Women's Super League

The Women's Super League was back after a four-week break at the weekend - and storylines continued.

Watch all the highlights below, starting with leaders Manchester City, who missed the chance to extend their advantage at the top to 11 points with a goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Champions League quarter-finalists Arsenal have been racking up games in hand on those above them.

In their first opportunity to close the gap on Chelsea and Manchester United, they took advantage, beating London City Lionesses 2-0 on the road.

At the other end of the table, Liverpool claimed a vital three points to pull four clear of bottom-placed Leicester.

There was joy for the blue half of Merseyside too, as Everton went to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and won 2-1 thanks to a late strike from Kelly Gago.

That is four straight wins for the Blues.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Martin Ho says they have "pushed boundaries" this season as they remain on course to set a club record points tally.

Spurs currently sit fifth in the Women’s Super League table, four points off defending champions Chelsea in third.

Ho took over from Robert Vilahamn in the summer and has had an impressive debut campaign as manager.

Tottenham need just one more win in the WSL to match their best ever league campaign (32 points in 2021-22).

"This year it is about building foundations. Going into the third year, it’s the growth of the team, sustaining it and becoming part of that top three," said Ho.

"We’ve done well. We've pushed boundaries that maybe we didn't think we could. We have to make the players believe.

"There's other parts of our objectives that we're looking at in terms of goals scored, clean sheets kept, and so on.

"I'm proud of the players and staff. They've done exceptionally well."

Image source, Getty

The World Cup qualifier match between the Lionesses and Spain on 5 June 2026 will be played at the Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca.

With a capacity of around 26,000 spectators and a four-star UEFA rating, Son Moix meets the requirements for a high-level match.

The match will come at a crucial moment for both teams, who will be vying for first place in the World Cup qualifiers, which grants a direct ticket to the competition.

Image source, Getty

When asked about the upcoming Women's League Cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea being played at the same time as the men's Manchester United match against Aston Villa, Skinner said:

"It's frustrating but I think it's the circumstance. I know that everybody involved would want to be able to watch both games so from our perspective it's tough.

"Everybody, both Premier League and WSL, tried to look at the move and hit roadblocks everywhere.

"Unfortunately, it's one of those sad situations but I know that we'll be fully supported from the club and they'll support in any way they can."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Martin Ho is pleased with the progression he has overseen at Spurs this season but insists there remains plenty of room for improvement.

Ho was awarded manager of the month for February after three wins and a defeat in all competitions and has led Spurs to fifth in the Women's Super League with six games to go, after finishing second bottom in 2024-25.

With games coming up against Manchester City and Arsenal in the WSL and Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals, he is looking forward to testing his side against the league's best.

"We're happy with where we are at but we are not going to get too comfortable," he told BBC Radio London.

"This year is about building foundations to put a really successful team on top of and we have started to do that. There is still a bit of work to do to be ready for next season but we are moving in the right direction."

Before those matches against the WSL's big hitters, Tottenham return to action at home to Everton on Sunday. Ho disagrees this will be a defining period of the season, preferring to relish what the challenge might reveal.

"They won't define us as a team but will tell us where we're at," he said. "They will provide references for us moving forward.

"We should rise to these occasions and embrace them. The team have done that in games against those teams before and I am excited about these coming up."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood says the difficulties she experienced this time last year were all made worth it after receiving her MBE on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old was presented with her medal at Windsor Castle for services to association football after a year that included winning the Euros with England but had begun with serious injury concerns.

She told the Manchester City website, external there were times where she thought about giving up on playing in the summer tournament.

"This time last year I was just full of doubt and anxiety'," Greenwood explained.

"I had no idea what the rest of the year was going to look like, I didn't think I was going to make the Euros. I had to have two surgeries and I was in so much pain. There were so many times I thought 'do I just give up now' and allow my body to heal properly.

"Fast forward 12 months and I was receiving an MBE, I won back-to-back Euros, signed a new contract [with City] and we're doing really well in the league.

"It puts a lot into perspective sometimes when how you feel in the moment it's how it's going to be."

