The 2025/2026 Subway Women’s League Cup kicked off today September 24, 2025, with an action-packed opening day across all five groups. Fans were treated to high-scoring games, penalty shootouts, and standout individual performances, setting the tone for an exciting tournament ahead.
Group A Highlights
Manchester City 3–1 Everton
Manchester City started their campaign with a controlled performance, defeating Everton 3–1. Goals from J. Rose (21’), Y. Hasegawa (54’), and V. Miedema (76’, assisted by I. Beney) secured the win, while H. Kitagawa pulled one back for Everton in the 83nd minute. Miedema and Hasegawa stood out for City’s midfield dominance, helping their team dictate the pace throughout the match.
Nottingham Forest Women 2–1 Newcastle United WFC
Nottingham Forest bounced back quickly after conceding early to Newcastle’s B. Lumsden (53’). A. Claypole (54’, assisted by T. Almqvist) and K. Smith (58’) struck within minutes to secure a thrilling 2–1 victory. The second half alone produced three goals in five minutes, turning the game into a frantic contest that showcased Forest’s composure and attacking quality.
Group B Highlights
Durham W.F.C. 1–1 Sheffield United Women (Sheffield United win 3–2 on penalties)
Sheffield United took an early lead through J. Ralph (25’), but Durham’s L. Cowan scored on goal in the 44th minute to level the match before halftime. The game remained tight, leading to a penalty shootout where Sheffield United prevailed 3–2, earning a bonus point. Both teams displayed resilience, with standout performances from Cowan and Ralph.
Liverpool FC 5–0 Sunderland AFC Women
Liverpool made a statement with a dominant 5–0 win. Goals came from G. Evans (7’, assisted by F. Nagano), J. Clark (21’, assisted by L. Woodham), R. Shimizu (41’, assisted by F. Nagano), and S. Haug, who scored twice (71’ and 90’). Haug’s clinical finishing and Nagano’s creativity were pivotal, while Liverpool’s defense kept a clean sheet throughout the match.
Group C Highlights
Charlton Athletic WFC 1–5 West Ham
West Ham dominated Charlton Athletic with goals from F. Morgan (18’, assisted by H. Houssei), M. Pavi (48’), L. Wandeler (65’), S. Brasero-Carriera (83’), and S. Martinez (89’). Charlton’s K. Bradley converted a rebound after a saved penalty in the 55th minute. West Ham’s dynamic attack and solid defense ensured a comfortable win.
Portsmouth Women 0–2 Brighton
Brighton secured a straightforward 2–0 victory over Portsmouth with early goals from C. Camacho (4’) and M. Olislagers (27’). Brighton’s defense kept a clean sheet, and both goals set the tone for their confident start to the tournament.
Group D Highlights
Crystal Palace 1–2 London City Lionesses
London City came from behind after Crystal Palace’s A. Weerden opened the scoring in the 12th minute (assisted by E. Hughes). S. Franssi equalized immediately after halftime (46’), and N. Parris scored the decisive goal in the 78th minute. The Lionesses showcased resilience and composure in a competitive encounter.
Ipswich Town Women 1–5 Leicester City
Leicester overwhelmed Ipswich with a 5–1 win. Ipswich’s R. Seaby scored in the 39th minute (assisted by M. Earl), but Leicester responded with S. O’Brien (45’), A. Ale (47’), R. Ayane (53’, assisted by J. Rantala), S. Kaczmar (78’), and J. Rantala (85’). J. Rantala’s goal and assist highlighted Leicester’s attacking threat.
Group E Highlights
Birmingham City W.F.C. 2–2 Bristol City WFC (Birmingham win 4–3 on penalties)
Birmingham took the lead through R. R. Mannu (18’, assisted by L. Quinn) and a penalty from L. Quinn (52’). Bristol City responded with L. Lloyd-Smith (54’, penalty) and O. Hibbert-Johnson (79’) to force a shootout. Birmingham triumphed 4–3 on penalties, with L. Quinn instrumental in attack and scoring in the shootout.
Tottenham FC 0–0 Aston Villa (Tottenham win 7–6 on penalties)
In a tense goalless encounter, Tottenham prevailed 7–6 on penalties. T. Koga scored the decisive penalty for Tottenham, while J. Baijings was active throughout for Aston Villa in midfield. Both teams focused on strong defensive play, resulting in a clean sheet during regular time.
Current Group Standings After Day 1
The Subway Women’s League Cup has started with excitement and drama. Teams that performed strongly today will look to maintain momentum, while others must regroup quickly to stay in contention. Fans can expect more goals, late winners, and penalty shootouts as the group stage continues.
