Better representation for women in coaching and development of the female coaching pathways are pivotal to mirror the growth of the women’s game.

So many elite women’s footballers retire young in comparison to other industries, yet so few turn to top-level coaching after hanging up their boots. The most successful in the field are often ex-professional footballers, Sarina Wiegman and Renée Slegers two that immediately come to mind. With a wealth of first-hand experiences on the pitch, alongside in-depth knowledge of the game and the requirements of being a successful footballer, professional footballers are often expected to take the coaching route once retired from on-pitch duties. However, this is not the reality.

Only a small number of footballers consider the possibility of becoming coaches after their retirement. And others grow up without the possibility of pursuing a coaching career. There are several challenges faced by women and girls with aspirations of being the next top female coach: structural barriers, the ‘player to coach’ myth, a lack of awareness and representation, and financial burdens.

As soon as I stepped off the plane in Oslo, Caroline Graham Hansen, Barcelona’s super winger, greeted fans to her home city. Every escalator, billboard, metro station and major attraction had her, in partnership with Pepsi clad in an inspired shirt, shouting the strapline “Game on, Oslo!” rallying the city to get behind the biggest fixture of the European women's football calendar happening on Nordic soil. 

The UEFA Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona Femeni and OL Lyoness is a blockbuster event. A narrative that spans 8 years starting at the Catalonian side’s first final, lost 4-1, to their third where Lyon sealed their record 8th continental title in 2022. An historic night in a packed-out San Mames in 2024 sealed Barcelona's first victory against the French team, completing the quadruple that year, cementing themselves as continental giants. Under the lights in Oslo, an almost full circle 4-0 win officially confirms that Barcelona have taken over Lyon’s reign of terror over Europe cementing their 4th title in 6 years. 

For Plymouth Argyle Women, what should have been a season of celebration has ended in disappointment, following a decision by the club to significantly reduce the team’s budget, with the majority of players set to leave when their contracts expire next month. After achieving one of the most successful campaigns in the club's history, players now face uncertainty about the future. 

According to a statement released on behalf of the players, Plymouth Argyle’s board made the decision to significantly reduce the women’s team budget following the conclusion of the 25-26 season. The announcement came shortly after the resignation of manager Marie Hourihan, who had overseen one of the most successful periods in the team's history. Additionally, players were informed via email that they would be released when their contracts expire next month.

World Sevens Football made its London debut this week and did not disappoint. From fun walkouts to goals galore, the tournament went from success to success in front of sold-out crowds at the GTECH Community Stadium.

Eight Barclays Women’s Super League clubs starred in the tournament: Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, London City Lionesses, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. Chelsea lifted the trophy at the home of Brentford FC after a tight final win over the Red Devils, ending a challenging season for the club in high spirits.

However, this is much more than a competitive football tournament. World Sevens is a fun event that brings together the women’s football community, champions women in sport, and showcases the personality behind the players and staff. Nothing else compares!

Sarina Wiegman announced her 25-player England squad for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine next month. 

The latest squad announcement has given fans plenty to be excited about, with three key players returning from injury alongside several emerging talents continuing to impress ahead of a crucial international window.

Head coach, Wiegman has welcomed back some of England’s biggest names, offering a major boost as the Lionesses continue preparations for the next stage of their international campaign.

London City Lionesses finished sixth in the Women's Super League (WSL) table at the Copperjax Community Stadium against Aston Villa this season after a quick turnaround, with Freya Godfrey's strike in added time confirming the club’s top half finish in their first ever WSL campaign.

Lynn Wilms pulled the visitors ahead with a superb shot following a corner in added time just before the break in the first half, before Danielle van der Donk equalised after half-time, with Godfrey adding a second. 

London City, who had mixed results in their debut season in the top flight so far, were looking to go one better after their defeat against Tottenham Hotspur left them seventh in the table, while Villa were aiming to make a comeback after heavy defeats by Arsenal and West Ham United in the last few weeks left them with three losses, one draw and one win. 

