Latest news with #WomensSuperLeague
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Brighton's Dario Vidosic: ‘We want to challenge the establishment'
After overseeing Brighton's highest Women's Super League finish, you could forgive Dario Vidosic for being in a celebratory mood. But that is not his style. 'I'm not too interested about being the best of the rest, I want to be the best of the best,' he says at the end of his first season in English football. 'That's going to be our mentality, that's what we're going to strive to achieve.' Brighton finished fifth, eclipsing everyone except the so-called 'big four'. Doing so has proved to be something of a curse in recent years; in 2021, Everton dropped to 10th the following season while in 2022, Tottenham were ninth a year later. After finishing fourth in 2024, Liverpool parted ways with their manager, Matt Beard, in February and dropped down to seventh. Vidosic is keen to not only ensure no such drop-off is repeated by his side but that they keep pushing forward and challenge for silverware. 'We want to build, we don't want to be a one-off where we have a good season and then we fall. We've set that platform now. 'We've not achieved anything yet. We have to be proud of what we've achieved. For me, 'd have loved to have done a bit more. 'At the start I said we want to win trophies and compete in all competitions. We're trying to win, we're trying to build towards that. We go out every game with the intention to play our football, to try to get the three points. Until it's mathematically impossible or until we get knocked out of a certain competition, that [winning] is always the goal. That's how we train, that's the mindset we try to instil. 'We want to make real history for the club and bring a trophy. We weren't able to do that this year but that'll be the ambition again next season.' Brighton's home form has been key to their improvement. Only Liverpool and Manchester City managed to win there. Chelsea and Manchester United were held to draws, while Arsenal, now the European champions, were beaten 4-2 at the Broadfield Stadium last month. Under Vidosic, Brighton have developed a modern playing style: they were ranked fourth in the WSL for possession and had the fifth-highest number of touches in their opponents' penalty area. Only Arsenal had a greater shot-conversion percentage. 'As a player, I always loved to have the ball,' Vidosic says. 'When I didn't, I'd try to run off to press to win it back so it stems a little bit from my playing days. I always wanted to have the ball at my feet. It's the sort of football I think is enjoyable for the players. 'It needs to be enjoyable, the way we play. It's something I want people to enjoy, to say: 'We like to watch your team play football, we want to sacrifice our weekends, we want to travel crazy hours to all parts of the country to watch you and we know we're going to watch a good game of football.' That's really important.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Vidosic deployed the same style in his first managerial job, coaching Melbourne City to the 2024 A-League Women title. That success caught Brighton's eye and their approach last summer took the Croatia-born former Australia and Adelaide United winger by surprise. 'It all happened very, very quickly over the course of three or four nights, and then after that was told they would like to offer me the job and then the visa process, that took some time. 'It's more true in this day and age – where you just never know who's watching. That's something I always say to my players – your life can change sometimes with one game. If you do the right thing, you work hard, it doesn't matter where in the world you are, that opportunity might come.' For the 38-year-old and his young family it was a big decision but one he is evidently glad he took. 'I was excited with the project and also wanting to test myself in what's regarded as the best league in the world,. I felt I was ready. I thank them very much for taking a risk on a young coach to give me an opportunity. 'It's an ambitious, supportive club, especially of the women's game. We want to challenge the establishment, we want to be right up there. We feel we can compete.'
Associated Press
5 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
US defender Naomi Girma returns to the USWNT after an eventful year
It's been an eventful year for defender Naomi Girma, who not only moved to a new country but also dealt with an injury before winning a pair of trophies with Chelsea. Now Girma is back with the U.S. national soccer team for the first time in 2025, looking to build off last year's Olympic success and lay the groundwork for the 2027 Women's World Cup. '(It's) just fun to be back in the environment together, and for me to get back in the swing of things, and keep building on what I was able to do with the team last year,' Girma said. The United States is set to play China on Saturday at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The team then travels to St. Louis to face Jamaica on Tuesday. Girma was called into January camp with the national team, but left prematurely because of a calf injury. That same month, Girma became the first woman to command a $1 million transfer fee when she was acquired by Chelsea from the San Diego Wave for $1.1 million. She dealt with another calf injury she sustained in her debut with Chelsea, but recovered in time to help her team win the Women's Super League and the FA Cup. Girma said the move to Europe has been a rewarding experience. 'It was a big move for me, not just soccer-wise, life-wise, too. I think it was a big step out of my comfort zone,' she said. 'Leaving California, living somewhere different and playing in a different culture and country. I guess for myself, it's a new challenge and new test, and that's been really exciting.' During last year's Paris Olympics, U.S. coach Emma Hayes couldn't believe how good Girma was. 'I've never seen a player as good as her at a center back. She got everything: poise, composure, she defends, she anticipates, she leads,' Hayes said at the time. 'I mean, wow. Unbelievable.' Girma, a California native who played at Stanford, made her debut for the national team in 2022. That same year she was the No. 1 pick in the National Women's Soccer League draft by the San Diego Wave and won both the league's Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year honors. She was the U.S. Soccer women's Player of the Year in 2023. Girma was key to the U.S. team's success at the Olympics. The United States won all six games, and the defense with Alyssa Naeher in goal allowed opponents only two goals over the course of the tournament. While she's just 24, Girma is now one of the more seasoned players with the national team and has taken on more of a leadership role as Hayes looks to develop younger players. 'She said she was excited to have me back, and just wanted me to focus on feeling good within the team, getting comfortable with playing with new people and just enjoy being back in (with the team),' Girma said about her first conversation with Hayes upon her return. 'I think the leadership and other things will come as we're playing in sessions and in games.' The United States is currently missing several key contributors from last year's gold medal-winning squad. Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson are both on maternity leave. Trinity Rodman is dealing with a nagging back issue. Now a year into the role, Hayes has been expanding the pool of players with an eye toward the future. One newcomer on the roster for the two upcoming games is 32-year-old midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta, who could make her national team debut. 'My job is to develop a larger group of players that by the time we reach a tournament setting have been given the right exposures to put ourselves in the best position possible,' Hayes said on Friday. 'I think we're on track with that.' ___ AP soccer:
