Tag: Player Spotlight

Categories
Ice Hockey

Laila Edwards: A Women’s Ice Hockey defense making history

Screenshot

photo taken from @badgerswhockey on instagram

The Winter Olympics Ice Hockey campaign commenced on Thursday 5th February in Milano Cortina and at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena with the side winning 5-1 against Czechia, to open up their Olympic games campaign. Goals from Alex Spencer, Joy Dunne, Hilary Knight and a double from Hayley Scamurra helped secure the win for the side. The team have medaled in all seven Olympic appearances to date including gold in 1998 and 2018. 

On the same day, Laila Edwards made her Olympic Debut but this was more than just making her debut. She became the first black player to make her Olympic debut for the USA Ice Hockey team. The Ohio Native plays for collegiate side, University of Wisconsin with the 22 year old senior graduating this year. The youngster has won two World Championship medals including a Gold and Silver at the 2025 and 2024 World Championships respectively, being named Tournament MVP aged just 20 (the youngest to do so). 

In 2023, She made history as the first Black woman to play for the USA Senior Women’s National Team and the first to score a goal for Team USA at the Worlds in 2024. Meanwhile at Collegiate Level, she calls University of Wisconsin her home and has won two NCAA National Championships with the Badgers (in 2023 and 2025). Alongside this, she was a top-three finalist in the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2025 and led the nation with 35 goals in her junior season. In 2024, the right forward also won the USA Hockey Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award. 

Born and raised in Ohio, she began figure skating aged three before moving to ice hockey the year later and was enrolled in the Cleveland Heights Youth Hockey Program. By the age of eight, Edwards was travelling out of state for tournaments and played AAA Hockey with different boys’ teams, as well as participating in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls Hockey Program. She moved to a different High School aged 13 for its elite girls’ hockey program and during her career there, she scored 147 goals and 266 assists in 287 games between 2018 and 2022. 

Laila Edwards in Team USA Colours | photo taken from @teamusa on instagram

She began her collegiate career in the 2022-23 season and during her freshman year, she had 13 goals and 14 assists in 41 games, ultimately being named in the WCHA All-Rookie Team. She was named in the NCAA All-Tournament team after she recorded four goals and one assist to help her Wisconsin side to their seventh national championship, in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament. 

In her sophomore year (2023-24), she recorded 21 goals and 35 assists in 41 games and was named in the All-WCHA Third Team. For the 2024-25 season, she was named as the alternate captain for the season and in her junior year she put on 35 goals and 36 assists in 41 games, leading the nation with her goal scoring attributes. Her goals were the most by a Wisconsin Badger since Brianna Decker in 2011-12 when she recorded 37 goals. In that season, she was named in the All-WCHA First Team and during the semifinals, she recorded a hat-trick which helped the side reach the final for the third consecutive season. 

For the USA Hockey team, she represented the U18’s in 2022 for their IIHF World Women’s Championship where she was also named alternate captain. She led the team with eight goal contributions in five games and won a silver medal and was named the most valuable player, the best forward and in the All-Tournament team. The following year, she was named in the senior team and played in the November Rivalry Series against Canada. 

In March 2024, she was named in the squad for the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship and during the preliminary round, she was the first black woman to score a goal for the team in the Championship. During the semifinal stage, she recorded a hat-trick and led the squad to a silver medal in the series with six goals and two assists in seven games. In the same tournament, she also won Tournament MVP and was named in the All-Star team, ultimately becoming the youngest to be named MVP at the IIHF World Women’s Championship. 

Laila Edwards is one to watch across the tournament and in the future as she moves from forward to defense and is learning to adapt to this new lifestyle. USA continue with their Olympics campaign on Saturday 7th February as they face Finland at 3.40pm (GMT Time).

Categories
PWR Rugby

Meet Upcoming Red Rose, Sophie Hopkins 

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Photo taken from @sophieh15_ on instagram 

Among the 11 uncapped players in the Red Roses Squad is Sale Sharks Outside Back, Sophie Hopkins. The England Under-20s player is currently on her year abroad which is included during her Biochemistry and French degree from University of Manchester. She is currently with French top-flight side Lyon and is the only player abroad in the squad of 47 Red Roses. 

When speaking to others, she stated that her rugby role model included fellow back and Red Rose, Ellie Kildunne and would now be training alongside her this January. “I like her speed and agility, I really admire her and look up to her – that’s the kind of player I want to be when I’m older.” 

