Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter breaks down the big talking points from the latest Women’s Super League fixtures and explores the key stories at the heart of the women’s game.
James proves to be a class above
Lauren James was the best player on the park as Chelsea beat Manchester United in the League Cup
“LJ is probably the most talented player in the world,” Sonia Bompastre said after Chelsea beat Manchester United to win the League Cup on Sunday. This is high praise from a manager who has coached multiple Champions League winners at Lyon and was a former champion himself.
However, Lauren James is professionally talented. A unique type of playmaker who reads and scrutinizes the game through a different lens. She has earned a reputation as a maverick, as very few people are on her wavelength. Perhaps she is actually more than that.
These types of players often earn the greatest praise, but are equally susceptible to the sharpest criticism. The reason is that they are held to different standards than many other people. James can turn a game around in the blink of an eye. She is expected to do so every time she plays.
But of course in the real world it’s difficult to achieve a 10/10 every week. Especially for a player who has only managed a total of 429 minutes of WSL minutes this season and continues to struggle with fitness issues. But she remains one of the best at stepping up to the big stage, and did so on Sunday, ensuring the continuation of Bompastre’s incredible record in national finals.
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Sonia Bompastre is confident Chelsea can offer more this season after winning their first silver medal
The Frenchwoman has coached three finals with Lyon and three finals with Chelsea, where she won the championship. It appears to be the first time that James has reached his optimal level in one of Bompastre’s signature games, although he was somewhat subdued in last year’s League Cup final win over Man City and was injured when Chelsea won the FA Cup.
Opponent manager Mark Skinner commented after the game, “She’s great, but she has to fight tooth and nail,” complaining about her team’s alertness and lack of aggression. What James provides, even when he’s not at his best, is an element of fear. Players are afraid to participate. Even with a firm touch, her jinx abilities can be perplexing. You don’t have to worry about which leg you use because you are equally skilled.
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Lauren James scores first goal as Chelsea beat Man United
After scoring the opening goal on Sunday, James cupped his ears, presumably in response to boos from the Man United side. She also contributed to the second goal, playing a nice one-two with Joanna Ritting-Canelid, before the winger crossed for scorer Aggie Beaver-Jones. And in fact, she didn’t need to do anything more. Those were the two moments that decided the match.
But in prime time, James wants to play the game from start to finish. There was no player on the park that could match her nine touches inside the opposition box and three shots on target. Although her efforts are sometimes criticized, no other Chelsea player has recovered the ball more times (10). There are very few maverick-type players who perform retrieval work off the ball.
“If her injury heals, she will be one of the best players in the world,” Bonpastar concluded. Chelsea and England are lucky to have her, as she is currently under contract until 2030.
Galli’s return takes Everton to a new level
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton
Returning to league matters, Sunday was another fascinating afternoon in an unpredictable WSL campaign. Leaders Manchester City were held back by struggling Aston Villa, while Liverpool eased fears of relegation with another win. But it was Everton’s result that caught my eye.
Only Man City and Man United (both 13) have collected more points than Everton (12) in 2026, with Kelly Gago scoring the winning goal off the bench in the second half in the 2-1 win over Spurs, giving them four straight league wins for the first time since October 2020.
Everton have moved up five places in the WSL table since sacking manager Brian Sorensen last month. Consistency under interim manager Scott Phelan has been key to success, quickly identifying a group of players he can trust and sticking to that formula.
Aurora Galli played his first 90 minutes for Everton against Spurs after returning from a year-long injury break
However, for the first time in the Asia Cup, four players were forced to start in away games to beat Spurs. The most impactful substitution was Aurora Galli, who finished the first 90 minutes of the season after missing a year due to injury. She dispatched Toni Payne one-on-one right after the start and created more chances (three) than any other player overall.
Creatively, Galli is the spark that Everton have lacked for much of this season. She is someone who can command central areas and open passing lanes that other midfielders cannot access. Ornella Vignola also offers a lot of invention in possession, and that connection will no doubt prove fruitful in future matches.
Finally, this looks like a decent team that can give even the best teams in the division a run for their money.
Are Arsenal in pole position to qualify for the Champions League?
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between London City Lionesses and Arsenal
“Arsenal have the momentum at the moment and are doing well in the league,” Jiří Christiansen said in the Sky Sports studio on Sunday. “They have a good structure, they are working and they will play great football on the day.”
The reason that last sentence is noteworthy is because Arsenal have endured a disproportionate number of off days in a lopsided first half of the season. They have lost credibility and are no longer able to turn game advantages into goals or turn large numbers of draws into wins. In the end, he missed out on winning the title in December.
Accepting their league would mean competing for second or third place. According to Opta’s predictive model, they finish six points behind champions Man City, and although the gap is currently closing, they are still a long way from challenging.
Renee Sleggers will have to balance commitments – her team will have played more games than any other WSL team by May – but she will be the first to admit that, domestically at least, ambition will take precedence over this year’s possibilities.
Considering they don’t have to face the current top three in their warm-up games, European qualification is in their hands. And for a club like Arsenal, that is the absolute minimum requirement.
