Women's Super League

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Arsenal striker, Alessia Russo, says she "loves playing at the Emirates" and is ready to "play for the shirt" in Sunday's North London derby.

Arsenal will host rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium at 12:30 GMT, with over 50,000 tickets already sold.

The Gunners have won 15 of the previous 19 meetings between the sides.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast, Russo said "[The Emirates] does feel like home.

"I love playing at the Emirates and I love playing at Borehamwood too, they're so different in so many different ways but the feeling is there in both. The Emirates is just incredible, what Arsenal are doing with the Emirates and building that as a home consistently with so many fans is amazing.

"I'm grateful to be a part of it. It's a special place. I think when you sign for Arsenal and you have your first game there you can kind of feel the energy, the fans, the history of Arsenal and yeah it's just special. We love playing there.

Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy says playing at the Emirates is "an inspiration on many levels".

She adds: "I'd like to think it's also inspiring for both the spectators and other clubs that are looking towards us and understanding that this is the standard.

"I quite like the idea of - OK you come to visit the Emirates, now you go back to your local communities and visit you local women's team and support it there. That's how I think we're going to be able to level every women's team with that."

Listen to the full episode

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

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Sonia Bompastor says defender Naomi Girma is likely to make her Chelsea debut after February's international break.

Girma became the most expensive signing in women's football history when she joined the Women's Super League champions from San Diego Wave for £900,000 in January.

However, the 24-year-old has yet to make her debut for the Blues because of injury and she has not been called up by United States manager Emma Hayes for the SheBelieves Cup.

Asked when Girma is likely to feature, Bompastor said: "Probably will be back after the international break.

"She's practicing with us this week, she's in a really good place, close to [a] comeback but maybe not this weekend."

Chelsea's face Leicester on 5 March in their first WSL game after the international break.

Here are more key lines from Bompator's news conference before Chelsea host Everton on Sunday (14:00 GMT kick-off):

• The rest of the squad are available, including Lucy Bronze who has missed the last three games because of a calf injury.

• They need to be cautious around Lauren James' return from injury, but it is "nice to see LJ back on the pitch".

• She expects the game against Everton to be "completely different" from their 4-1 FA Cup win over the Toffees on Sunday.

• Bompastor is "really glad" the verdict of Sam Kerr's trial was positive and said their would be no further disciplinary action.

• She could not give a "precise time frame" for Kerr's return.

• Chelsea are "already preparing" for their quadruple-header against Manchester City next month when they meet four times within the space of 12 days.

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Arsenal captain Kim Little has extended her contract with the club until June 2026.

The 34-year-old midfielder has made 363 appearances across two spells at Arsenal, scoring 174 goals.

Little, who first joined the Gunners in 2008, has won six league titles, three FA Cups and six League Cups with the club.

"I'm delighted to extend my contract and play another year with Arsenal," said Little.

"It's quite unique to play for a club for the length of time I have, and I don't take that for granted. That time brings many special moments, and I look forward to making a few more of them."

The former Scotland international has played in 11 Women's Super League matches this season with the club sitting third - 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers added: "We're delighted that Kim will continue to lead our team and represent our club. She's a wonderful footballer and captain and has an important part to play in the goals we want to achieve.

"I've learned so much from working with Kim and am looking forward to that continuing as we aim to win trophies together."

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Crystal Palace manager Laura Kaminski says she is "not put off" by Manchester United's momentum before Sunday's Women's Super League meeting (12:00 GMT kick-off).

Palace are bottom of the WSL with just one win from 13 games.

Marc Skinner's Manchester United, meanwhile, sit second and have won their last five league matches.

"They're doing really well with Marc at the helm. They rode a wave in terms of some external noise and have risen to the top over that, and are now showing some great consistency, [have] obviously got a flow," Kaminski said.

However, the Palace boss said her side are "not lacking confidence" and games against opposition like United are the ones where "everyone wants to start".

"Manchester United are a great challenge for us to go and visit, and we're not put off by their momentum," she added.

"If anything, I see that as more petrol because we know that we want to be the ones to try and stop them in their flow."

Here are more key lines from Kaminski's news conference:

• Aimee Everett will be out for the "foreseeable future" with an ankle injury, while Hayley Nolan has picked up a knock in training.

• It was a "really special moment" to see Elise Hughes return from an ACL injury and Kaminski thinks she will "add a lot of value" to the team.

• The Palace boss said it has been "phenomenal" to see the progress her team has made since their promotion to the WSL.

• "I think the second half of the season will look very different to the first," she added.