When the Red Roses were preparing for their Rugby World Cup opener against USA, She was invited alongside fellow Sale Sharks player, Eva Wood to train with the squad which gave her a good experience and learning curve. Now knowing what the players are like in the squad, she can train alongside them this January camp. 

When speaking about the opportunity she said: “Everyone’s been so welcoming, the standard of training is so high but it’s been so fun getting stuck in and getting some good learnings to take back to club.” 

“I know what’s out there and what’s possible. I just have to work as hard as I possibly can to reach there.” 

In a short time at Lyon, she has made an impression for the club playing alongside a number of French and Italian internationals but she is one of the most highly-rated young wingers coming through the ranks. When she returns back to Sale Sharks, a lot of things would have changed after many additions and a World Cup added to the ranks, making it a more competitive environment. 

“I think I’ll come back [to sale] as a more confident player and I will have had the opportunity to find out who that is this year… I definitely want to come back and make my impact known on the team.” 

“Coming back to [Sale] Sharks next year, that’ll be a good challenge. To see whether I can play in this PWR environment – it’s so much more professional now.” 

In the AXA Elite 1 Championship, Lyon finished 8th last season and prepared to launch ahead of the season back in October with Sophie hoping to learn a new, different style of play and bring some “joue” back to Sale when she returns. At the end of the 2024/25 season, she won the Sale Sharks Young Player of the Season and hopes to bring her creative flair back to the North West after her placement year. 

In the January training camp is the entirety of the squad that won the Rugby World Cup bar from the retired Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow. Meanwhile, Lark Atkin-Davies who is expecting a child in June will join the squad but will follow a personalised training programme. 

Sophie Hopkins (14) with her Sale Sharks teammates | Photo taken from @sophieh15_ on instagram 

Categories
International

2026 the year of new beginnings 

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photo taken from @scotlandnationalteam

In the final camp of 2025, there were many new players who got called up from their international side and most countries look to play them in the future including the upcoming World Cup in 2027. 

England: Freya Godfrey

After her stellar start to life at London City Lionesses, she earned her first call up in the most recent camps after being with U23’s in the previous camps. She also captained the U19 on occasions with the 20 year old starting her career at Arsenal before moving this summer. 

She made her debut for the U23 just last October in their 1-0 win against Portugal. Meanwhile in this international break, she remained on the bench for the lionesses and did not make her debut.  

England: Anouk Denton 

The West Ham wingback featured in the previous camp in October to provide cover after Lotte Wubben-Moy dropped out. She even featured in the U23 squad against Germany a few days prior. In the final minutes of their match against Ghana, Denton made her debut for the lionesses and received the legacy number “240”. 

She started at Arsenal before committing to Louisville in the USA for College. After returning to the UK in January 2023, She joined West Ham (who she was on loan with previously) and has been at the club ever since.

Sweden: Beata Olsson 

The forward joined Liverpool this summer and after an impressive start to the season, she received her first call up for Sweden. During this international break, she remained on the bench with Sweden who came fourth in the Nations League after their games versus France. 

The 24 year old joined the WSL from Kristianstads DFF but for her previous clubs, she has been a prolific striker including scoring 27 goals for Florida State Seminoles when at College. 

Wales: Laura Hughes 

The 24 year old recently made the switch from Australia to Wales despite being born in Australia. She plays her club football there,  currently playing for Melbourne City after starting at Canberra. 

In December 2024, she made her Australian senior debut against Chinese Taipei and in November this year, she was called up to Wales after switching her allegiance. She made her Wales debut against South Korea on 28th November. 

Scotland: Maria McAneny

She made her debut against Ukraine on Friday 28th November and even scored in added time despite being on the pitch for 20 minutes. After an injury to Erin Cuthbert, she played a couple of minutes in their second fixture of the break against China. 

The midfielder plays her football in the Scottish Women’s Premier League for Celtic with the 21 year old also going on loan to Heart of Midlothian in 2021. She made her Celtic first team debut in 2021 after joining the club in 2018. 

Scotland: Miri Taylor 

She made her debut against Ukraine coming on in the 57th minute and since she came on, Scotland kept a clean sheet. She made her first start in the following fixture against China playing just over an hour in their 3-2 win. 

She spent time at Arsenal and Chelsea before moving to America for College in 2018. She was drafted in the 2022 NWSL for Angel City before moving to Liverpool in January 2023. She spent 2024 on loan to Aston Villa where she calls home now, after moving the following summer. 

