2025–26 Sunderland A.F.C. Women season

Sunderland Women
2025–26 season
ChairmanKyril Louis-Dreyfus
Head coachMelanie Reay
StadiumEppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
WSL27th
FA CupFourth round
League CupGroup Stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Emily Scarr (6)
Katie Kitching (6)
All:
Emily Scarr (7)
Highest home attendance1,745 vs Charlton Athletic
(Women's Super League 2)
Lowest home attendance210 vs Nottingham Forest
Average home league attendance665
Biggest win4-0 vs Sheffield United (Women's Super League 2)
Biggest defeat0–5 vs Liverpool (Women's League Cup)

The 2025–26 season was the 36th season in the history of Sunderland A.F.C. Women and their fifth consecutive season in the Women's Super League 2, and their first since the league reverted back to the WSL 2 name. The club participated in the Women's Super League 2, the Women's FA Cup, and the Women's League Cup.

In the first half of the season the team struggled with inconsistent form. Following a strong start where they picked up eight points from the first four games, the team only picked up another two points over the next seven fixtures. By the halfway point of the season, Sunderland sat in eighth place, in the lower half of the league, with negative goal difference and having suffered a bruising loss in the Tyne–Wear derby to Newcastle United.[1]

Transfers

With the potential of upto three teams promoted to the Women's Super League as part of the expansion of the top tier, Eleanor Dale, Katie Kitching, Libbi McInnes, Katy Watson and Ellen Jones signed new contracts at the club ahead of the new season.[2] Sunderland bolstered their squad with the signings of Hannah Greenwood and the international quintet of Rhiannon Roberts, Reanna Blades, Grace Moloney, Jamie Finn, and Izzy Atkinson. In the final days of the transfer window, three loanees were added to the squad.[3]

In January, the three loanees of Keira Barry, Evie Rabjohn and Tara O'Hanlon returned to their parent clubs.[4]

On 3 February 2026, Sunderland announced the loan signings of Mared Griffiths and Caragh Hamilton to bolster the squad.[5]

In

Date Pos. Player From Ref.
1 July 2025 CB Rhiannon Roberts Real Betis [6]
2 July 2025 RW Reanna Blades Burnley [7]
11 July 2025 GK Grace Moloney London City Lionesses [8]
18 July 2025 CB Hannah Greenwood Newcastle United [9]
24 July 2025 CM Jamie Finn Birmingham City [10]
31 July 2025 LB Izzy Atkinson Crystal Palace [11]

Out

Date Pos. Player To Ref.
1 July 2025 CB Amy Goddard Southampton [12]
4 July 2025 LB Grace Ede Durham [13]
8 July 2025 GK Megan Borthwick Middlesbrough [14]
24 July 2025 RW Mary McAteer Charlton Athletic [15]
31 July 2025 CM Jenna Dear Ipswich Town [16]

Loaned in

Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref.
3 September 2025 ST Keira Barry Manchester United 31 December 2025 [17]
4 September 2025 CB Evie Rabjohn Manchester United 5 January 2026 [18]
4 September 2025 LB Tara O'Hanlon Manchester City 31 December 2025 [19]
3 February 2026 CM Mared Griffiths Manchester United End of season [20]
3 February 2026 RB Caragh Hamilton Nottingham Forest End of season [21]

Retired / Out of Contract

Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Ref.
1 July 2025 RB Megan Beer Retired [22]
1 July 2025 CB Grace McCatty Retired [23]

Pre-season and friendlies

On 16 July 2025, Sunderland announced their first slate of pre-season fixtures, against Middlesbrough, Celtic, Rangers, and Nottingham Forest.[24] Games against Leicester City and Bristol City were later added to the schedule.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

20 July 2024 Friendly Middlesbrough Postponed Sunderland Stockton-on-Tees
Stadium: Bishopton Road West
Note: This game was postponed by Sunderland on 17 July 2025 due to "an illness in camp."[25]
3 August 2024 Friendly Sunderland 2–0 Celtic Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 BST
  • Dale 1'
  • Watson 82'
 Report Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)
6 August 2024 Friendly Rangers 0–4 Sunderland Cumbernauld
Report
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
10 August 2024 Friendly Sunderland ?–? Nottingham Forest
Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)
Note: While this fixture was announced on 16 July 2025, no details of the match were shared by either club. It is unclear whether this match went ahead. It is also unknown where this match was played.
20 August 2024 Friendly Sunderland 1–1 Leicester City
Report
  • ? 70'
 Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)
Note: It is unknown where this match was played.
24 August 2024 Friendly Sunderland 1–1 Bristol City Cleadon
 Report
Stadium: Academy of Light
Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)

