WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

• Picks from the pitch: Our top five WSL moments of the week

• Latest headlines: Netflix takes on the Spanish kiss controversy.

• Fave finds: Slow Projects reimagines classic jerseys

• Kit drop: Arsenal x Aries

• Jobs: New opportunities in football

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⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

Our top five moments from this week’s WSL action

1. Annabel Blanchard scored Crystal Palace’s first ever WSL goal and she did it in style (with a lovely little back-heeled assist from Stengel).
2. Arsenal’s van Domselaar made a massive save just before halftime.
3. Hemp made West Ham’s defence look a bit silly as she slotted home her 50th WSL goal. 
4. Liverpool’s Höbinger fired in this beautiful free kick (Fantasy football fans, don’t get too excited … she comes in at a whopping 9.0m)
5. Pauline Bremer pulled off this top class finish in Brighton’s high scoring, high sending-off game against Aston Villa.

Meanwhile… In the NWSL, Gotham’s Esther Gonzalez got two goals and one assist in four minutes twenty seconds. The fastest 3 goal contributions in NWSL history.

WSL SCOREBOARD: MATCH DAY 3

• Brighton 4 - 2 Aston Villa (Highlights)

• Man City 2 - 0 West Ham (Highlights)

• Tottenham 2 - 3 Liverpool (Highlights)

• Arsenal 0 - 0 Everton (Highlights)

• Leicester City 0 - 2 Crystal Palace (Highlights)

• Chelsea vs Man Utd - Postponed

AS IT STANDS

🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

📺 Netflix has announced a new documentary called, It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football. The film follows the Spanish team on their difficult path to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and the events that followed their win. We’re promised exclusive footage that reveals previously unknown details about the players’ experiences at the time. The documentary will be available from 1 November.

🎟️ 250,000 tickets for all 31 Euro 2025 games went on general sale this week. Over 120,000 sold in the first 24hrs. Fans are currently buying tickets blind as the group draw doesn’t take place until 16 December after which the fixture list will be set and further tickets go on sale, so get the date in your diary!

🏟️ UEFA has received five declarations of interest to host the Women’s EURO 2029 from Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and a joint bid from Denmark and Sweden. The hosts will be appointed in December 2025.

🐨 Matildas veteran Clare Polkinghorne has announced her retirement from international football. The 35 year old debuted in 2006 and has tallied up 167 caps since, competing in five world cups, and three Olympics.

🏆 Orlando Pride have won their first NWSL shield with three games to go. Brazilian legend Marta lifted the trophy after securing the win with a penalty. The Pride are still undefeated this season, and have a place in the play-offs for the first time since 2017, incidentally the year Marta arrived.

✍️ Brazilian midfielder Debinha has extended her contract at Kansas City Current until 2026 with an option for 2027. KC Current have been locking in new contracts with key players over the summer, Alana Cook and Ellie Wheeler having already confirmed their extensions.

👼 Angel City has been caught breaching the NWSL salary cap. The NWSL has fined them $200k, deducted three points (for the 2024 season) and limited the roles of co-founder and CEO Julie Uhrman and general manager Angela Hucles in player transactions for breaking the salary cap rules. The club made five undisclosed side deals with players which meant they surpassed the cap by £50k over four weeks.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

Top Links

→ Will the WSL global expansion impact English players’ development?

→ ‘It’s so cool!’: Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen on her career, the Ballon d’Or and the growth of women’s soccer 

→ ‘Football Manager 25’: How They Made It A Women’s Game Too

👀 FAVE FINDS

Classic kit reimagined

If you love a reworked football shirt you have to follow Slow Projects. The latest creation to hit the grid is this reworked Arsenal 2024/25 home shirt but you’re missing out if you don’t check out this 2015/16 Juventus away shirt or the signature PSG chore jacket.

Who doesn’t love a WOSO baby announcement? Well, Lina Hertig has you covered. Lina and partner Lisa are expecting baby number 2.

FC Abalos, an amateur team based in Athens, has created a football jersey to raise awareness about breast cancer. They scanned the breasts of their squad to create the design, representing the diversity of different bodies, as well as sisterhood and belonging.

🧠 QUIZ

Which player was made Manchester City’s club captain following the retirement of Steph Houghton, who held the position for ten years?

(Answer at bottom of email)

👟 KIT DROP

Arsenal x Aries

Arsenal have partnered with ARIES for their first, limited-edition, streetwear collab. It’s everything you want from a collaboration; two brands rooted in London culture, crafting a collection that resonates with supporters, oozing heritage and cool. The 26-piece collection is available online or from ARIES’ Soho store.

If boots are more your thing, Puma has released the latest colour updates to the Ultra, Future and King ranges. The Future features a moody grey colour-way, while the Ultra 5 goes neon, and the King stays classic with a frosted grey look. The range is available to buy in Puma’s women’s fit, which is clearly labeled.

🩼 ACL WATCH

Latest injury updates

Everton suffered its second ACL injury in 8 days. Manager Brian Sorensen has confirmed that Inma Gabarro, who only joined the Toffees in July, tore her ACL in a freak landing during last week’s game with Manchester United. Aurora Galli suffered the same injury during their opening game against Brighton. It puts even more pressure on a small Everton squad. They currently sit bottom of the table after three games.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Baller FC is back with Wednesday’s Champions League action at The Volley, Old Street, EC1V 9NR

Wednesday 9 October
17:45 - Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
20:00 - Man City vs Barcelona

Relive the Lionesses vs Germany Euro 2022 Final at Wembley
England’s international friendlies are just a few weeks away and tickets are still available.

England vs Germany
Friday 25 October, 19.30 KO, Wembley.
Get tickets here

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

Champions League Group Stages: Match Day 1

Tuesday 8 October
20:00 - Celtic vs FC Twente [DAZN]
20:00 - Chelsea vs Real Madrid [DAZN]

Wednesday 9 October
17:45 - Bayern vs Arsenal [DAZN]
20:00 - Manchester City vs Barcelona [DAZN]

WSL: Match Day 4

Saturday 12 October
13:45 - Arsenal vs Chelsea [BBC, iPlayer]

Sunday 13 October
12:30 - Man United vs Tottenham [Sky Sports]
14:00 - Everton vs West Ham [WSL YouTube]
14:00 - Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion [WSL YouTube]
14:00 - Aston Villa vs Leicester City [WSL YouTube]
15:00 - Liverpool vs Man City [Sky Sports]

The Women’s Football Show
Sunday 13 October, 11.45pm [BBC 1, iPlayer]

Top Tip: You can watch any WSL game not scheduled for Sky or BBC broadcast on the new WSL YouTube channel

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

• Senior Executive, Partnerships | 12 months FT |  Liverpool FC | Apply by 13 October 

• Performance Lifestyle & Wellbeing MCWFC Academy | PT |  Man City | Apply by 18 October

• Finance and Compliance Manager | Football Radar | Apply now

• Junior Content Creative | Footballco | Apply now

• PA to Women’s Head Coach & Head of Women’s Football | Chelsea FC | Apply now

🧠 QUIZ ANSWER:

Alex Greenwood

More women watching, playing and working in football