Republic of Ireland: Sophie Whitehouse  

After College, she went to Tottenham Hotspur and Bristol City without making an appearance for either. She made her club debut in 2022 for Lewes where they made the FA Cup quarter-finals in her first season. She then moved to Charlton in 2024 with a one year contract but extended in the summer, quickly becoming first choice keeper as well as getting Women’s Championship Save of the Season. 

She made her international debut for the Republic of Ireland this camp in a behind closed doors friendly win against Hungary. In April 2023, she was part of the squad when Ireland travelled to the USA for two friendlies. 

Categories
Spotlight WSL

Player Spotlight: Jess Park

Jess Park at Hill Dickinson Stadium | photo taken by Aimee Reynolds for Constancy Sport

Everton vs Manchester United saw the hosts take the lead but United clawed back to win 4-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Honaka Hayashi scored 16 minutes in and gave the lead to the Toffees at half time but goals from Melvine Malard and two from Jess Park (as well as an own goal) secured all three points. 

Prior to her move to the red side of Manchester, she made 38 appearances in all competitions and registered 12 goal contributions helping her gain a place in the Lionesses 2025 European Champions squad.

After joining Manchester United on deadline day, Jess Park has shone for her new side and brought a new life to her footballing calibre. The 23 year old winger began her senior career at the blue side of Manchester and had a loan spell at Everton for the 2022-23 season featuring 22 times, and having 10 goal contributions. 

She scored her first Manchester United goal against London City Lionesses and made her debut in the opening WSL match of the season against Leicester City. Currently for the red devils, she has helped them a lot and contributed on many levels, in the WSL and in the Women’s Champions League. She got Barclay’s Player of the Match against Chelsea and when speaking to her new club when signing, she said: “I like to beat players and I like to be a bit flary.” 

For the Lionesses, she received her senior call up in September 2022, but was an unused substitute across the pair of the matches. She then received her second call up to replace Fran Kirby in November. Park made her debut in the same International Window in a friendly against Japan and scored her first international goal just over a minute later. 

Jess made her first senior start in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup as well as being a standby player for the 2023 Women’s World Cup but later withdrew due to Injury. She was also named in the 2025 Women’s Euro Squad and was named as an unused substitute throughout. 

Her style of play is unique and likes to play between the lines of different defenders week in, week out. Her technical abilities, speed and awareness are vital to her Manchester United side and has defensive maturity as well as an aggressive presence about her work. 

Categories
Spotlight WSL

Player Spotlight: Kerstin Casparij

photo taken from @MCWFCXtra on X

The Dutch right back has recently made the progression more forward on the pitch into the midfield role, especially in recent weeks. In just 5 games so far this season, she has had four goal contributions (two goals and two assists) as well as three player of the match awards. 

The 25 year old joined Manchester City in July 2022 after spending her career in her home country of the Netherlands. She made her league debut against Chelsea on 25th September 2025 and has currently made over 90 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions. 

At the start of her City career, she was patient when playing and waited her turn, slowly building up her minutes. She slowly became a massive part of her home away from home. 

For the Netherlands, she is close to making 50 appearances after she made her senior debut in October 2021. She rose through the ranks after featuring from the under15’s all the way to the under23’s. 

Against Arsenal, she brought flair and progression with the ball along the right side of the pitch giving chances to many of her teammates, including one of the goalscorers Khadija Shaw. 

In the game, she played the full 90 minutes, had three touches in the opposition box, five clearances and four recoveries all while being a right back. Adding to her abilities, she also scored and assisted which rounds it up to four contributions in the opening five matches. 

Manchester City’s Andrée Jeglertz spoke on Kerstin Casparij and he said: “Kerstin is a great player, and a great team player.” 

“She’s really doing everything for the team atmosphere and working hard, but also putting her higher and giving her a little more responsibility to be part of that.” 

“Even though she’s been here for a while, to see she still has some steps to take and that she can do it and keep developing.” 

When scoring against Everton last season, she kissed her wrist which had the transgender flag on and dedicated it to “all my trans siblings, who’ve had an incredibly tough & heartbreaking week”. She recently announced that she is a patron for the LGBT Foundation.

Alongside her partner, Ruth, the pair share their life on TikTok and Youtube predominantly doing day in the lives and promoting queer things.