She is the fourth player after Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and Lauren Hemp to receive an MBE while playing for City and she spoke of her pride at the honour and her gratitude to all those who have helped along the way.

"I've actually been really proud of it and the journey I've come from," she said. "It's really special – it's an award for me but it's means so much to so many people along the way. It is really nice."

After a four-week break, City return to WSL action this weekend at Aston Villa and could stretch their lead at the top to 11 points with second-placed Manchester United playing in the League Cup final.

Greenwood's fitness for the game is uncertain as she withdrew from England duty last week with a minor muscle injury.

Our special Manchester United episode of Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

We catch up with boss Marc Skinner, striker Lea Schuller and goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce before Sunday's League Cup final against Chelsea.

Listen over here

Robin Grey
BBC Radio Sussex journalist

Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Dario Vidosic says his father will be missed as a "coach and a human" after his death at the age of 64.

Rado joined the Seagulls club in January 2025, six months after his son Dario, and became head of women's and girls' coaching, helping Albion to their best finish of fifth in the Women's Super League.

He passed away in January 2026, with Dario taking a period of compassionate leave in Australia before returning to take charge of the side against West Ham in the FA Cup last month.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex before the final seven games of the season, Dario said he has found "harder and easier" times in trying to cope with his grief.

"I was travelling to watch the men face Nottingham Forest and there was a moment where I was like, I could be here with Dad," he said.

"We were here together and living together, but it's about keeping him in memory and remembering the good times."

The father and son duo first joined up at Melbourne City in Australia, where Dario was working with the under-16 boys' side and Rado in charge of the senior women's team.

"I asked him if I could become his assistant, just to learn from him and try to take those learnings with me," Dario explained.

"It was always the goal to follow in Dad's footsteps - when he was a player and then when he was a coach, I wanted to copy him too."

When Rado took over the senior men's side, Dario stepped into his father's role with the women's team and led them to the A-League title in his first season in charge.

It was that success that prompted Brighton to seek his services and Dario credits his dad's influence in setting up his career.

"He left a large legacy - and it was the person he was," he added.

"Without him, I wouldn't be where I am and he's helped me out tremendously."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson says she has gone from her "biggest low" to her "highest high" after making her debut for England in the 6-1 win over Ukraine last week.

The 25-year-old missed the first half of the season through injury after joining London City last summer but did enough on her return to catch Sarina Wiegman's eye.

After breaking through at Sunderland in the mid-2010s, Pattinson said she "never gave up" on international recognition.

"Mine is a perfect example of never knowing when it can come, as long as you don't give up but instead give everything," she said. "I have had seven consistent years in the league but went to my biggest low with my injury.

"Then to go straight back up to my highest high - that's football and you can't describe it."

Brought on at half-time for the World Cup qualifier, she has staked a claim to fill the left-back spot for England.

"I had the best 12 days away with the team," she said. "You can see it's a really special group.

"The goal is to make that [position] my own, but obviously the quality of players that are competing is very high. I think we can keep pushing each other to make it even better."

Meanwhile, at club level, London City are preparing to host Champions League holders Arsenal on Sunday in front of the first sellout crowd in their short history.

And Pattinson says the group are not lacking confidence.

"We're going to go for it - the girls are super excited," she added. "We've run some of the big teams close this year so it is about time we got a result!"

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's talented forward Signe Gaupset is enjoying life in the Women's Super League since making the switch from Norwegian side Brann in January.

However, she is clear on what motivates her to perform - and what will turn her off if it goes away.

"If I stop having fun, I'll stop playing!" she told BBC Radio London.

The 20-year-old was coveted by a number of Europe's top clubs before opting to move to Spurs and has already caught the eye during her first few weeks in north London.

She is determined to finish the season strongly to help Tottenham stay in the hunt for a Champions League sport.

"It was important for me to go somewhere where I could continue to develop and play a lot of minutes," she said. "Since coming here, I know Tottenham was the right choice.

"I want to continue to help the team win and be a creative player."

