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

Sunderland Women
2025–26 season
Chairman	Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Head coach	Melanie Reay
Stadium	Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
WSL2	11th
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Group Stage
Top goalscorer	League: ; Emily Scarr (6); All: ; Emily Scarr (7)
Highest home attendance	1,745 vs Charlton Athletic; (Women's Super League 2)
Lowest home attendance	426 vs Portsmouth; (Women's Super League 2); 400 vs Sheffield United; (League Cup)
Average home league attendance	863
Biggest win	4-0 vs Sheffield United (Women's Super League 2)
Biggest defeat	0–5 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.

Transfers

In

Date	Pos.	Player	From	Ref.
1 July 2025	CB	Rhiannon Roberts	Real Betis	^[1]
2 July 2025	RW	Reanna Blades	Burnley	^[2]
11 July 2025	GK	Grace Moloney	London City Lionesses	^[3]
18 July 2025	CB	Hannah Greenwood	Newcastle United	^[4]
24 July 2025	CM	Jamie Finn	Birmingham City	^[5]
31 July 2025	LB	Izzy Atkinson	Crystal Palace	^[6]

Out

Date	Pos.	Player	To	Ref.
1 July 2025	CB	Amy Goddard	Southampton	^[7]
4 July 2025	LB	Grace Ede	Durham	^[8]
8 July 2025	GK	Megan Borthwick	Middlesbrough	^[9]
24 July 2025	RW	Mary McAteer	Charlton Athletic	^[10]
31 July 2025	CM	Jenna Dear	Ipswich Town	^[11]

Loaned in

Date	Pos.	Player	From	Date until	Ref.
3 September 2025	ST	Keira Barry	Manchester United	31 December 2025	^[12]
4 September 2025	CB	Evie Rabjohn	Manchester United	End of Season	^[13]
4 September 2025	LB	Tara O'Hanlon	Manchester City	31 December 2025	^[14]

Retired / Out of Contract

Date	Pos.	Player	Subsequent club	Ref.
1 July 2025	RB	Megan Beer	Retired	^[15]
1 July 2025	CB	Grace McCatty	Retired	^[16]

Pre-season and friendlies

On 16 July 2025, Sunderland announced their first slate of pre-season fixtures, against Middlesbrough, Celtic,Rangers, and Nottingham Forest.^[17] 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."^[18]

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	Watson 9', 12', 28' Kitching 20'	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
	Jones 73'	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
	Atkinson 20'	Report	Hardy 25'	Stadium: Academy of Light Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)

Competitions

Overall record

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Women's Championship	5 September 2025	3 May 2026	Matchday 1	11th	10	2	3	5	15	19	−4	020.00
FA Cup	14 December 2025	18 January 2026	Third round	Fourth round	1	1	0	0	5	1	+4	100.00
League Cup	24 September 2025	23 November 2025	Group stage	Group Stage	3	0	1	2	1	7	−6	000.00
Total					14	3	4	7	21	27	−6	021.43

Last updated: 14 December 2025
Source: Competitions

Women's Championship

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
6	Nottingham Forest	11	5	1	5	16	17	−1	16
7	Southampton	11	4	3	4	22	16	+6	15
8	Sunderland	11	3	3	5	17	20	−3	12
9	Sheffield United	11	3	3	5	10	19	−9	12
10	Durham	11	2	4	5	13	15	−2	10

Updated to match(es) played on 21 December 2025. Source: Women's Championship 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
10	2	3	5	15	19	−4	9	1	1	3	7	11	−4	1	2	2	8	8	0

Results by matchday

Matchday	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Result	W	D	W	D	L	D	L	L	L	L
Position	3	4	2	3	6	5	7	8	10	11
Points	3	4	7	8	8	9	9	9	9	9

Source:
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

5 September 2025 1	Sheffield United	0–4	Sunderland	Sheffield
18:00 BST		Report	Atkinson 40' Roberts 52' Kitching 80' Scarr 90', 90+6'	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 885 Referee: Levi Gray

14 September 2025 2	Sunderland	1–1	Birmingham City	Sunderland
14:00 BST	Scarr 60' Finn 74' Corbyn 75'	Report	Sarri 63'	Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 753 Referee: Phoebe Cross

