WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY
The five-minute read for dedicated-ish fans of women’s football.
This week: Brighton kept things interesting, Bunny Shaw got offered a massive payday, and Bayern kept Barça at bay. Plus: the 3pm debate is back in the headlines, and Matt Beard got a fitting tribute.
– Jo, founder of Twentytwo
⚽ WSL: MATCHDAY 20
Brighton keeps the title race alive
Credit: Simon Dack / TPI / Alamy Live News
Brighton just made the title race a lot more interesting. City lost at the Broadfield and suddenly the three points they were going to wrap it up with this weekend are gone — they'll need to win both remaining games to nail the title. Arsenal, eleven points behind in fourth but with three games in hand, are still mathematically alive. It's a long shot, but it's a shot.
Chelsea are closing in on Champions League qualification after putting four past Everton — Kerr is finding her rhythm again, and the battle for those top-three spots is getting tight with United dropping points at Tottenham. Down at the bottom, West Ham's win at Liverpool moved them seven points clear of Leicester and closer to safety.
💬 The talking point: Sam Kerr should have had a hat-trick — her header bounced off the post and crossed the line, before being cleared. But with no goal-line technology it wasn't given. Bompastor: "I think it just shows again, we need to have the technology next season in this league."
RESULTS: WSL MATCHDAY 20
Brighton 3–2 Manchester City · Highlights
Everton 1–4 Chelsea · Highlights
London City 5–1 Leicester · Highlights
Tottenham 0–0 Manchester United · Highlights
Liverpool 0–1 West Ham · Highlights
AS IT STANDS
⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH
Top strikes &saves
🎥 Watch this if you only click one thing: Watch Ewa Pajor doing Pajor things in the Champion’s League
🚨ICYMI
Top headlines
🏟️ Chelsea are moving to Stamford Bridge — from next season, every WSL home game will be played at the 40,000-capacity west London ground, ending a near-decade at Kingsmeadow. Read more
🏆 England's U23s are European champions after beating Sweden 3-0 in the final — unbeaten throughout the tournament under Lydia Bedford, who had only been appointed head coach in March. Read more
🕯️ Matt Beard has been posthumously inducted into the WSL Hall of Fame alongside Casey Stoney and Kerys Harrop — a fitting tribute to a pioneer of the women's game who was widely respected and loved across football. He died last September aged 47. Read more
🏴 Jess Fishlock has announced she will retire at the end of the 2026 NWSL season, bringing the curtain down on a 14-year career at Seattle Reign. The 39 year old was praised by head coach Laura Harvey; “She has carried this club on her shoulders at times and has always done it with pride. Her impact on this team, this city and the sport as a whole is immeasurable." Read more
🇺🇸 Columbus are getting an NWSL team after the Columbus Crew owners were awarded the league's 18th franchise at a record expansion fee. The NWSL launched with eight teams in 2013. Read more
📚 WHAT WE’RE READING
→ With qualification nearly secured, who makes the plane to Brazil? The Athletic ranks the 40 players most likely to make Wiegman's World Cup squad · Read here
→ Where have all the goalscorers gone? The Telegraph goes inside the search for the next Alessia Russo — and asks whether England are too reliant on one striker heading into a World Cup · Read here
→ Mariona Caldentey, in her own words — the Arsenal and Spain midfielder on her career, her move to London, and what drives her · Read here
🔍 IN FOCUS
Should women's football get the 3pm slot?
Love it or hate it, the 3pm Saturday TV blackout is back in the news as MPs ask the big question — is it time to scrap it for the women's game?
What is the 3pm blackout?
UK legislation from the 1960s bans live TV coverage of any football between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays. The thinking was simple: if fans can watch from home, they won't go to the game — protecting lower-league men's attendances. It has never been updated to account for women's football.
What happened
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee published its "Game On" report this week, recommending the government exempt women's football from the blackout and hand the slot to free-to-air WSL coverage. The Karen Carney review made the same recommendation in 2023. Although the FA has acknowledged the benefits, so far nothing has changed.