Competitions

Overall record

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
WSL2 5 September 2025 3 May 2026 Matchday 1 7th 17 5 5 7 24 29 −5 029.41
FA Cup 14 December 2025 17 January 2026 Third round Fourth round 2 1 0 1 5 2 +3 050.00
League Cup 24 September 2025 23 November 2025 Group stage Group Stage 3 0 1 2 1 7 −6 000.00
Total 22 6 6 10 30 38 −8 027.27

Last updated: 18 March 2026
Source: Competitions

Women's Super League 2

Main article: 2025–26 Women's Super League 2

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5 Bristol City 17 8 3 6 37 26 +11 27
6 Southampton 17 7 3 7 32 21 +11 24
7 Sunderland 17 5 5 7 24 29 −5 20
8 Nottingham Forest 17 6 2 9 21 30 −9 20
9 Sheffield United 16 3 6 7 14 25 −11 15
Updated to match(es) played on 18 March 2026. Source: WSL 2 League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
17 5 5 7 24 29  −5 20 3 3 3 13 15  −2 2 2 4 11 14  −3

Results by matchday

Matchday12345678910111314121163171521819202122
ResultWDWDLDLLLLWWLWDLD
Position3423657810118888887
Points347889999912151518191920
Source: WSL2
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Notes:

Matches

5 September 2025 1 Sheffield United 0–4 Sunderland Sheffield
18:00 BST Report
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 885
Referee: Levi Gray
14 September 2025 2 Sunderland 1–1 Birmingham City Sunderland
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 753
Referee: Phoebe Cross
19 September 2025 3 Sunderland 2–1 Durham Hetton-le-Hole
19:00 BST
Report
  • Lambert  56'
  • Hepple 88'
  • Wilson  90+5'
 Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 903
Referee: Sophie Dennington
28 September 2025 4 Southampton 1–1 Sunderland Havant
12:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Westleigh Park
Attendance: 1,367
Referee: Ella Broad
5 October 2025 5 Sunderland 0–2 Charlton Athletic Sunderland
14:00 BST Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 1,745
Referee: Aimee Keir
12 October 2025 6 Crystal Palace 1–1 Sunderland Sutton, London
12:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Gander Green Lane
Attendance: 605
Referee: Jade Wardle
2 November 2025 7 Sunderland 2–4 Bristol City Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT
  • Kitching 43'
  • Corbyn 45+1'
  • Greenwood  87'
 Report
Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 487
Referee: Jodie Hunter
9 November 2025 8 Sunderland 2–3 Portsmouth Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT
Report
  • Hornby 30', 90+8',  31'
  • Barker  80'
  • Gale 90+3'
 Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 426
Referee: Ruby Sykes
16 November 2025 9 Newcastle United 3–1 Sunderland Newcastle upon Tyne
14:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 18,972
Referee: Phoebe Cross
7 December 2025 10 Nottingham Forest 3–1 Sunderland West Bridgford
14:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 1,007
Referee: Levi Gray
21 December 2025 11 Sunderland 2–1 Ipswich Town Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT
Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 403
Referee: Francesca Catchpole
25 January 2026 13 Sunderland 1-0 Southampton Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 392
Referee: Lucy May
30 January 2026 14 Bristol City 3-0 Sunderland Bristol
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 1,797
Referee: Fabio Roque
20 February 2026 12 Durham 2-3 Sunderland Durham
19:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Maiden Castle
Attendance: 1,219
Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle
Note: Initial game scheduled for 11 January 2026 postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
11 March 2026 16 Sunderland 1-1 Nottingham Forest Hetton-le-Hole
19:00 GMT
Report
  • Omewa 64'
  • Claypole 90+6', 90+6'
 Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 210
Referee: Megan Wilson
Note: Initial game scheduled for 15 February 2026 postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
15 March 2026 17 Charlton Athletic 1-0 Sunderland Charlton
14:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 519
Referee: Julia Kings
18 March 2026 15 Sunderland 2-2 Sheffield United Hetton-le-Hole
19:00 GMT
Report
  • Andrews 4', 90+9' (pen.)
  • Devlin  55'  61'
  • Guyatt  85'
 Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: Not known
Referee: Alice Parker
Note: Initial game scheduled for 6 February 2026 postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
22 March 2026 18 Portsmouth v Sunderland Portsmouth
14:00 GMT Stadium: Fratton Park
Referee: Laura Van Lier
29 March 2026 19 Sunderland v Newcastle United Sunderland
14:00 BST Stadium: Stadium of Light
5 April 2026 20 Birmingham City v Sunderland Bordesley
14:00 BST Stadium: St Andrew's Stadium
26 April 2026 21 Sunderland v Crystal Palace Sunderland
14:00 BST Stadium: Stadium of Light
2 May 2026 22 Ipswich Town v Sunderland Myland
15:00 BST Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium

