Tag: Women’s Super League

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WSL

From City Youth Teams to the Etihad

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Photo at the Etihad from the crowd | photo taken from @jesspark_16 on instagram

Manchester City host Manchester United this weekend at the Etihad, proving to be a big fixture in recent seasons. It is a big occasion for the players but especially those that have had aspirations to play at the big stage, including those from the youth set ups. 

Lily Murphy: 

The 19 year old signed her first professional contract with Manchester City in December 2024 and further signed a contract extension this past summer. As part of the 2024/25 pre-season fixtures in Australia, Murphy and a number of other academy prospects took their chances in the games. 

Lily injured her shoulder in their season opener against Chelsea and therefore will not be able to play in this momentous occasion this time, but is looking to return by the time the side next play at the Etihad against Chelsea next year. 

When scoring her first Manchester City goal against St Polten in the Champions League (which was also her first senior start) she said “It’s been crazy, I’m so proud, this is my childhood club so it’s so special to do it here.”

Codie Thomas: 

The 19 year old defender joined the blues in 2016 and since has risen through the ranks to become a regular in the senior squad. Alongside Lily, she signed her first contract in December 2024 and also went on the Australia preseason tour prior to the 2024-25 season. 

Making her debut in the Champions League at St Polten, she has since featured on the bench multiple times across the season and looks to feature in the squad on Saturday, potentially even coming on. 

Gracie Prior: 

This isn’t Gracie Prior’s first taste of the Etihad grass after being number one centre back pick for when experienced Alex Greenwood is out. Featuring many times in the matchday squads and starting lineups, Prior signed her first professional contract in August 2024 and also featured in the preseason friendlies in Australia.

Due to her cover across the backline, all three of Manchester City’s managers have given her chances in the starting eleven and with Alex Greenwood out, she looks to start at the Etihad again this weekend. 

Prior spoke ahead of the fixture and mentioned that “growing up, it’s always been a massive rivalry so to play in it is massive…playing at the Etihad is always special.” 

Khiara Keating: 

Despite only being 21, the youngster is cementing her place in the squad after moving to the side from rivals Manchester United in 2015. She made her debut in 2021 after injuries from senior players Karen Bardsley, Ellie Roebuck and Karima Taieb but her breakthrough season came in 2023/24, winning the golden glove that season. 

In the recent international break, she started at the Etihad for her international side and she believed it would be a “Special Night”. Like Prior, Keating has now made a number of appearances at the Etihad but it still proves to be a massive occasion, especially in a derby day setting. 

group photo from World 7’s featuring Murphy, Thomas, Prior and Keating | photo taken from @codie.thomas_1 on Instagram

Past Players:

Esme Morgan (Now at Washington Spirit): 

The 25 year old joined the NWSL side, Washington Spirit, in 2024 after leaving her childhood club. Being a product of the youth set up, she signed her first professional contract in June 2019 and the defender is a lifelong supporter. She had a season ticket and she “dreamt of playing for Manchester City” her whole life. 

In the most recent international break, like many others, she returned to the Etihad for the first time since her move abroad. She played in many derby days at the Etihad including the first time it happened saying “We had 30,000 fans – people who had never been to a women’s game before, people who were only interested because it was City against United.”

Keira Walsh (Now at Chelsea): 

Prior to her move, in the first derby, Walsh featured at the Etihad and it holds a special place in her heart being a lifelong Manchester City fan. Despite moving to Barcelona and now to Chelsea, she was captain of the Lionesses side who played at the Etihad in the recent break, returning to her old stomping ground. 

Growing up, she was playing for Manchester City but was too young for her professional contract and had to wait until 2015. As every lifelong fan, she had her inspirations – basing her play off her idol David Silva and even naming her goldfish Shaun Goater and Nicolas Anelka. For Walsh herself, she returns to the Etihad later on in the season for her new side Chelsea.

Jess Park (Now at Manchester United): 

Recently making the switch to the red side of Manchester, Park returns to the Etihad for the first time in her new colours after missing out in the International break. The 24 year old signed her first professional contract in April 2020 and in 2022 signed a 3 year extension saying: “This is my Club and this is where I want to be.” 

Park is shining for her new club, scoring four times and also picking up numerous individual awards, making her one to watch this weekend. 

Group photo featuring Morgan, Park and Walsh | photo taken from @jesspark_16 on instagram

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WSL

Liverpool get points on the board despite a late equaliser from visitors Brighton

photo taken from @BHAFCWomen on X

Rosa Kafaji denied Liverpool’s first win of the season after her stoppage time strike despite Beata Olsson’s opener for the reds. 

Brighton opened up the chances as both Jelena Čanković and Carla Camacho made Faye Kirby in goal react well to keep her side in it. It was a bright start for both teams with both looking lively throughout but it was Liverpool who got the opener as Beata Olsson got her second WSL goal of the season. 

26 minutes in, Sam Kerr found Lily Woodham just inside the Brighton half with her first time cross finding Olsson in the 6 yard box and her effort rolls into the back of the net.

Since Liverpool’s opener, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure with Chiamaka Nnadozie keeping her visiting side in with a chance. Brighton found Liverpool struggling from the back on the half hour mark with them capitalising on it but Faye Kirby reacted on a double occasion. 

Rounding off the first half was two shots from Fuka Nagano and Sam Kerr but both long distance strikes found the crossbar. 

The second half started as they meant to go on with Liverpool continuing to find a two goal cushion. Attempts from Fuka Nagano and Risa Shimizu saw Chiamaka Nnadozie react quick and kept her side in with a chance. 

After the hour mark, Brighton turned it around with chances from Maisie Symonds, Fran Kirby and Kiko Seike made the Liverpool defence nervous. On the other end, Ceri Holland saw Nnadozie off her line by some distance, had a shot but it ended off target. 

Rosa Kafaji had the final attempt of the game with it ending Liverpool’s chance of their first win of the season. Nadine Noordam found the loanee in the box around 12 yards out and her first time strike found the back of the net past the keeper. 

Despite Liverpools hope of their first win, they remain in 11th place after West Ham also got a point in their game with Brighton in 8th. Liverpool next face Chelsea on Sunday with Brighton hosting Leicester.

Teams: 

Liverpool: 

Starting 11: Kirby, Woodham, Fisk ©, Clark, Shimizu, Kerr, Nagano, Enderby, Kapocs, Holland (MacLean 79’), Olsson (Kiernan 78’). 

Unused Subs: Borggräfe, Evans, Laws, Lundgaard, Silcock, Szymczak.

Goals: Olsson (26’) 

Yellow Cards: Kirby (88’), Shimizu (73’), Nagano (72’), Kapocs (90+2’) 

Brighton: 

Starting 11: Nnadozie, Olislagers, Minami, Hayes (Mpome 78’), Rule (Vanegas 88’), Čanković, Symonds © (Noordam 88’), McLauchlan (Haley 63’), Kirby, Seike, Camacho (Kafaji 63’). 

Unused Subs: Auée, Baggaley, Carabalí, Tsunoda. 

Goals: Kafaji (90+2’) 

Yellow Cards: Seike (34’)

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WSL

WSL Match Reaction: Manchester City 1-0 West Ham 

photo taken from @mancitywomen on X

Manchester City won 1-0 during their game against West Ham as the hosts found the only goal of the game from Japanese international Aoba Fujino. Her shot was found off the run of Vivianne Miedema and was fired into the bottom corner from the opposite side. 

The game saw players play an early kick off after an international break of which both managers touched on during their post-match press conferences. Prior to the game, West Ham were bottom of the league but showed a performance that is worthy of being higher up in the league. 

Manchester City’s Andrée Jeglertz comments after the game: 

What do you make of the match? A good win, still a point behind Chelsea, but got the job done. “Yeah it’s almost like that, get the job done. There are some situations where I felt that we could’ve done so much better, where we really showed that we are not 100% in, we did in the second half.” 

Do you think the experience kind of came in for you? Rehanne [Skinner] mentioned that the international break, playing so quickly again so early on a Saturday was kind of difficult. Do you also have to balance that need for the players? “I think for the player’s sake, the health of the players and the wellbeing, we shouldn’t play on Saturday when the players are playing on Tuesday and are travelling.”

“Now luckily, we didn’t have anyone playing in the other end of the world, everyone was in Europe. But it is not ideal to play this soon, we should play tomorrow, I think, earliest. Both teams had the same circumstances though.”

This continues your unbeaten run at home, how does that feel and how important it is to make your home ground kind of a fortress? “It’s good for the players to feel that this is our place and our stadium, that we are comfortable here. It was our first clean sheet which was also very important for us, both for the keepers and the back line but also as a whole team.” 

“We have created a lot of scoring chances and scored a lot of goals but we have also conceded a little bit too many goals.” 

West Ham’s Rehanne Skinner notes after the game: 

Performance felt good this afternoon, how are you assessing [the loss]? “I thought we played really well, the timeframe and turnaround of international breaks can always be a little bit tricky when we are getting everyone back together.” 

“In terms of the applications of the game plan, the areas we wanted to exploit, the first half in particular, I thought we were excellent in possession, in the final third. The resilience of the group, we know that we’ve got to win games. Defending the box, I thought we were outstanding.” 

Do you think this game [vs Manchester City] was one of your more consistent performances of the season? “Yeah, definitely. From start to finish, the impact of the players coming on, sticking to their jobs. I’m really proud of the players defensively, but also just the way that we threatened in advanced areas was much more positive today.”

How does the International Break affect the fitness of the players due to travel and the number of games? “Travel is a tricky one always after an international break when you are playing on a Saturday. I don’t agree with the games being on a Saturday following the international break at all. This camp, it’s mostly been in Europe. [Manuela] Paví travelled nearly 24 hours back from Ecuador [for Colombia] and arrived at 7:30pm on Thursday.” 

“Then we are coming up here as well. I don’t think that’s conducive to the player’s wellbeing and welfare if I’m honest.” 

Standout Player of the Match: West Ham’s Anouk Denton 

Denton had a stellar performance despite being on the end of another loss for her side. Her performance on the wing saw her defending and creating chances of which the West Ham forwards were grateful for. 

The defender was on loan to West Ham initially from Arsenal in 2021 before committing to USA College side Louisville Cardinals. She returned to the hammers after her year away in January 2023. 

This international break, she played against Germany for the U23 squad before providing cover for the senior squad ahead of their clash against Australia. This was her first senior call up for England and due to there being few centre-back options, despite being able to play as a right and left back.

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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. 

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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.