Podcast
BBC Women's Football Weekly
Hosted by BBC Radio 5 Live · EN
Whether you're a lifelong Lionesses fan or just getting into the women's game, BBC Women's Football Weekly brings you closer to the action with new episodes every week.
Ben Haines teams up with England's record goalscorer Ellen White and former Scotland international Jen Beattie to unpack the biggest talking points from the Women's Super League and beyond - covering match previews, standout performances, and all the drama on and off the pitch. BBC Women's Football Weekly also features exclusive interviews with the biggest stars in the Women's Super League and national teams.
Subscribe now to get every episode as soon as it drops and stay in the know with the latest from the world of women's football. Plus, listen to classic episodes of Jill Scott's Coffee Club, where Jill sits down with players for honest, off-the-pitch conversations over a coffee.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Six for the Lionesses, three for Caroline Weir, and one unsung hero
Mar 400:41:01Tap to summarizeBen Haines, Ellen White and Soccer Aid's newest recruit, Jen Beattie are back together to look back on games which saw England and Scotland get their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign off to flying starts.The team focus on the performances of England's goalscorers, Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park and ask whether a more experimental back line was tested enough against Ukraine. Captain Caroline Weir scored her first international hat-trick as Scotland hit five without reply against Luxembourg. Jen discusses how the side are finding their freedom again.Plus, ahead of International Women's Day, the pod give a huge shoutout to Jen O'Neill, their unsung hero of the women's game.TIMECODES: 00:15 - Jen is Soccer Aid’s newest recruit! 04:18 - England goalscorer focus against Ukraine, starting with Jess Park. 06:55 - Georgia Stanway showing why she’s in demand this summer. 12:00 - Alessia Russo is a ‘world-class’ number 9. 16:33 - A more experimental back four for England. 21:17 - What changes could we see against Iceland on Saturday? 24:20 - Scotland hit the ground running against Luxembourg. 29:00 - Scotland are finding their freedom again. 31:25 - Is Kirsty Hanson the most underrated player in the WSL? 33:22 - We name our Women’s Football Weekly unsung hero ahead of International Women’s Day.
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The Football Interview with Leah Williamson
Mar 100:14:21Tap to summarizeIn this week’s edition of the Football Interview, first broadcast on the Football Daily podcast, Kelly Somers speaks to England captain Leah Williamson. They discuss her early memories of getting into football, the impact her family have had on her, and how she nearly dropped out of the Arsenal academy at the age of 15. She relives captaining England to back-to-back European titles and reveals to Kelly the one thing that's missing that would complete her career.TIMECODES: 0’40 - First memories of football and not being very good. 2’20 - How she nearly dropped out of the academy at Arsenal at 15. 3’50 - Has there been a turning point? 4’55 - What match from her career would she relive? 6’00 - Did she realise what she’d done [winning Euro 2022]? 7’42 - How has it changed her life? 8’09 - The fuel to do win it again in 2025. 8’40 - What was she like growing up and her family dynamic. 10’26 - How she escapes from football and love of fashion. 12’53 - What else does she want to achieve?
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Extra: Inside England with Lauren Hemp and Leah Williamson.
Feb 2600:36:54Tap to summarizeBen Haines and Em Sanders are back at St. George's Park as the Lionesses get ready to start their journey to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.Ben and Em look ahead to the first fixtures of England's qualifying campaign against Ukraine and Iceland early next month and the squad are boosted by the return of captain Leah Williamson who is back in the squad for the first time since Euro 2025.Leah joins Ben for a quick chat to discuss being back with the squad and what, or more specifically who, she missed while she was away recovering from her knee injury.Ben is joined by another member of the squad, Manchester City's Lauren Hemp, who discusses bringing her good form and confidence from club to country, enjoying her football again and what she's packed for an extended time away on camp.Plus, Ben and Em ask what Jess Park's best position is in this side given her current form and discuss the key positions in the back and forward lines that could be up for grabs over the next few weeks.TIMECODES: 00:03 - Ben Haines and Em Sanders are back at St. George's Park for the start of the 2027 World Cup cycle. 05:10 - England captain Leah Williamson joins Ben. 09:00 - How could England's defence line up over these two qualifiers? 12:05 - Lauren Hemp's brilliant form this season. 14:25 - England and Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp joins Ben. 29:22 - Ben and Em react to Lauren's interview. 32:20 - What are the key positions in the forward line that could be up for grabs?
Transcribe →Champions League firsts and World Cup campaigns begin
Feb 2400:44:23Tap to summarizeEllen White and Jen Beattie kick off the countdown to the 2027 FIFA World Cup by speaking to vice-captain Erin Cuthbert ahead of Scotland's first qualifying match. We also hear from Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson as she juggles parenthood and the campaign to make it back-to-back major tournaments for Wales. Elsewhere on the international scene, the Asian Cup gets underway on the 1st of March. Which WSL teams will be most impacted by players leaving to compete there?Plus, there's reaction to a mixed week for Manchester United who have qualified for their first Champions League quarter final but lost again to 'bogey team' Chelsea in the FA Cup. TIMECODES: 3'25 Why can't Manchester United overcome Chelsea? 14'45 Champions League chat 20'16 Real Madrid being the only team not to host their quarter-final leg at their 'main' stadium 22'58 Rhian Wilkinson 28'00 Jess Fishlock returns to Wales 30'04 What impact will the Asian Cup have on the WSL? 33'36 Erin Cuthbert interview
Transcribe →Lionesses squad, City’s season without Europe and Jen Beattie the super skater?!