Arsenal launches a new three-part documentary called ‘No More Red: The Arsenal Mixtape’. The documentary was released on Wednesday 13 May 2026. It shines a light on Arsenal’s community programme in partnership with North London youth organisation Gain CTRL.

The project uses music to create safe, supportive spaces for young people. The documentary follows a 12-week music development programme involving ten young musicians from North London. The participants received mentorship, industry expertise and access to a unique pitch side recording space at Emirates Stadium. 

Champions Manchester City will lift their first Barclays Women Super League trophy in 10 years on Saturday, as they travel to East London to face West Ham United on the last day of their victorious season.

Dane Andrée Jeglertz has had an incredibly successful first season at the club, from a team finishing 4th in league last season to winning it emphatically with three match days to spare. With an FA Cup final on the horizon and the chance to surpass Manchester City’s all-time WSL points tally with a win against West Ham United on Saturday, this is a redefined squad proving they can compete at the very top, with ambitions for the main stage, setting their sights on more. 

Manchester City have today announced the opening of a new £10 million state-of-art first-team facility at the City Football Academy. This facility is a dedicated headquarters specifically for the Women’s First Team.

This is a great step forward for the squad after they were announced as Barclays Women’s Super League Champions on Wednesday for the first time in over ten years. They are set to lift the trophy away at West Ham on Saturday.

In fact, this is one of the largest investments ever made into a purpose-built women’s football environment and signifies the huge improvements at Manchester City regarding the infrastructure and running of the women’s side of the club.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to the South Coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday for the Barclays Women’s Super League season finale.

Martin Ho joined Spurs as head coach ahead of the 2025/26 season and reflects on a positive campaign for the club. With one remaining fixture, Spurs will finish in fifth place in the league, currently on 33 points – their record tally in a WSL season.

Addressing the media for the final time ahead of the summer break, Ho outlined team news, his aspirations for next season and summer transfer news, alongside a summary of his first season in charge. Tottenham look to finish a campaign that perhaps surpassed the expectations of many on a good note this weekend away at the Amex Stadium.

Millie Bright OBE will step away from the pitch, but her legacy will live on at the heart of Chelsea Football Club: a career defined by leadership, community and resilience. The Blues’ Captain and former Lioness has announced her full retirement from football with immediate effect.

The all-time record appearance holder in the Barclays Women’s Super League made 314 appearances as a Blue. During her twelve years at Chelsea, she lifted a remarkable twenty trophies and inspired positive changes for both the club and community.

From captaining the Lionesses at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, to leading Chelsea onto the pitch week-in-week-out, there is no doubt that her career has been shaped by magical moments while representing her pride and fortitude for the badge. For one final time, the club and fans will present the Captain with farewells and gratitude at Stamford Bridge ahead of the season finale.

Scott Phelan emphasised the importance of “consistancy”,  continuing their focus and professionalism heading into their final away game of the season against Arsenal on Wednesday. 

Taking over as interim head coach after the departure of long term boss Brian Sørensen, Phelan led the Toffee’s to their first back-to-back wins in the WSL against Aston Villa and London City Lionesses in his opening two outings. A win against Tottenham Hotspurs sandwiched between four defeats in a tough block is how the Liverpool side stand heading to The Emirates Stadium for a rearranged fixture due to the Gunners UWCL commitments.

Everton have seen some good moments against Arsenal in recent years, a 0-0 defeat on the N7 turf in the last WSL campaign was a boost for the team against a top side.

Two of the nation’s best battled it out for the converted opportunity to play under the Wembley Arch in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final. Newly crowned Barclays Women’s Super League Champions, Manchester City took on six-time FA Cup winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a tight Semi Final clash.

It’s been a season where the two teams in blue have swapped places: Chelsea, who have been so dominant domestically winning the last six WSL trophies, now sit second in the league whilst Andrée Jeglertz, formally of Denmark Women and Umeå IK, in his debut season at the club has led Manchester City to their first league title in ten years.