The case for:
The rule exists to protect men's lower-league gates — there's no evidence a WSL match at 3pm would empty those stands
The current Sunday noon slot has been deeply unpopular since it was introduced this season — 42 of the first 66 games were scheduled at 12pm, and TV audiences dropped sharply as a result. The Arsenal vs Chelsea derby drew just 71,000 viewers — a 90% fall from the same fixture the previous year
Fans have flagged two specific problems: the clash with grassroots football on Sunday mornings, and the difficulty for families to get to a noon kick-off
A regular Saturday afternoon free-to-air slot would build habitual audiences in a way early Sunday kick-offs simply haven't
The complications:
The Premier League, EFL and FA have been unable to resolve this between themselves for years
Government intervention in football governance is politically complicated
A free-to-air broadcast slot is not a guaranteed route to big audiences
What happens next The committee's recommendation is non-binding. The government must now decide whether to push talks between the Premier League, EFL, FA and WSL Football — the bodies that have collectively failed to sort it out themselves.
✍️ INSIDE TRACK
Transfer Round-up
Stina Blackstenius has signed a new contract at Arsenal. The 30-year-old has been at the club since 2022, scored the Champions League final winner last May, and has eight WSL goals this season. Read more
Manuela Zinsberger is leaving Arsenal after seven years and 143 appearances — a Champions League winner and two-time League Cup winner with the club. Watch her emotional goodbye.
RUMOUR HAS IT:
Khadija Shaw has received a £1m-per-year offer from Chelsea, with several other clubs also in the running. Shaw's contract at City expires this summer and her preference is to stay — but City haven't matched Chelsea's offer yet. Per BBC Sport, talks between Shaw and City are ongoing. One to watch.
London City are chasing two Barcelona players — defender Mapi León, whose contract expires in June, and two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas. León has a renewal offer from Barça but London City's terms are reportedly more attractive. Putellas is a longer shot — she's said her focus is on staying at Barcelona. Read more
👟 KIT DROP
adidas x MUFC 90-92 Away Bringback
adidas have brought back a Man United classic, and it comes with a full collection including a long and short sleeved jersey, t-shirt, shorts, tracksuit, and sweatshirt – but it's the track top and sweatshirt that caught our eye. Available now
🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA
Upcoming Events
Women's Champions League Semi-Final Screening: OL Lyonnes vs Arsenal
Camden Town Brewery Beer Hall, NW5 3ED
Saturday 2 May, Doors 12, Match kick off 2pm
Tickets
Women's Football Fair 3
Sunday 17 May · 11am–4pm · Big Penny Social, London
Kit stalls, community vibes, women's football people. One for the diary.
Tickets
World Sevens
28-30 May 2026 at Brentford FC's Gtech Community Stadium
Eight of England’s best women’s clubs in a small-sided 7v7 format
Tickets
Adobe Women's FA Cup Final
Sunday 31 May · 3pm · Wembley Stadium, HA9 0WS
Tickets
Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up
📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST
What We’re Watching
Your what-not-to-miss viewing guide (BST)
WSL
Wednesday 29 April
Arsenal vs Leicester · 7pm · Sky Sports
Saturday 2 May
Manchester United vs Brighton · 12pm · Sky Sports Premier League
Sunday 3 May
Manchester City vs Liverpool · 12pm · Sky Sports Premier League / Sky One
Tottenham Hotspur vs London City · 12pm · Sky Sports+/WSL YouTube
Leicester City vs Chelsea · 2:30pm · BBC Two
Monday 4 May
Aston Villa vs West Ham United · 1pm · Sky Sports / WSL YouTube
Champions League semi-finals — second legs
Arsenal vs Lyon · Sat 2 May · 2pm · BBC Two / Disney+
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona · Sun 3 May · 3:30pm · Disney+
📂 JOBS
Volunteer at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup — Poland, 5–27 September 2026
Around 1,000 volunteers are needed across four host cities — Katowice, Łódź, Bielsko-Biała and Sosnowiec. Roles span stadium operations, media, hospitality and transport. No prior experience required, must be 18+, and available for the full tournament. More info
👀 FAVE FINDS
@lia.lewis This routine is a vibe 🪩 #freestylefootball #womensfootball #popsmoke
See you next week!
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