19 September 2025 3	Sunderland	2–1	Durham	Hetton-le-Hole
19:00 BST	Fenton 46' Scarr 53' Kitching 85'	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	Peplow 45+4' Ferguson 56' Primus 76'	Report	Watson 19' Roberts 45+4' Sheva 75'	Stadium: Westleigh Park Attendance: 1,367 Referee: Ella Broad

5 October 2025 5	Sunderland	0–2	Charlton Athletic	Sunderland
14:00 BST		Report	Hutton 19', 68'	Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 1,745 Referee: Aimee Keir

12 October 2025 6	Crystal Palace	1–1	Sunderland	Sutton, London
12:00 BST	Howat 12' Nolan 12'	Report	Watson 9'	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	Sáez 14' Lawley 18' Lloyd-Smith 24' Hardy 56' Syme 88' (pen.)	Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 487 Referee: Jodie Hunter

9 November 2025 8	Sunderland	2–3	Portsmouth	Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT	Scarr 25', 79'	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	Mannion 58' Cooper 63' Murphy 66', 78' Stokes 73'	Report	Fenton 31' Corbyn 48' Dale 53' Barry 68'	Stadium: St James' Park Referee: Phoebe Cross

7 December 2025 10	Nottingham Forest	3–1	Sunderland	West Bridgford
14:00 GMT	Boye-Hlorkah 19', 87', 90+6' Claypole 31' Stapleton 38'	Report	Scarr 69'	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 1,007 Referee: Levi Gray

21 December 2025 11	Sunderland	2–1	Ipswich Town	Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT	Scarr 49' Brown 75' Atkinson 77'		Dean 19' Guyatt 76' Dear 68'	Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 403

11 January 2025 12	Durham	v	Sunderland	Durham
12:00 GMT				Stadium: Maiden Castle

25 January 2026 13	Sunderland	v	Southampton	Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT				Stadium: Eppleton CW

30 January 2026 14	Bristol City	v	Sunderland	Bristol
19:00 GMT				Stadium: Ashton Gate

6 February 2026 15	Sunderland	v	Sheffield United	Sunderland
19:00 GMT				Stadium: Stadium of Light

15 February 2026 16	Sunderland	v	Nottingham Forest	Hetton-le-Hole
14:00 GMT				Stadium: Eppleton CW

15 March 2026 17	Charlton Athletic	v	Sunderland	Charlton
14:00 GMT				Stadium: The Valley

22 March 2026 18	Portsmouth	v	Sunderland	Portsmouth
14:00 GMT				Stadium: Fratton Park

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

3 May 2026 22	Ipswich Town	v	Sunderland	Myland
01:00 BST				Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium

FA Cup

14 December 2024 Third round proper	Derby County	1-5	Sunderland	Mickleover
14:00 GMT	Muir 4' Melrose ?' 60'	Report	Barry 9', 56' Watson 13', 25' Jones 32' Greenwood 63'	Stadium: The Don Amott Arena Attendance: 338 Referee: Lee Hurst

18 January 2025 Fourth round proper		v
14:00 GMT

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	Evans 7' Clark 21', 83' Shimizu 41' Haug 71', 89'	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	Fenton 24'	Report	Andrews 39' O'Rourke 60' Foy 90+6'	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	Scarr 50' Barry 62'	Report	Ayre 18' Robson 41' Hepple 72'	Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 453 Referee: William Davis
	Penalties
	Fenton Barry Scarr Westrup		Hepple Watson Foster Speckmaier Briggs

Statistics

Italics indicate a loaned in player.