Feb 1700:50:04Tap to summarizeBen Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie react to the latest Lionesses squad announcement as captain Leah Williamson returns for the first time since Euro 2025. Emma Sanders sits down with England manager Sarina Wiegman and the team discuss managing minutes and whether it's time for England to have a recognised left-back with Poppy Pattinson's inclusion in the squad.With a month-long break from the WSL ahead of us, Ben, Ellen and Jen deep dive into how much Manchester City's domestic dominance could be down to the fact they are not in the Champions League this season.The team also look ahead to the second leg of the UWCL play-offs, the fifth round of the FA Cup and chaos ensues as we uncover what sports Jen and Ellen would want to take part in at the Winter Olympics!TIMECODES: 00:30 - What Winter Olympic sport would Ellen and Jen compete in? 06:20 - Lionesses squad announced as they begin their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign. 11:40 - Poppy Pattinson’s call up and the need for a recognised left-back. 14:35 - Em Sanders chats to England manager Sarina Wiegman. 20:15 - Managing player minutes this international break. 23:30 - Scotland name their squad for a Luxembourg double-header. 27:40 - How much has Man City’s season without Europe contributed to their WSL dominance? 38:50 - Brighton v Arsenal postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 41:00 - Ellen on the month long break in the WSL and how that could impact teams. 46:10 - Look ahead to the Champions League play-off round second legs. 47:50 - FA Cup fifth round preview.
Transcribe →Extra: Eat & Yap with Olivia Smith & Alex Scott!
Feb 1200:31:25Tap to summarizeAlex Scott meets Olivia Smith for a girl dinner to Eat & Yap about Canada, her Jamaican and Peruvian heritage and life at Arsenal.Together, they try Olivia's favourite Canadian and Jamaican food whilst talking about her upbringing, life on and off the pitch since moving to north London this summer and getting football tips from her little sister!You can watch the new Eat & Yap series with Alex Scott on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport YouTube channel now.
Transcribe →Staying off the bottom, the race for Europe and Paul Green leaves Chelsea
Feb 1000:42:55Tap to summarizeBen Haines, Ellen White, Jen Beattie reflect on the weekends WSL action as the race for Europe gets tighter, the battle to stay off the bottom gets tougher and there are new contracts and departures at Chelsea.The team reflect on wins for Liverpool, West Ham and Everton as Leicester City suddenly find themselves at the foot of the table.Some big results at the other end of the table too as the fight for a top three spot and a Champions League football gets tighter and tighter between Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.Jen reacts to the news Caroline Weir has been named Scotland captain on an official basis, plus the pod reacts to Paul Green leaving his role as Chelsea's head of women's football after 13 years.TIMECODES: 00:10 - Madonna spotted at Spurs vs Chelsea! 03:30 - Liverpool are off the bottom of the table for the first time since November. 07:40 - West Ham stun Brighton with three late goals 12:15 - Leicester suffer their ninth loss in 14 league games 14:44 - Everton part ways with Brian Sorensen 17:55 - Praise for Courtney Brosnan 21:15 - Arsenal end Manchester City’s 13-game winning run 22:25 - Lotte Wubben-Moy vs Bunny Shaw 27:40 - Chelsea get back to winning ways against Tottenham 30:20 - New contract for Sonia Bompastor and Paul Green leaves Chelsea 34:40 - Caroline Weir announced as new Scotland captain 38:30 - Looking ahead to this week's UWCL knock out play-offs.
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Extra: Revisiting London City Lionesses with Godfrey, Cascarino and van de Donk
Feb 500:38:24Tap to summarizeFive months on from spending the day with some of the London City Lionesses squad back in August, Ben Haines is back at Cobdown Park to catch up with a superstar trio after the WSL mid-season break.Danielle van de Donk is back on the pod shortly after making her debut for the side to talk about her recovery, going through rehab when your a new member of a team and reveals whether she's been taking part in the squad's Spanish lessons!New signing, France forward Delphine Cascarino, chats to Ben about joining the WSL, her ambitions with the club and how she's settled into London life so far.Plus, Freya Godfrey joins Ben, fresh from scoring her fourth WSL goal of the season, to talk being 'more selfish' on the pitch, her first England camp and her love of jigsaw puzzles!
Transcribe →Man City title holders in waiting, transfer deadline day & Arsenal champions again!
Feb 300:39:46Tap to summarizeBen Haines, Ellen White, Jen Beattie and special guest Karen Bardsley reflect on the weekend that may well have sealed the title for City as they beat holders Chelsea 5-1 to put them 11 points clear. KB gives an insight into behind the scenes at City and manager Jeglertz style and why City are now the team to fear. Has Sonia Bompastor got her tactics wrong with the fight for those Champions League spots very much on. The transfer window closes today with the likes of Georgia Stanway and Ona Batlle potentially on the move to Arsenal in the summer. Could Katie McCabe be leaving the club? Plus more history for Arsenal as they win the Champions Cup with Jen representing the Kim Little fan club from across the pond!Timecodes: 01:00 Welcome back KB! 04:00 Chelsea defending 09:30 Lauren Hemp 13:35 City the team to fear 25:25 Transfer window 27:30 Ona Batlle to Arsenal? 29:30 Katie McCabe to leave? 30:40 Champions Cup Commentary of Arsenal v Manchester City in the WSL, Sunday 8 Feb 1200 KO, Sports Extra 2
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Extra: Rachel Daly on captaincy, versatility and learning how to curtsy
Feb 100:20:15Tap to summarizeBen Haines catches up with Aston Villa captain Rachel Daly after the mid-season break to talk wedding planning, finding her form in her more 'natural position' and the type of captain she is, both on and off the pitch.Ben and Rachel also discuss the rise of Lucia Kendall, how good it is to Ellie Roebuck back on the pitch and the kind of role Rachel will have whilst she's temporarily sidelined with an injury.
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