This was the second Semi Final played between the sides this season, after Wieke Kaptein’s header sent Chelsea to the Subway League Cup Final, the Blues’ first trophy of the season. However, City left Stamford Bridge victorious with a 3-2 victory secured by Khadija Bunny Shaw in the first half of extra time. Despite two first-half goals from Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr for Chelsea, their hopes were shattered by Mary Fowler and Shaw’s late second-half goals to push for half an hour extra time in the Cup tie.

Liverpool hosted Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Sunday in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Semi Final. Despite falling short in the 95th minute with a devastating 3-2 loss, the Reds displayed a stellar first-half performance and showed promise in front of a home crowd. Denise O’Sullivan and Beata Olsson scored two early goals to put Liverpool ahead, but the Seagulls upped the tempo in the second-half and progress to the Final at Wembley.

Head coach, Gareth Taylor addressed the media ahead of this clash, setting out team news, the underdog narrative and mentality as the season draws to a close.

Head coach, Gareth Taylor addressed the media ahead of this clash, setting out team news, the underdog narrative and mentality as the season draws to a close.

London City Lionesses travelled to Brisbane Road for their penultimate match of the season in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday. Despite a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, there are still many positives to take from the club’s first season in the topflight.

Eder Maestre discussed recent performances, his future with London City, the mindset he believes will get the best out of the team, and the growth of women’s football as the 2025/26 season almost draws to a close.

Crystal Palace finished second in the Women’s Super League 2 (WSL) this season after their 6-1 thrashing of 12th-placed Portsmouth secured them promotion to the Women’s Super League 1 after a year's break. 

After a close title race with Palace tied on points with Birmingham City in the table this season, the Eagles ensured they had the game in hand with Molly Sharpe coolly levelling the score in the first half after Meg Hornby put the visitors ahead. 

It was total dominance after the break, with Palace in total control after a double from Ashleigh Weerden and a triple threat from Kirsty Howat and Annabel Blanchard, with Elise Hughes hitting for six. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers Women head coach Dan McNamara spoke to the media ahead of his side’s FA Women’s National League Tier 3 play-off match against their Southern Division counterparts Plymouth Argyle at the Pirelli Stadium on Monday.

After securing second place in the Women's National League Premier Division table, Wolves earned promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League 2, as the Old Gold secured professional status for the first time in the club’s history. 

An agonisingly close 1-0 defeat to Manchester City saw Liverpool’s dominance and fantastic football tainted by a Rebecca Knaak 90+2 minute winner from a flurry of last minute corners for the team with the title at the tip of their fingers. Liverpool will however be proud of how they bounced back from the defeat against West Ham, with 9 shots and 2 big chances created, Falk making 4 big saves.

There will again be concern for the red’s key forward Ceri Holland, dealing with injury woes throughout the back end of the season, who was substituted in the 88th minute, after a commanding game on the wing.

Tottenham Hotspur Women’s 2025/26 home campaign comes to an end on Sunday, as they host London City Lionesses for penultimate match of the season in the Barclays Women’s Super League. 

This week the club announced six departures, with several long-serving players and Captain, Bethany England set to leave this summer. Head coach, Martin Ho addressed team news, decision making surrounding the transfer window, his long-term ambitions, and balance between experienced and upcoming players.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are a club striving to achieve big in the FA Women’s National League. Jenny Wilkes has been Chair of the Wolves Girls and Women’s Football Club since 1999, when women’s football was still in its infancy, and the women’s section of the club was struggling to survive.

She led the charge during a period of development that saw the Old Gold become fully integrated into the club, and now sits on their advisory board, developing new pathways for young women from youth up to academy level.

Wilkes is also the president of the Official Supporters’ Club. She gave an insight to the growth of the club, Wolves’ long-term ambitions and the premise of promotion in future seasons.