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
WSL in advanced talks over historic deal for all players in top two tiers to join PFA
The Women's Super League is in advanced discussions with the Professional Footballers' Association over providing a funding deal that would enable all players in the top two divisions to join the union for the first time. Under the existing arrangements the PFA does not receive any financial backing for the women's game, with players in the WSL 2 – previously the Championship – unable to use its services, leaving many without access to healthcare and medical insurance despite being paid pro rata salaries far below the national minimum wage. Talks between WSL Football and the PFA are understood to have accelerated after Blackburn's decision this month to withdraw from WSL 2 – as first revealed by the Guardian – which has left their players feeling anxious and angry. The Guardian has been told many of them were paid as little as £11,000 a year by Blackburn as they were employed on part-time contracts with the PFA stepping in to provide financial assistance despite not having any formal obligation to do so. The PFA has approximately 250 female members, with some of the funding the union receives from the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association diverted to provide them with some basic services. Players in the WSL 2 have been ineligible to join the PFA, however, as the union lacks the resources to support them. WSL Football, the company responsible for running the top two tiers of the women's game, is understood to have reached an agreement in principle with the PFA to provide a funding package that is expected to be signed in the next few weeks. Both parties are confident that all WSL 2 players will be PFA members by the start of next season, the first in which all clubs in the top two divisions will be fully professional. The Premier League pays around £25m a year to fund the PFA, which has more than 5,000 male members, and the WSL deal will be far smaller. However, as well as expanding the membership the PFA will use the money to offer female-specific services for the first time, particularly in areas such as rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and medical research. Funding comprehensive union representation for players in both tiers was one of the key recommendations of the Raising the Bar Review, the government-commissioned independent review of women's football chaired by Karen Carney, which was published in 2023. The Carney Review also called for an improvement in the minimum standards criteria demanded by the WSL of all clubs in the top two divisions, including increased training time, the introduction of a minimum salary and the provision of a 'gold standard' in physical and mental health services to all players. WSL Football has moved to implement these higher minimum standards from next season, although the increased costs involved have proved too much for some clubs, with Blackburn deciding to withdraw from WSL 2. While a source at one WSL 2 club said the new standards 'are not particularly onerous', and most clubs at that level budget for losses of between £750,000 and £1m each year. Blackburn's owner, Venkys London Ltd, decided the cost was too high 12 months after Reading also withdrew from the second tier on financial grounds. Wolves also angered their players by not formally applying for promotion from the third tier. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Blackburn's departure leaves the WSL one club short for next season at the moment but the National League North side Burnley announced last week that they will be going fully professional next season and that they have applied to replace their Lancashire neighbours. Another option would be for the bottom club, Sheffield United, to be spared relegation despite winning only one Championship match last season. The club committed to staying full-time with fully professional players after relegation and plan to play all their home games at Bramall Lane regardless of which division they are in. While WSL Football will make recommendations the final decision rests with the FA Board, which in the past has opted to give clubs reprieves from relegation. Lewes were given the option to stay in the second tier following Reading's late withdrawal last summer, but had already released players and gone part-time following relegation so the Championship was reduced to 11 clubs. WSL Football and the PFA declined to comment.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal women gear up for UWCL final vs Barcelona
Slegers after beating Man United: 'Barcelona will ask us different questions' Renée Slegers, Arsenal manager, was happy following the 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the Women's Super League, but she understood the Women's Champions League final against Barcelona will show a very different game. 0:41 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WSL roundup: Wigan score 106 points to go top
The Hunter sisters scored seven tries between them as Wigan Warriors topped 100 points against Barrow Raiders to claim top spot in Women's Super League. The relentless Warriors ran in 19 tries with Ruby Hunter, Eva Hunter and Ellse Derbyshire all claiming trebles while Grace Banks and Kaitlin Hilton scored two apiece, and Holly Speakman, Cerys Jones, Vicky Molyneux, Molly Jones, Jenna Foubister and Mia Atherton also went over. Isabel Rowe kicked 15 conversions, with Jodie Morley scoring Barrow's only try and Nicole Benson converting as the scoreline ended up at 106-6. Reigning champions York Valkyrie withstood a strong Leeds Rhinos fightback in the second half to notch their first league win of the season with a 24-16 scoreline. The Yorkshire derby saw tries from Tara Moxon and Eboni Partington put York in control at half time but Izzy Northrop and Jenna Greening went over, and Mel Howard's sole conversion edged Rhinos ahead. Zoe Hornby scored against her old team to restore the Valkyrie lead but Frankie Blakey and another Howard conversion made it 16-14 to the away side. York stepped on the gas after that, as Emma Kershaw and Moxon's second try earned them a 24-16 victory. Challenge Cup finalists St Helens racked up their first Super League win of the season with a comfortable 36-0 win at Huddersfield Giants which takes them third in the table. After initial strong resistance from a Giants side which won at Warrington Wolves last week, Vicky Whitfield sparked Saints into life by scoring with her first touch after going on as a replacement. Dani McGifford added another try before half time and after the break further scores from Georgia Sutherland, Chantelle Crowl, Phoebe Hook, Rachael Woosey and Darcy Stott eased them to victory as Luci McColm added four conversions.
