WSL and WCL talking points: City have a Knaak and is Dumornay the world’s best?

Pressure builds on Skinner

Marc Skinner took full accountability after Manchester United dropped more points in their penultimate match. Lea Schüller scored a late equaliser to salvage a draw against Brighton but that is unlikely to be enough in their pursuit of Champions League football. For United to finish third they must win at Chelsea in their one remaining game and, given a vastly inferior goal difference, hope Arsenal take no more than a point from their final four fixtures. Skinner has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, not for the first time in his United career, and admitted he understood the frustration from supporters. “I hear it, I feel it,” he said. “I’m at the head of the football club. I’m accountable, right? I’m there for people to give their opinion. I work tirelessly hard to push this football club. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I will never deny that but there’s no one more disappointed than me today for not taking three points.” Emillia Hawkins

Spurs set best points tally

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses was a microcosm of their season: highly creative and exciting going forward with a tendency for a defensive wobble. Since February, no side have recorded more shots than Spurs and only two have had more touches in the opposition box. At Brisbane Road, Signe Gaupset ran the show, driving the team forward from midfield and capping it off with a well-taken goal. The visitors struggled to imprint themselves on the game but took advantage of Spurs’ waning energy levels late on, pulling a goal back and forcing Lize Kop into a series of important saves. Martin Ho’s side weathered the storm, however, securing the club’s highest WSL points tally. It was the perfect home send off for the six players leaving this summer, with fans having the opportunity to say a fond farewell to Bethany England, Kit Graham, Josefine Rybrink, Charlotte Grant, Amy James-Turner and Luana Bühler. Sophie Downey

Bethany England of Tottenham Hotspur at a post match presentation at the Betwright Stadium. Photograph: Javier García/THFC/Shutterstock

Sam Kerr takes outright record

As the cliché goes: “Form is temporary; class is permanent.” No one is embodying this more than Sam Kerr right now. The forward is making a statement as this campaign comes to a close, with her contract up in the summer. By scoring the opener in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Leicester City she overtook Fran Kirby to become Chelsea’s all-time WSL top scorer with 64 goals. It was Kerr’s fourth in her past three league matches and sixth of the season, an indication that after an arduous recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in 2024, she is very much back to her best. Kerr has had to be patient, not just with fitness issues but also with Sonia Bompastor’s decisions despite a dearth of out-and-out strikers. She completed her first 90 minutes in the league on 29 March before also playing in full the three matches that followed in all competitions. With victory over the promotion-relegation playoff-bound Foxes, Chelsea secured Champions League qualification, a big relief as the club look to build for next season. SD

Charlton blow nine-point lead to land playoff

Charlton had a nine-point lead at the top of WSL 2 in March but will contest a playoff against Leicester on 23 May after missing out on automatic promotion. They finished third thanks to a combination of a drop-off in form and a surging run from Crystal Palace, whose 12th win in 14 matches secured second spot on Saturday. Charlton started the final day top but were beaten at home by Birmingham City, whose investment in the January transfer window paid off as their record signing, Wilma Leidhammar, scored twice in a 2-0 victory at the Valley that made them champions. That takes Birmingham, founder members of the WSL in 2011, into the top tier for the first time since 2022. Palace have gone back to the WSL at the first attempt. TG