Her Goal issue 7

News

News ·pp.4–5

A two-page round-up of the spring's news. Nottingham Forest sack Carly Davies after a seventh-place WSL2 finish; Bristol City appoint Hannah Buckley as chief executive; David Wright is confirmed at Ipswich Town and Lauren…

2026 UWCL Final

Match report ·pp.6–7

Barcelona and OL Lyonnes met in a fourth Champions League final, and the Catalans made it emphatic. At Oslo's Ullevaal Stadion on 23 May, before 24,258, Lyonnes had an early Lindsey Heaps effort ruled…

Back in the Habit (Manchester City)

Other ·pp.8–11

City's long-awaited second WSL title arrived on 6 May without them kicking a ball, Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brighton settling it. A decade on from their 2016 win under Nick Cushing, this was also…

Thanks a Millie

Other ·pp.12–13

Chelsea captain Millie Bright OBE announced her retirement at the end of April, six months after closing an England career of 88 caps, six goals and a EURO 2022 winner's medal. Honoured at Chelsea's…

Barclays WSL2 Promotions & Play-off

Match report ·pp.14–17

Two strands of the WSL2 promotion story. On the final day, 2 May, Charlton Athletic needed only a draw at home to Birmingham City but lost 2-0, Wilma Leidhammar heading the opener and striking…

Tomorrow Comes Today

Interview ·pp.18–23

An interview with the former Everton and Denmark defender whose career ended at 27 after a diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Sevecke describes a 2023 that began with a first World Cup and…

Singing the Blues

Match report ·p.24

Melbourne City won a fifth Ninja A-League Women title, beating Wellington Phoenix 3-1 in the grand final at AAMI Park on 16 May before a crowd of 7,174. The meeting of the regular season's…

Smilla Holmberg – Arsenal & Sweden

Poster ·p.25

A full-page portrait poster of Arsenal's Swedish defender Smilla Holmberg, captioned with her name, club and country beneath the Her Goal masthead and photographed by Jay Patel. It sits between the A-League Women grand…

The Dóttir Diary

Column / Opinion ·p.27

The former Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton defender's regular column, written before the Women's FA Cup final. Thorisdottir welcomes a WSL title race that ran to the penultimate weekend, arguing that more clubs…

Match Action Gallery

Other ·pp.28–29

A two-page photo gallery covering the closing fortnight of the WSL season, 3-16 May 2026, each frame given a punning caption. Everton celebrate Maz Pacheco's 96th-minute winner against Leicester City; Danielle van de Donk…

WSL Football Awards

Other ·pp.30–33

A four-page picture round-up of the WSL Football Awards, held in London on 18 May and covering 17 categories across both Barclays divisions. Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw, absent on the night, took the WSL Player…

Alessia Russo – Centre Poster

Poster ·pp.34–35

The issue's centre-spread poster: a double-page image of Arsenal and England forward Alessia Russo, shot by Daniel Weir and captioned with her name beneath the Her Goal masthead. It is the free poster billed…

Coming to Columbus

News ·p.37

A single-page news item confirming that Columbus, Ohio will have a National Women's Soccer League team. The league officially awarded the expansion franchise in late April, making Columbus the 18th NWSL club; along with…

The Originals

Other ·pp.38–39

A joint retirement tribute to two midfielders who were there at the very start. Laura Coombs and Lucy Staniforth both played in the inaugural FA WSL season of 2011, for Chelsea and Lincoln Ladies…

Lacasse Is In Session

Interview ·pp.40–43

A first-person, as-told-to profile of the Canada forward, two years on from leaving Arsenal for Utah Royals. Lacasse explains the move as a mix of wanting to be closer to home during a family…

UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Final

Match report ·pp.44–45

The inaugural UEFA Women's Europa Cup final was an all-Swedish affair, played over two legs on 25 April and 1 May. BK Hacken edged the first game 1-0 in Stockholm through Felicia Schroder, and…

Lize Kop – Tottenham Hotspur & Netherlands

Poster ·p.46

A full-page portrait poster of Tottenham Hotspur's Dutch goalkeeper Lize Kop, captioned with her name, club and country beneath the Her Goal masthead and photographed by Claire Jeffrey. It follows the Europa Cup final…

Wolves at the Door

Match report ·p.47

Wolverhampton Wanderers reached the second tier for the first time, beating Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in the FA Women's National League promotion play-off at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on 4 May. Charlotte Greengrass settled it…

Pass It On (Melanie Leupolz)

Interview ·pp.48–52

An interview with the former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder, who retired last summer at 31 midway through her Real contract. Leupolz explains a decision driven by tiredness after 14 years, two…

2026 Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final

Match report ·p.53

A South Wales derby at Rodney Parade on 19 April produced one of the season's great comebacks. Swansea City led through Chloe Chivers at half-time and were 3-0 up within three minutes of the…

Why Aren’t Real Madrid Femenino a Powerhouse?

Other ·pp.54–57

Irati Vidal asks why, six years after Real Madrid absorbed CD Tacon amid predictions of a new era, the women's team has still not won a major trophy. Four Spanish journalists give their readings:…

Killie Queen

Interview ·pp.58–59

An interview with the Kilmarnock midfielder who has driven the club's SWPL2 promotion push with 15 league goals, matched by attacking teammate Cara Gray, and won the division's Player of the Month award in…

Pet Corner: Xènia Pérez

Interview ·p.60

The recurring Pet Corner Q&A goes to Spain, where Atletico Madrid's 24-year-old defender introduces her golden retriever, Duna. Perez describes the bond with her previous golden, Llamp, and how hard his death was, to…

Flicks & Kicks: Nicole Payne

Interview ·p.62

The film-themed Q&A features the Orlando Pride defender, whose recent debut against Washington Spirit was her first competitive action in some 439 days following an ACL injury sustained at Portland Thorns. The Alabama-raised Nigeria…

The Menu: Daisy Brown

Interview ·p.63

The food-themed Q&A goes to Australia and Brisbane Roar's 19-year-old forward, who signed a scholarship contract this season and struck a hat-trick against Newcastle Jets in March as the Roar reached the Ninja A-League…

Born Kicking: Ramona Legg

Interview ·pp.64–65

The season's final Born Kicking youth Q&A introduces a 12-year-old goalkeeper from Eastleigh who plays for Inspire Girls Football Academy in Surrey, in the U12 JPL Premier Red, and for the JPL Allstars representative…