The 2025 Women's League Cup final was the fourteenth final of the Women's League Cup, England's secondary cup competition for women's football teams and its primary league cup tournament. It took place on 15 March 2025 at Pride Park, and was contested by Chelsea and Manchester City.
Chelsea made their sixth consecutive (and sixth overall) appearance in a League Cup final, having lost the previous three editions. Manchester City were contest their first League Cup Final since 2022, which was also against Chelsea.
Chelsea won the match 2–1 and clinched their third title. Maya Ramirez gave Chelsea an early lead when her saved effort richoted back into her path off Laia Alexandri. Manchester City were able to find an equaliser thanks to a rasping effort from Aoba Fujino. But it was Chelsea who would go on to lift the cup, when Yui Hasegawa's attempt to block Ramirez's cross looped past Ayaka Yamashita and into her own net.
Route to the final
Chelsea +RoundOppositionScoreGSByeQFDurham (H)5–0SFWest Ham United (H)2–0Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away Chelsea entered the competition at the knockout stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In their quarter-final, they were drawn at home to Durham. Aggie Beever-Jones opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading in Ashley Lawrence's deflected cross. Durham were able to hold Chelsea at bay for just over an hour, but once Oriane Jean-François scored with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box, the floodgates opened. Erin Cuthbert converted another Lawrence cross, Guro Reiten scrambled home a corner, and Maika Hamano beat the keeper with a looping cross that flew straight into the net.
In their semi-final, they were drawn at home against West Ham United. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd beat Kinga Szemik at her near post with a stinging drive after just twenty minutes to give Chelsea the lead, and nine minutes later, the Blues' spot in the final was secured. Sjoeke Nüsken pounced on a loose pass in the defence, played a one-two with Reiten, rounded Szemik and slotted the ball into the empty net.
Manchester City RoundOppositionScoreGSByeQFManchester United (A)1–2SFArsenal (A)1–2Key: (H) = Home; (A) = Away Manchester City entered the competition at the knockout stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In their quarter-final, they were drawn away to local rivals Manchester United, who had previously beaten them 4–2 at the Etihad Stadium. They were well on their way to avenging that defeat when Laura Coombs converted Lily Murphy's low cross at the near post. However, Manchester United equalised thanks to Millie Turner's well-executed volley. It would prove to be in vain, however, as on the cusp of half time, Murphy cut inside and curled a brilliant effort from the edge of the box beyond the dive of Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
In their semi-final, they were drawn away to reigning champions Arsenal. Like in the previous round, Manchester City had lost to their opponents in the league days earlier, but once again, they would avenge that defeat. Manchester City took the lead through Mary Fowler with a thumping finish following a barnstorming run from Vivianne Miedema. Arsenal were able to find an equaliser in the second half with a penalty from Mariona Caldentey, and Daphne van Domselaar then saved a penalty from Fowler minutes later. With the game approaching extra-time, Manchester City launched one final attack and Mary Fowler scored the winner from the edge of the box with virtually the last kick of the game.
Match
Details
GK 24 Hannah HamptonLB 17 Sandy Baltimore LCB 14 Nathalie BjörnRCB 4 Millie Bright (c)RB 22 Lucy Bronze LCM 6 Sjoeke NüskenRCM 8 Erin CuthbertLW 10 Lauren JamesCAM 9 Catarina Macario RW 19 Johanna Rytting Kaneryd FW 7 Mayra Ramírez Substitutes:GK 38 Becky SpencerLB 21 Niamh Charles MF 12 Ashley LawrenceMF 18 Wieke Kaptein MF 27 Oriane Jean-FrançoisMF 53 Lola BrownFW 2 Mia FishelFW 23 Maika Hamano FW 33 Aggie Beever-Jones Manager: Sonia Bompastor GK 31 Ayaka YamishitaLB 15 Leila OuahabiLCB 4 Laia Aleixandri (c)RCB 28 Gracie PriorRB 18 Kerstin CasparijLCM 6 Vivianne Miedema CDM 25 Yui HasegawaRM 10 Jill RoordLW 8 Mary FowlerFW 21 Khadija Shaw RW 20 Aoba Fujino Substitutes:GK 35 Khiara KeatingCB 3 Naomi LayzellRB 13 Laura WienroitherMF 7 Laura CoombsMF 16 Jess Park MF 19 Laura Blindkilde BrownMF 30 Aemu OyamaFW 14 Kerolin FW 46 Lily MurphyManager: Nick Cushing
Player of the match: Millie Bright (Chelsea)
Assistant referees:
Fourth official:Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Nine named substitutes. Maximum of five substitutions in three stoppages.
References
External links