Appearances

As of 14 December 2025

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

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		WSL2		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Demi Lambourne	4	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
2	DF	IRL	Izzy Atkinson	8	1	5+3	1	0	0	0	0
3	DF	ENG	Mary Corbyn	12	1	5+3	1	0+1	0	2+1	0
4	DF	ENG	Hannah Greenwood	13	1	10	0	1	1	1+1	0
5	DF	WAL	Rhiannon Roberts	10	1	9	1	1	0	0	0
6	DF	ENG	Louise Griffiths	11	0	8	0	1	0	1+1	0
7	FW	ENG	Katy Watson	14	4	9+1	2	1	2	0+3	0
8	FW	ENG	Emily Scarr	13	7	10	6	0	0	1+2	1
9	FW	ENG	Eleanor Dale	6	0	4+1	0	0	0	1	0
10	MF	NZL	Katie Kitching	14	3	9+1	3	1	0	1+2	0
11	DF	ENG	Jessica Brown	9	0	5+1	0	1	0	1+1	0
12	MF	ENG	Emily Cassap	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
14	MF	ENG	Natasha Fenton	13	0	10	0	0	0	3	0
16	GK	IRL	Grace Moloney	10	0	10	0	0	0	0	0
17	MF	IRL	Jamie Finn	11	0	4+3	0	1	0	3	0
18	MF	ENG	Libbi McInnes	5	0	0+2	0	0+1	0	1+1	0
19	FW	ENG	Kiera Barry	11	3	2+6	1	1	2	2	0
20	FW	WAL	Ellen Jones	9	0	0+5	0	1	0	3	0
21	MF	IRL	Marissa Sheva	11	0	7+1	0	1	0	1+1	0
22	DF	IRL	Tara O'Hanlon	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	0
25	DF	ENG	Evie Rabjohn	6	0	1+2	0	0	0	3	0
27	DF	SCO	Brianna Westrup	7	0	0+3	0	0+1	0	3	0
32	FW	ENG	Niyah Dunbar	3	0	0+2	0	0	0	1	0
37	FW	JAM	Reanna Blades	3	0	0+2	0	0	0	1	0

Goalscorers

As of 14 December 2025

Rnk	No	Pos	Name	WSL2	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	8	FW	Emily Scarr	6	0	1	7
2	7	FW	Katy Watson	2	2	0	4
3	10	MF	Katie Kitching	3	0	0	3
3	19	FW	Keira Barry	1	2	0	3
4	2	DF	Izzy Atkinson	1	0	0	1
	3	DF	Mary Corbyn	1	0	0	1
	4	DF	Hannah Greenwood	0	1	0	1
	5	DF	Rhiannon Roberts	1	0	0	1
Total				14	5	1	20

Disciplinary record

As of 14 December 2025

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	WSL2			FA Cup			League Cup			Total
No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player
3	DF		Mary Corbyn	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
4	DF		Hannah Greenwood	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
5	DF		Rhiannon Roberts	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
8	FW		Emily Scarr	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
14	MF		Natasha Fenton	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	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	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total				9	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	12	0	0

References

^ "Rhiannon Roberts signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Reanna Blades signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Grace Moloney signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "SAFC Women signs Hannah Greenwood". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Sunderland sign Jamie Finn". Sunderland AFC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "IZZY ATKINSON JOINS SAFC WOMEN". Sunderland AFC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Amy Goddard arrives as Women's first summer signing". Southampton FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Durham Women sign England youth international Grace Ede". Durham Women FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Megan Borthwick Joins Boro Women". Middlesbrough FC. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Mary McAteer becomes Hills' fourth signing". Charlton Athletic FC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "JENNA DEAR JOINS TOWN". Ipswich Town FC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Keira Barry joins SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Evie Rabjohn joins Lasses on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Tara O'Hanlon makes switch to SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
^ "Lasses' first pre-season fixtures confirmed". Sunderland AFC. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
^ https://x.com/SAFCWomen/status/1945835905417175059

External links

Official website

[1] "Rhiannon Roberts signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[2] "Reanna Blades signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[3] "Grace Moloney signs for Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[4] "SAFC Women signs Hannah Greenwood". Sunderland AFC. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[5] "Sunderland sign Jamie Finn". Sunderland AFC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[6] "IZZY ATKINSON JOINS SAFC WOMEN". Sunderland AFC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[7] "Amy Goddard arrives as Women's first summer signing". Southampton FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[8] "Durham Women sign England youth international Grace Ede". Durham Women FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[9] "Megan Borthwick Joins Boro Women". Middlesbrough FC. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[10] "Mary McAteer becomes Hills' fourth signing". Charlton Athletic FC. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[11] "JENNA DEAR JOINS TOWN". Ipswich Town FC. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[12] "Keira Barry joins SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[13] "Evie Rabjohn joins Lasses on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[14] "Tara O'Hanlon makes switch to SAFC Women on loan". Sunderland AFC. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[15] "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[16] "SAFC Women: 2025-26 retained list submitted". Sunderland AFC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[17] "Lasses' first pre-season fixtures confirmed". Sunderland AFC. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.

[18] ttps://x.com/SAFCWomen/status/1945835905417175059

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]