Spurs return to WSL action this weekend, hosting Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"I am really excited to go there again, hopefully in front of a lot of fans," Gaupset said.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce believes her side are closer than ever to Chelsea as they prepare to meet in the Women's League Cup final.

Holders Chelsea are playing in their seventh successive final on Sunday, while United are in their first, despite reaching the last three FA Cup showpieces.

United lost to Chelsea in two of their three FA Cup finals but beat Tottenham to win their first major trophy in 2024.

But despite Chelsea's superior record against United, Marc Skinner's side currently sit one place and one point above them in the Women's Super League table.

Tullis-Joyce hopes their form this season will show on Sunday when the two sides meet again (14:15 GMT), chasing this season's first piece of silverware.

"In previous games we've held them to 0-0 draws or lost by just 1-0. I think now, with the pieces of the puzzle coming together, we're really building something that [can put us in] title contention," said Tullis-Joyce.

"I can't stress how excited I am for this programme, the players that we've already brought in and how much we can work and understand ourselves even more.

"There's so much room to grow and I think we have so much potential as a squad that we're slowly and surely realising."

Image source, Getty

For the first time in the club's history, London City Lionesses have sold out the CopperJax Community Stadium.

Over 5,000 tickets for this Sunday's Barclays Women's Super League clash in Bromley against Arsenal have been sold.

This number means London City will see a record-breaking number of supporters in attendance for a London City game at the CopperJax Community Stadium.

London City forward Nikita Parris said: "It's a massive achievement for the club to sell out at Bromley for the first time in its history.

"The fans are so important to us as players and really help galvanise us as a team.

"They're our twelfth player and we really need that energy for the Arsenal game and going forward."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United striker Lea Schuller says the "time was right" to push herself out of her comfort zone and leave Germany after 13 years in January.

The German international joined United from Bayern Munich on a deal until June 2029 and is preparing to play in her first Women's League Cup final on Sunday.

The 28-year-old spent five years at Bayern, making over 100 appearances and helping them win four league titles.

But despite her experience, Schuller admits it was "tough" to leave her home country and start a new challenge in the Women's Super League.

"I was [playing for] more than 13 years in Germany. I played already for the best club in Germany, so I think it was time for me to have a change," she told BBC Sport.

"What can be better than the best football league? It was the right step to do it now. I'm a little bit proud to go from Munich to Manchester - that is really like the biggest clubs.

"You get into your comfort zone so I think to move is stressful too. Now I'm in this country, they don't speak my language, and all of this. It's a very big step."

United take on Chelsea in Sunday's final (14:15 GMT) hoping to lift their first piece of silverware this season.

Defending champions Chelsea are in their seventh successive League Cup final, while they have beaten United in two of the last three Women's FA Cup finals.

But Schuller hopes United have enough to overcome Chelsea this time around and believes there is a bright future for the club.

"It doesn't matter how long you are in the club or how long you play, it's really something special and always exciting [to be in a final]," added Schuller.

"I think from everything that I see here, there is no way that we are not still with the top three teams [in the WSL] in the future."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton manager Brian Sorensen has been named technical advisor at Aston Villa Women.

The 45-year-old was sacked by Everton in February after four years at the club in which he helped maintain their status as a Women's Super League club.

Sorensen was involved in recruitment while at the Toffees in addition to his head coach role and will work closely with manager Natalia Arroyo at Villa to provide extra technical support.

Aston Villa manager Arroyo said:

"I'm pleased to welcome Brian to the club. He brings a lot of experience within the women's game and will add another perspective to our staff as we continue working with the players every day.

"Our focus remains on improving as a team and finishing the season strongly, and Brian's support will be valuable as part of that collective effort."

Villa currently sit ninth in the WSL table with four wins and four draws from 16 matches.

"Aston Villa have made significant investment into their women's organisation during the past seasons and possess a formidable squad," said Sorensen.

"I appreciate the opportunity to join during this period and work with [director of football] Marisa Ewers and Natalia Arroyo, a manager who I know well, to strengthen the technical foundation of the club. I'm excited to get started."