Women's Super League

Brighton claimed a maiden Women's Super League win over Arsenal at the 14th attempt on Monday evening, running out 4-2 winners over the Champions League finalists in their final home game of the season.

Here's what both managers said after the game:

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic: "We had to be brave, we had to be tough, we had to be resilient together today to have a chance. We were fantastic. The effort was rewarded.

"Sometimes you have to look away from the table and focus on the process. We want to work hard, be tough to play against and today we found our moments. We made it difficult for a world class team."

On goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley's performance: "We know the quality she has. We are fortunate to have quality goalkeepers. That was Baggas' chance. She has been staying ready. To be called in less than 10 minutes before kick-off, she was phenomenal."

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers: "We conceded nine goals in the last two WSL games and we just said as a team we don't think it's acceptable. We don't want this to happen. There are different reasons. The Villa game was a different game. We need to learn two very tough lessons coming off a big success. We have to learn. We have to find solutions and move forward."

On if the Champions League final is a distraction: "It's intense for the players with where we came from and what's ahead of us. We have to be in the moment. I will be working until late tonight and tomorrow we want to try and get the details right and put our finger on what it is and how we want to move forward."

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Brighton have confirmed five players will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Poppy Pattinson, Maria Thorisdottir, Guro Bergsvand, Dejana Stefanovic and Pauline Bremer are the players in question.

Thorisdottir and Bergsvand start in Monday's final home game of the season against Arsenal, Stefanovic is on the bench, while Pattinson and Bremer are not in the squad.

Boss Dario Vidosic knew the players were departing, but said he didn't know the news would be announced by the players on social media before kick-off in the final home game of the season.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I didn't know about it [that they'd announced their departures publicly] until a minute ago when you guys told me.

"It can be a positive - all the girls in the squad have been terrific, so it's an opportunity to be together with our fans."

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London City Lionesses owner Michelle Kang speaking to the BBC after her side's promotion to the Women's Super League: "It's so exciting for our players, for our coaching staff but also for our fans. This is a great day. This is more than I ever imagined and I'm so grateful.

"This is incredible for me and for women's football in England. When I first came here a lot of people were concerned for me. How can an independent women's team survive if you don't have the male team that can provide the brand and resources? Here we are. We made it. It just tells you that with proper investment and focus and resources anything is possible."

On why she chose to invest in London City: "Because it was the independent team. I wanted to make sure that it really doesn't matter if you have a men's team or not. I'm not saying only independent teams can do it, they are both models, but as an independent team with proper investment and focus, we can do this. We are the proof."

Manchester United came from 2-0 down to get the point they needed to secure a top-three Women's Super League finish - a result which means Manchester City miss out on Champions League qualification. Here is what both bosses said after the game:

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner: "It's going to take a little bit of sinking in. We have had a fantastic season so far. To show the grit to come back from 2-0 down, to go down to 10 players and take a result just shows the character.

"Not a lot of pundits had us finishing in the top three. I don't think there was one. It just shows the growth of this team and also how far we have to travel. We have two big games left but to get it done today means the world. I might even have a beer tonight."

Manchester City interim boss Nick Cushing: "It's painful. I said to the group that this falls below the standards of what we set at the start of the season and what we expect, but it's football and it's been a challenging moment for us. I'm proud of the players' character today to push until the end. Just unfortunate not to get the three points."

On the character shown: "It's the only thing we've got, it's the only thing we've had. We have players coming back but we are still missing key players. We knew today we would have to have character to be in this game and we showed a lot of it. We know this is about a reaction, it's about a reaction for our fans going into the Crystal Palace game and it's about a reaction to make sure we are challenging for trophies and Champions League places."

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Robert Vilahamn says it's up to Tottenham and the other Women's Super League sides to close the gap to Chelsea.

Chelsea wrapped up a sixth successive league title when they beat Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday and are on course for an unbeaten season in Sonia Bompastor's first year in charge.

Vilahamn, whose Tottenham side host Chelsea on Sunday, praised the Blues for being "great role models" for the rest of the women's game and said the only way to halt their dominance is for other sides to simply "keep going".

"I'm very impressed by Chelsea for the last six seasons," Vilahamn said.

"What they are doing in the women's game is massive and they are great role models for many clubs to follow and we're trying to keep our pace to get there as well.

"Chelsea are so dynamic in how they play. That's the biggest strength they have. They have organisation, they have tactics, but they also have high quality players and the bench is high quality, so they can always find ways to get into the game or win the game.

"They showed in the transfer window around Christmas that they will keep investing, so us and other clubs need to keep going, otherwise they will extend the gap and we don't want that."

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Tottenham assistant Vicky Jepson will leave the club at the end of the season for a role with the United States women's youth teams.

Jepson joined Spurs in August 2021 after more than a decade at Liverpool. She was Spurs' interim head coach from March 2023 until the end of the season and helped the club secure WSL survival.

