Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final

Wigan (6) 6

Try: Atherton Goal: Rowe

York (8) 8

Try: Peach Goals: Williamson 2

York Valkyrie became the first side to win the Women’s Super League three times after an incredible defensive effort thwarted Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium.

Under siege for much of a scoreless second half, York stood firm to claim a surprise win over the favourites.

Teenager Amelie Lenham led the way with a series of crucial interventions as a first-half try from Sinead Peach, plus two goals from Ellie Williamson, proved just enough.

Wigan – who had their only try-scorer Mia-Jayne Atherton and Eva Hunter sin-binned in the first half – were left stunned after an uncharacteristically error-strewn display.

More to follow.

Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, M Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Sams, E. Hunter, C Jones, Williams

Interchanges: Marsh, Atherton, Dainton, Salihi

York: Donovan; Kershaw, Woods, Leniham, Partington; Akwiwu, Williamson; A. Wood, Peach, Pakulis, O. Wood, Andrade, Parker

Interchanges: Bell, Bibby, Brennan, Henderson

Referee: Aaron Moore

Man Utd off and running at the fourth time of asking

Man Utd beat West Ham 2-1 at Leigh Sports Village to collect their first WSL win of the season.

Eva Olid’s side – who picked up just one point from their first three league games of 2026/27 – took the lead inside 10 minutes, when Elisabeth Terland headed in Anna Sandberg’s header unchallenged.

They might have been 2-0 up had it not been for Hammers goalkeeper Constance Picaud, who brilliantly tipped Hanna Lundkvist’s header over the bar in the last action of the first half.

United came out with the bit between their teeth and had three chances in three minutes: Andrea Medina hit the bar, Jess Park shot wide and Terland forced another fingertip save from Picaud.

It took an hour for West Ham’s first shot on target, which came when Estelle Cascarino ran through the middle untracked and hit a dipping drive, which Phallon Tullis-Joyce had to be alert to tip over.

With 18 minutes of the 90 to play, the excellent Medina did make it 2-0 when she collected a peach of a pass from Park and found the postage stamp after her initial shot was blocked.

But Viviane Asseyi prevented United from keeping a clean sheet when she rolled a penalty into the bottom left corner after she was tripped by Sandberg.
Dan Long

Chelsea climb as Gunners stutter again

Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in the WSL to 12 games and moved up to third in the table with a 1-0 London derby win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The streak – comprising 10 wins and two draws – stretches back to February 8 and ended the Gunners’ own unbeaten record, which spanned 23 games and just under 12 months.

Arsenal were the dominant force for much of the first half and Kim Little, then Mariona Caldentey, were both denied by the woodwork, but they ended the half without a single shot on target.

And they fell behind when Keira Walsh’s shot from 20 yards was saved by Anneke Borbe, with the rebound fired high into the net by Alyssa Thompson.

Renee Slegers brought on Chloe Kelly, Caitlin Foord and Stina Blackstenius to freshen things up going forward for the visitors, but to no avail.

As a result, her side have failed to win for the third league game in succession, meaning they trail leaders Man City by seven points.
Dan Long

Liverpool finally beat Everton at Anfield!

Liverpool secured a 2-0 win against Everton to hand the club their first WSL Merseyside derby victory at Anfield.

Liverpool had previously lost eight of their nine WSL games played at Anfield, with five of those losses coming against Everton.

However, a looping header from Beata Olsson gave Gareth Taylor’s side the perfect start in just the fourth minute.

The Reds threatened throughout but were denied a second on two occasions due to the stoic defensive performance of Ruby Mace in midfield, blocking Natalia Ramos’ goal-bound shot and clearing Cornelia Kapocs’ effort off the line.

Kapocs would not be denied on the second time of asking, however, as she swept home the second to seal the win with just under five minutes to go.
Patrick Rowe

Spurs surge to victory against Villa

Tottenham surged to a 4-0 win against Aston Villa following a dominant second-half performance to keep within touching distance of Manchester City at the top of the table.

The victory moves Spurs within two points of the league leaders with 10 points from their opening four games.

Villa, who sit in 13th, kept their opponents at bay before the break but the floodgates would open following Victoria Pelova’s opener in the 54th minute.

The 27-year-old doubled the lead with a curling effort soon after before Caitlin Dijkstra’s back post header and Cathinka Tandberg on the rebound put the game out of reach.

Birmingham rescue point against Palace in six-goal thriller

Newly-promoted Birmingham are still searching for their first WSL win after rescuing a point in a six-goal thriller against Crystal Palace at St Andrew’s.

Suzu Amano came off the bench for the Blues to hit a deflected 87th-minute equaliser to salvage a point in a 3-3 draw.

Birmingham had looked on course for a first win of the season as they led 2-1 at half-time thanks to Oceane Hurtre’s double.

The forward hit an opener after just 40 seconds, but Palace equalised in the 30th minute after a goalkeeper howler allowed Shanade Hopcroft’s free-kick to go in.

But just three minutes later, Hurtre restored Birmingham’s lead with a powerful strike from a tight angle.

Palace, however, mounted a second-half comeback as Bethany England rebounded in a 70th-minute equaliser before Lexi Lloyd-Smith completed the turnaround with a fine one-on-one finish.

But the home side battled back in a topsy-turvy encounter as Amano struck to pick up Birmingham’s second point of the campaign and deny Palace their second win of the league season.

Australia fell to an ODI series defeat to South Africa with a game to spare as they were beaten by 32 runs in the second ODI match of three in Johannesburg on Sunday.

David Miller (142 off 93 balls) and Temba Bavuma (103 off 116) each smashed centuries for South Africa as they set the visitors a massive 366-run target after being inserted at the toss.

Australia looked well placed early on in their reply, with openers Mitch Marsh (84 off 53) and ​Travis Head (85 off 76) setting the tone by blazing the bowling to all parts.

But ultimately the tourists’ middle-order batting issues and struggles against spin were again laid bare. From 191-2 in the 25th over, they added only 62 for the loss of four wickets in the next 15 and a bit overs to stumble to 253-6.

That left Australia needing another 113 runs to win from the final 10 overs and, despite a late counter-punch from Xavier Bartlett (50 off 28), they’d eventually be bowled out for 333 in the final over.

Keshav Maharaj took 2-54, Bjorn Fortuin 2-70 and Aiden Markram 1-55 among the Proteas’ spin options. Seamer Lizaad Williams 3-54 and Marco Jansen 2-53.

“It’s certainly an area where we need to improve and we’re well aware of that,” Australia captain ‌Marsh said. “I thought we set up our innings really well in both games but we haven’t been able to execute during those middle ‌phases.

“It’s a great learning curve, especially for some of our younger players. But you also have to give South Africa full credit for the way they’ve bowled during those periods.”

Miller’s eighth ODI ton – containing 12 fours and nine sixes – and captain Bavuma’s sixth had helped South Africa to a score of 365-9 from their 50 overs.

Jack Edwards, playing in only his second ODI, grabbed 5-67 and Josh Hazlewood, who dismissed Aiden Markram off the first ball for a golden duck, took 3-70.

Australia, who haven’t won a bilateral ODI series against South Africa since 2014, will look for a consolation win in the last game in Potchefstroom on Wednesday. They’ve lost 19 of their last 25 ODIs against their hosts.

“It was another really good ⁠all-round team performance,” Bavuma said. “It started with the bat. ​Conditions were a little tricky up front but we managed to get through ​that period and build towards a good total.

“David played an unbelievable innings and then the bowlers did their job as well.”

Watch the third and final South Africa vs Australia ODI on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12pm (first ball 12.30pm). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW