WSL news

It's been impossible to escape the storm surrounding the release of Mary Earps' new book this past week, with the former England No.1 making headlines aplenty for her comments on Sarina Wiegman and Hannah Hampton in particular - and not in a good way. Earps has since said she "never intentionally" meant to "hurt" anyone, but it's hard to imagine that Hampton has not been negatively impacted by everything that has unfolded over the course of the last seven days.

Former England Lioness Jill Scott has waded into the controversy surrounding Mary Earp’s revelatory autobiography in which she makes a number of accusations about boss Sarina Wiegman and her handling of rival goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Earps revealed she felt Wiegman was "rewarding bad behaviour" by reinstating Hampton to the squad in 2023.

There was a lot to like about Arsenal's win over Leicester City on Sunday. Despite concluding last season by stunning Barcelona to win the Champions League, the Gunners have been nowhere near their best at the start of this new campaign, suffering four successive defeats in all competition for the first time since January 2022. Unconvincing but vital wins against Brighton and Benfica allowed them to fight back before the international break and their return to action at the weekend, in a 4-1 victory over the Foxes, was much-improved.

England's record cap holder, Fara Williams, has weighed in with her opinion on Mary Earps, after the former Lionesses No.1 made comments claiming successor Hannah Hampton was rewarded for "bad behaviour" when Sarina Wiegman restored her to the squad. The former midfielder accused Earps, who retired just before Euro 2025, of lacking respect towards her team-mate and manager.

Manchester United closed the gap on their title rivals as they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 to stay unbeaten in the Women’s Super League. Elisabeth Terland, Jess Park and Lisa Naalsund did the damage for the Red Devils as Marc Skinner’s in-form side kept pace with Chelsea and Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Beth Mead and Alessia Russo took centre stage on Sunday as Arsenal looked much more like themselves in a comfortable and convincing 4-1 win at Leicester. Despite being crowned European champions back in May, the Gunners have struggled at the start of this new season, unable to use that continental triumph as a springboard for a Women's Super League title challenge. This win, though, was a sign that the tide is turning, with it certainly the most impressive of the three on the bounce they have now registered.

Mary Earps says she never meant to “intentionally hurt” anyone as she hit back at Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor’s claims that she showed a lack of “respect” to Hannah Hampton following her comments about the goalkeeper. The former England shot-stopper took to social media to defend herself after she was also accused of disrespecting Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman.

Aoba Fujino starred with a goal in the first half as Manchester City beat relegation-threatened West Ham 1-0 in a Women's Super League clash on Saturday. The Cityzens would only manage to score once despite being the much superior side on the field, as they missed a series of chances throughout the game. Nevertheless, the win ensured the Manchester club remains within one point of leaders Chelsea at the top of the table.

Chelsea returned to action following the international break with a 2-0 win over London City Lionesses in the Women's Super League on Saturday. Australia internationals Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr netted for the Blues, who maintained their one-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table with a victory over their big-spending opponents that kept their long unbeaten league run under Sonia Bompastor going.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has lifted the lid on her dramatic last few months with the Lionesses and the explosive exchanges with boss Sarina Wiegman which led to her departure from the team just weeks before this summer's successful European Championship defence, following the decision to recall Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

After winning an unprecedented Champions League title back in May, expectations were high for this Arsenal side coming into the 2025-26 season. Could the Gunners use their European success as a springboard and really challenge for the Women's Super League title this time around? Could they finally end Chelsea's incredible dominance which has now seen them claim each of the last six league crowns, as well as 13 of the last 18 domestic honours?

Lionesses starlet Michelle Agyemang has suffered a torn ACL, it has been announced. It's a diagnosis which confirms the worst fears of the teenager after she was stretchered off with a knee injury during England's 3-0 win over Australia on Tuesday night and one that spells the end of her 2025-26 season, which she had started well on loan at Brighton again from Arsenal.

There was no shortage of stars on show as the Lionesses took to the pitch for Tuesday's clash with an Australia side boasting plenty of household names of their own. Be it the likes of Lucy Bronze, Ella Toone, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo in the home colours, or Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley representing the visitors, there was top-class talent all over the park. And yet, it was a relatively unknown 21-year-old by the name of Lucia Kendall who stole the show.

Michelle Agyemang worryingly left the pitch on a stretcher as England beat Australia 3-0 at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday night. The up and coming teenage forward has made a huge impact since bursting onto the international scene for the Lionesses earlier this year, going on to play a decisive role at Euro 2025, but could now be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Alessia Russo is one of 11 Lionesses on the list of nominees for this year's FIFPRO XI, which also includes seven players from the Spain side England beat in the European Championship final - albeit not Mariona Caldentey, who put La Roja ahead in that game and finished as runner-up to Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d'Or. That's not the only surprise, either, with Mary Earps included and there no representation for the United States women's national team.

England boss Sarina Wiegman has added yet another fresh face to her Lionesses squad ahead of Tuesday's clash with Australia after West Ham defender Anouk Denton accepted her first senior call-up. That's despite no player withdrawing from selection before the European champions' second fixture of this international break, with it instead a measure to protect Lucy Bronze and Niamh Charles in particular.

Hannah Hampton has been ruled out of England's clash with Brazil on Saturday, meaning Sarina Wiegman will hand out a debut to another goalkeeper in the Lionesses squad this weekend. Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse are both in contention for that opportunity, as is Sophie Baggaley, who has been called into camp in light of Hampton's injury.