FA Cup

Main article: 2025–26 Women's FA Cup
14 December 2024 Third round proper Derby County 1-5 Sunderland Mickleover
14:00 GMT
  • Muir 4'
  • Melrose  ?'  60'
 Report
Stadium: The Don Amott Arena
Attendance: 338
Referee: Lee Hurst
17 January 2025 Fourth round proper Sunderland 0-1 London City Hetton-le-Hole
12:15 GMT
Report
Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 389
Referee: Adewunmi Soneye

League Cup

Main article: 2025–26 Women's League Cup

Group stage

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Liverpool 3 3 0 0 0 11 2 +9 9 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Sheffield United 3 1 1 0 1 3 5 −2 5
3 Durham 3 0 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
4 Sunderland 3 0 1 0 2 1 7 −6 2
Source: Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
24 September 2025 Group stage Liverpool 5–0 Sunderland St Helens
19:00 BST
Report Stadium: St Helens Stadium
Attendance: 2,018
Referee: Abby Dearden
19 October 2025 Group stage Sunderland 0–1 Sheffield United Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 400
Referee: Jula Kings
23 November 2025 Group stage Sunderland 1-1
(4–3 p)		 Durham Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT
Report
  • Ayre  18'
  • Robson  41'
  • Hepple 72'
 Stadium: Eppleton CW
Attendance: 453
Referee: William Davis
Penalties

Statistics

Italics indicate a loaned in player.

Appearances

As of 18 March 2026

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No. Pos Nat Player Total WSL2 FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  ENG Demi Lambourne 7 0 3 0 1 0 3 0
2 DF  IRL Izzy Atkinson 10 2 5+4 2 0+1 0 0 0
3 DF  ENG Mary Corbyn 12 1 5+3 1 0+1 0 2+1 0
4 DF  ENG Hannah Greenwood 17 1 12+1 0 2 1 1+1 0
5 DF  WAL Rhiannon Roberts 17 1 15 1 2 0 0 0
6 DF  ENG Louise Griffiths 18 0 14 0 2 0 1+1 0
7 FW  ENG Katy Watson 22 4 16+1 2 1+1 2 0+3 0
8 FW  ENG Emily Scarr 21 7 17 6 1 0 1+2 1
9 FW  ENG Eleanor Dale 14 2 9+3 2 1 0 1 0
10 MF  NZL Katie Kitching 22 6 14+3 6 2 0 1+2 0
11 DF  ENG Jessica Brown 16 1 10+2 1 2 0 1+1 0
12 MF  ENG Emily Cassap 1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
14 MF  ENG Natasha Fenton 21 0 16+1 0 1 0 3 0
16 GK  IRL Grace Moloney 15 0 14 0 1 0 0 0
17 MF  IRL Jamie Finn 14 0 5+5 0 1 0 3 0
18 MF  ENG Libbi McInnes 6 0 0+3 0 0+1 0 1+1 0
19 FW  ENG Keira Barry 12 3 3+6 1 1 2 2 0
20 FW  WAL Ellen Jones 12 0 0+8 0 1 0 3 0
21 MF  IRL Marissa Sheva 19 1 14+1 1 2 0 1+1 0
22 DF  IRL Tara O'Hanlon 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
24 DF  NIR Caragh Hamilton 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
25 DF  ENG Evie Rabjohn 6 0 1+2 0 0 0 3 0
26 MF  WAL Mared Griffiths 4 1 2+2 1 0 0 0 0
27 DF  SCO Brianna Westrup 15 0 7+3 0 1+1 0 3 0
32 FW  ENG Niyah Dunbar 3 0 0+2 0 0 0 1 0
37 FW  JAM Reanna Blades 5 0 0+4 0 0 0 1 0