• Kaminski believes Palace "can get points out of every single game".

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West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner says her side are "re-energised" after having a week without any matches.

Skinner's side were absent from last weekend's FA Cup fifth round action after losing to Liverpool in the competition last month.

It means West Ham will have had 11 days to prepare for Sunday's meeting with Brighton in the Women's Super League (15:00 GMT kick-off).

"We had such a heavy game period, the players have given it everything in that time," said Skinner.

"We would have obviously wanted to play in the FA Cup, but ultimately as it was, it's actually come at a time that's helped us to prepare for this week.

"It's given everybody an opportunity to have a few days to re-energise."

Here are more key lines from Skinner's news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns and "everybody's in a good position".

• West Ham's 3-2 defeat by Brighton when the teams met in November was "an opportunity missed".

• Skinner also said her team are in a "positive place" but it's "always a tough game" against Brighton.

• "We want to make life as difficult as we possibly can for everyone at home," she added.

• The Hammers boss said she was "delighted" for Dagny Brynjarsdottir getting her first call up to Iceland's national team in almost two years after becoming a mum for the second time.

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Brian Sorensen says his Everton team "need to get everything right" if they are to beat Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Sunday (14:00 GMT kick-off).

The Toffees will be hoping to avoid back-to-back defeats by Chelsea after Sunday's 4-1 loss to Sonia Bompastor's side in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Everton had opened the scoring at Kingsmeadow, but the hosts levelled following a controversial penalty decision as Emma Watson was judged to have fouled Ashley Lawrence.

"It wasn't a penalty. It was clearly outside, like not even close," Sorensen said. "It was just a game that slipped away from us on a unfair decision.

"If they [had not] got that penalty awarded, it will be 1-0 up at half-time and then we can make a plan and we're very good at seeing games out."

Sorensen believes going in front against Chelsea on Sunday is crucial to their hopes of a victory against the WSL leaders.

"You need to be leading against Chelsea going into the last half an hour.

"Otherwise, I won't say it's impossible because nothing is impossible in football - we also saw that last night - but it just takes something extraordinary to get back when they are that good.

"We need to get everything right. We can't make mistakes."

Here are more key lines from Sorensen's news conference:

• Clare Wheeler will be available after the international break.

• Sorensen is "really pleased" to add Jennifer Foster to his coaching team, adding that the former Leicester interim boss is "very knowledgeable and a good coach that certainly will help us go forward".

• He thinks Chelsea are "probably the best team in Europe".

• Everton will "play some games behind closed doors" during the international break.

• Sorensen has not heard whether the club are planning any last outing for the women's team at Goodison Park.

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Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy says head coach Renee Slegers has changed the mindset of the team since taking charge.

The Dutchwoman, who replaced Jonas Eidevall after he left the Gunners in October, has seen her side lose just twice in 17 games in all competitions.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast, Wubben-Moy said: "That was what was so unique about the transition - there wasn't much to work through, we just shifted. The mentality shifted to accountability, to confidence.

"It's the way we approach games now, we are playing our way."

She says Slegers gave her "shivers" recently with a pre-match team talk ahead of their FA Cup fourth-round match against Championship side Bristol City, describing it as the "best I have ever had from a coach".

Her team-mate Alessia Russo, also speaking on the podcast, agreed, saying: "We walked out [after the team-talk] and said, 'that was sick'.

"It was quite simple, not very long. It was a conversation about what this club means, what we want to do and how we can get there.

"The FA Cup is a trophy we all want to win, so it was simple and effective, and spoke so loudly for the players."

Russo adds that the whole squad "have got on board" with where we want to go this season.

"It's not been massive changes, Renee has worked with us for the whole time I have been here.

"It starts with us players taking accountability, managers take the brunt of it but Renee says she wanted us to take accountability as well and we have done that."

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines are at the Arsenal training ground catching up with Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy, who share an insight into what it's been like since Renee Slegers has been in charge and how that has helped on the pitch.

Russo and White discuss the pressure that comes with wearing the England number nine shirt, plus the team talk North London derby this weekend and playing at the Emirates.

Listen here.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

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Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said Bunny Shaw's goal against Leicester City in the FA Cup will give her "a lot of confidence".

Shaw, 28, came on as a half-time substitute a week after receiving racial abuse following the4-3 defeat to Arsenal in the Women's Super League.

The abuse led to Shaw withdrawing from City's squad for their 1-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup on Thursday night.

The Jamaica international took less than 15 minutes to score on her return, heading in Aoba Fujino's cross to put City 3-0 up.