Since then, she has worked as Robert Vilahamn's assistant and helped the team secure their highest-ever WSL finish and reach a maiden FA Cup final last season.

Tottenham's managing director Andy Rogers said: "Vicky has been a great ambassador for our club. Her leadership helped us maintain our WSL status, and she has always been a driver of the growth and development of this team.

"In addition to the journey she's been on with Tottenham Hotspur, we are also proud of her for becoming one of just 17 women to achieve the Uefa Pro License. She now has the opportunity for a new challenge in one of the biggest international set-ups, and the club wishes her every success."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

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Manchester City manager Nick Cushing says qualifying for the Women's Champions League is about "the status of the team".

City must beat rivals Manchester United in Sunday's derby at Old Trafford (12:00 BST) to stand a chance of qualifying for next season's competition.

They currently sit four points below United in fourth place and will finish the season without any silverware.

"I suppose there is a knock-on effect [of not getting into the Champions League] which goes far beyond my remit, such as recruitment and retention," said interim manager Cushing.

"But for me, it's about the status of our team. We have worked hard over the last 10-15 years to make sure our football club is at the level that I expect of a Manchester City team.

"Not being in contention [to win] the Champions League is really disappointing and something that is beyond our thinking.

"It's still possible so we have to attack it and make sure we do everything possible to get there. The implications beyond? Who knows. I believe we will get it."

Cushing admits he is "disappointed" he has not been able to deliver more consistency in his short interim spell in charge.

"It is about making sure this team is consistently competing for trophies," he added.

"Now it's a Manchester derby at Old Trafford - I've never done a game at Old Trafford - so for me personally it's an exciting one.

"But the focus is on what we can deliver to try to get into the Champions League."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United want a "tangible reward" for their hard work this season by qualifying for the Women's Champions League, says manager Marc Skinner.

His side need three points from their final two league games to guarantee a spot in the competition.

United currently sit four points above rivals Manchester City, who they face at Old Trafford on Sunday (12:00 BST).

They end the Women's Super League season at second-placed Arsenal before competing in the Women's FA Cup final on 18 May.

"It has to be the aim and we are not shying away from it. It's a game that Manchester City have to win, and it's a game that we have to win," said Skinner.

"We want to get the reward we feel we deserve. We have been excellent this season considering at the start we had to find out where we were.

"We want that tangible reward, of course we do, but we also have to earn it. Manchester City won't give us that reward.

"We have to take it and that is the mindset I want from our players. If the players give everything, then we give ourselves a chance to win, for sure."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

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Crystal Palace manager Leif Smerud hopes the club will learn from their relegation from the Women's Super League and use the experience to help them return to the top flight.

A 7-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday confirmed Palace's relegation back to the Championship, with Smerud's side rock bottom of the table with just nine points after 20 games.

Palace's first season in the WSL has been sobering, but Smerud has urged the club to use that to their advantage next season.

"The benefit of facing adversity is that if you use it in the right way you can grow from it," the 48-year-old said before Palace's penultimate WSL game against Leicester City on Sunday.

"It will be really important for us as a club to look at what was done, what wasn't done and what can be done better going forward.

"It's a huge learning opportunity for coaches, players and leaders at the club. We should really take care of that and come back stronger.

"If we look at what it takes to be in the league, we now have first-hand experience of it. We need to use that."

As a trained psychologist, Smerud felt the pressure of relegation has affected his players in recent games.

"We played [against West Ham] like there was a lot at stake, you could see the pressure getting to us," he said.

"After that there was a big release, but a lot of uncertainty shows up. What's going to happen to me [players], what's going to happen to the club. What's next.

"We are determined to show a different side of us after that performance which we didn't like at all."

Smerud replaced Laura Kaminski as manager in March, but his future at Palace is uncertain.

When asked about his position he said: "That's not important now at all.

"A lot of things are uncertain for players and the club in many aspects.

"For me we have to wait, the focus is on Leicester. We'll have to come back to these topics later."

Smerud said his players' reaction in training this week has been good, though he has a few injury concerns which will be assessed before Sunday.

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Leicester City head into their final away match of the season hoping to break an unwanted streak.

Amandine Miquel's side, who sit 11th in the table, haven't won a league match on the road since defeating Everton 1-0 on 28 January 2024 – a run of 15 matches.

This season, they've earned just two away points from a possible 30, drawing with Liverpool and Aston Villa in September and October, respectively.

However, while on paper a trip to already relegated Crystal Palace represents a golden opportunity to halt this run, Miquel believes the opposite is true, with the Eagles under "no pressure" and players potentially playing for their WSL futures ahead of the summer transfer window.

"It's not an easy [match]. It's not like because you're playing the team that's been relegated, you're going to win," Miquel said.

"It can be the opposite because they're free and in this situation, players need to show themselves because they might need to look for a new project.

"For me, it's harder to play them now that they know they have no pressure. We'll have to be at our best level to make sure we perform better than them."