Goalscorers

As of 18 March 2026

Rnk No Pos Nat Name WSL2 FA Cup League Cup Total
1 8 FW Emily Scarr 6 0 1 7
2 10 MF Katie Kitching 6 0 0 6
3 7 FW Katy Watson 2 2 0 4
4 19 FW Keira Barry 1 2 0 3
5 2 DF Izzy Atkinson 2 0 0 2
9 FW Eleanor Dale 2 0 0 2
7 3 DF Mary Corbyn 1 0 0 1
4 DF Hannah Greenwood 0 1 0 1
5 DF Rhiannon Roberts 1 0 0 1
11 DF Jessica Brown 1 0 0 1
21 MF Marissa Sheva 1 0 0 1
26 MF Mared Griffiths 1 0 0 1
Total 24 5 1 30

Disciplinary record

As of 18 March 2026

No. Pos. Nat. Player WSL2 FA Cup League Cup Total
       
1 GK Demi Lambourne 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
2 DF Izzy Atkinson 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
3 DF Mary Corbyn 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
4 DF Hannah Greenwood 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
5 DF Rhiannon Roberts 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
6 DF Louise Griffiths 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
7 FW Katy Watson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
8 FW Emily Scarr 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
9 FW Eleanor Dale 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
10 MF Katie Kitching 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
14 MF Natasha Fenton 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0
17 MF Jamie Finn 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
19 FW Keira Barry 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
20 FW Ellen Jones 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
21 MF Marissa Sheva 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
26 MF Mared Griffiths 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Total 23 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 28 1 0

References

  1. ^ Patterson, Charlotte (2026-01-03). "A Season On The Brink: Thoughts On Sunderland AFC Women's 2025/2026 Campaign". Roker Report. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  2. ^ Gregory, Ross (2025-06-20). "Sunderland Women release 7 players and sign up 5 as gear up for promotion tilt". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  3. ^ Smith, Phil (2025-09-05). "Inside Sunderland Women's summer rebuild and why they're bullish for new season". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  4. ^ Patterson, Charlotte (2026-01-05). "SAFC Women: Three loan players return to parent clubs". Sunderland AFC. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  5. ^ "SAFC Women Strengthen Squad with Double Loan Swoop for Hamilton & Griffiths". Roker Report. 2026-02-05. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  6. ^ "Rhiannon Roberts signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Reanna Blades signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Grace Moloney signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  9. ^ "SAFC Women signs Hannah Greenwood". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Sunderland sign Jamie Finn". Sunderland AFC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  11. ^ "IZZY ATKINSON JOINS SAFC WOMEN". Sunderland AFC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Amy Goddard arrives as Women's first summer signing". Southampton FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Durham Women sign England youth international Grace Ede". Durham Women FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Megan Borthwick Joins Boro Women". Middlesbrough FC. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Mary McAteer becomes Hills' fourth signing". Charlton Athletic FC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  16. ^ "JENNA DEAR JOINS TOWN". Ipswich Town FC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Keira Barry joins SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Evie Rabjohn joins Lasses on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Tara O'Hanlon makes switch to SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Mared Griffiths joins SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Caragh Hamilton joins SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  22. ^ "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  23. ^ "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Lasses' first pre-season fixtures confirmed". Sunderland AFC. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  25. ^ https://x.com/SAFCWomen/status/1945835905417175059
  26. ^ "Durham v Sunderland Postponed". Durham Women FC. 2026-01-11. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  27. ^ "Sunderland rescheduled". Sheffield United FC. 2026-02-12. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  28. ^ "SAFC Women's game postponed against Forest". Sunderland AFC. 2026-02-14. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
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