “cowardly” racist abuse sent to forward Jessica Naz in the wake of the club’s Women’s League Cup victory over Aston Villa. The 24-year-old was subjected to vile taunts online after figuring in a fixture that saw Spurs prevail on penalties. She has spoken out against the social media trolls, with Tottenham offering their full support.

Everton might not have had any players in the Lionesses’ squad as they lifted the European Championship title this past summer but the Toffees’ influence on England’s success was certainly significant. Chloe Kelly, who made her breakthrough on Merseyside, was the most prominent example, after reprising her role as a national hero on more than one occasion. However, it is the more recent cases of Aggie Beever-Jones and Jess Park that have helped Everton carve out a glowing, and growing, reputation as the place to be right now if you are an aspiring Lioness.

Liverpool Women's manager Gareth Taylor paid a moving tribute to former boss Matt Beard after he passed away at just 47. Taylor admitted the shock has left a "big void" across the Reds' Melwood base and beyond. On Monday, the squad gathered in silence at training, holding a minute of reflection in his honour.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has asked a “what are you doing with this girl” question of the Gunners after seeing USWNT star Jenna Nighswonger exiled from Renee Slegers’ plans. The United States international moved to north London in January but has seen limited game time across her spell in England, with the 24-year-old defender failing to make WSL matchday squads.

The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Women's Golden Ball has been announced: Aitana Bonmati. The Barcelona star was exceptional for her club this past year, her world-class consistency standing out as the Catalans won a domestic treble, while her performances for Spain were enough to make her the Euro 2025 Player of the Tournament.

Aitana Bonmati claimed her third successive Ballon d'Or on Monday, beating out competition from Spain team-mate Mariona Caldentey and Lionesses star Alessia Russo. The Arsenal duo got the better of Bonmati's Barcelona in this year's Champions League final but it was she who was called to the stage again in Paris, joining Lionel Messi and Michel Platini as the only other players to win the Golden Ball three years in a row.

Lionesses star Hannah Hampton was crowned the world's best goalkeeper on Monday as she won the first-ever Women's Yashin Trophy following her incredible exploits during England's Euro 2025 triumph. That wasn't the only reason for her success, either, with the shot-stopper also starring for Chelsea throughout a 2024-25 campaign which saw the Blues win the Women's Super League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Barcelona and Spain teenager Vicky Lopez has been named the best young women’s player in the world and has picked up the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards in Paris. The 19-year-old played a key role in Barcelona’s stunning season, winning Liga F and Copa de la Reina titles, and also helped Spain make it to the finals of Euro 2025 in the summer.

Manchester United vs Arsenal has become one of the biggest fixtures in the WSL calendar since it was first played in 2019. The most recent meeting between the sides on Sunday afternoon was watched by a crowd in excess of 8,000 for the third year in a row at Leigh Sports Village.

Fara Williams spoke about Matt Beard from the heart during BBC Sport's WSL coverage of Manchester United vs Arsenal, after his sudden passing at the age of 47 rocked the women's football world. The Lionessses legend turned pundit knew the former Liverpool manager better than most after playing a central role in his greatest career triumphs.

In the last few years, it's seemed relatively easy to predict the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin. In 2025, though, it feels incredibly tricky, especially after England's win over Spain in the European Championship final.