"I think that will give her a lot of confidence," said Taylor.

"She's coming out of a team in a time where you don't really want that to happen, particularly when she's coming back from injury as well."

Shaw has scored 87 times in 100 appearances for City in all competitions since arriving from Bordeaux in the summer of 2021.

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Jennifer Foster has joined Brian Sorensen's backroom staff as women's senior team coach.

Foster previously worked at Leicester City as assistant manager and was interim manager from March 2024 until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

During that time, Foster lef the Foxes to the semi-finals of the Women's FA Cup for the first time in the club's history.

"Having spoken with Brian at length – and looking at the quality of players who were brought in last month in addition to the recent takeover – it's a really exciting club to join," Foster said.

"With the progress that's already been made, and with what's to come, it was a no-brainer for me to join.

"Having attended a couple of games, the January signings have been huge, and we've already seen the impact of that.

"Now it's about how far we can finish up the table. I think that's probably the most exciting part. Then it's about getting to the summer and seeing how we can build on that."

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Manchester United forward Ella Toone has been voted the Women's Super League player of the month for January, while Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor has won the manager of the month award.

Toone scored in both WSL games in January, netting a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Manchester City and scoring once in the 3-0 win over Brighton.

She won the vote ahead of Nathalie Bjorn, Millie Bright, Bethany England, Vivianne Miedema, Olivia Smith, Elisabeth Terland and Julie Thibaud.

Bompastor has won the manager of the month award for the third time this season.

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor meanwhile has been named as Manager of the Month for the third time this season.

Chelsea won both of their matches in January, beating West Ham 5-0 and title rivals Arsenal 1-0.

Bompastor beat Marc Skinner and Robert Vilahamn to the award.

Elsewhere, Vivianne Miedema's strike against Aston Villa won the goal of the month award.

One English club is guaranteed a place in the Women's Champions League semi-finals after Manchester City were drawn against Chelsea in the last eight.

It means City and Chelsea will play each other four times in the space of 12 days. They meet in the League Cup final on 15 March and again in the WSL on 23 March, with the two Champions League ties scheduled for 18/19 and 26/27 March.

Arsenal will play Real Madrid.

Should the Gunners progress to the next round, they will avoid meeting an English team until the final as they have been drawn against the winners of Bayern Munich versus Lyon.

Chelsea or City will face the winners of the tie between two-time German winners Wolfsburg and current holders Barcelona.

Here is the Women's Champions League quarter-final draw in full:

• Real Madrid v Arsenal

• Manchester City v Chelsea

• Wolfsburg v Barcelona

• Bayern Munich v Lyon

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Former Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie said players need to be protected from abuse as the women's game grows.

Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw pulled out of Thursday's League Cup semi-final win over Arsenal to protect her mental wellbeing after she was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse at the weekend.

"It's really disappointing," Dowie told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Millie Bright a few days earlier had come out saying she had some abuse from fans at a Chelsea game. I think it's sad because it's never really been that way in the women's game and I think it should never be.

"The way the women's game is now growing, bigger crowds, more publicity on TV - these players are becoming now like celebrities and they need to be protected. I think it's something that should never happen in the women's or men's game and it's just so sad to then see a player - one of the star player's within the women's game that everyone loves and everyone loves to watch - not play because of that.

"I hope she can focus on herself, get herself right and then something definitely needs to be done because we don't want to see that in the women or men's game. Or in sport full stop."

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It's that time of season when talks of Chelsea winning a potential quadruple start to ramp up.

The Blues have gone unbeaten in all Women's Super League and Women's Champions League games this season and booked their place in the Women's League Cup final with victory over West Ham on Wednesday.

"That's the aim," Bright said when asked if a quadruple is on the cards this year.

"Every trophy we want, we want to lift them all. That was something that really stood out from when Sonia first came in. She's not afraid to say she wants every trophy and she wants to win everything we compete for. Putting it out there is, there's nothing wrong with that and it sets the tone really high."

Chelsea scored twice in the opening 30 minutes against the Hammers but dropped off the tempo in the second half and Bright said there is still room for improvement.

"We still want more from our performances," Bright added. "Yes, we're in the final but again, that's the competitive side where we're coming off a little bit frustrated, a little bit disappointed because we want more from ourselves."

The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly is now available on BBC Sounds.

In this week's podcast, Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines digest the ins and outs of January 2025. From Chloe Kelly to Keira Walsh, it was one of the biggest Women's Super League transfer windows in history.

They also discuss whether anyone can stop Sonia Bompastor's team and what the side needs to achieve in order to reach their potential.

Listen here