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 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.
In the first half of the season the team struggled with inconsistent form. Following a strong start where they picked up eight points from the first four games, the team only picked up another two points over the next seven fixtures. By the halfway point of the season, Sunderland sat in eighth place, in the lower half of the league, with negative goal difference and having suffered a bruising loss in the Tyne–Wear derby to Newcastle United.
In the second half of the season, the Lasses continued to struggle with inconsistent form. Despite going five home games unbeaten during the backend of the season, a failure to turn draws into wins resulted in an 8th-place finish.
On 7 April 2026, it was announced that multi-club ownership organisation Bay Collective had reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Sunderland Women. Led by former Football Association director Kay Cossington, Bay Collective are the majority owners of NWSL club Bay FC.
Transfers With the potential of up to three teams promoted to the Women's Super League as part of the expansion of the top tier, Eleanor Dale, Katie Kitching, Libbi McInnes, Katy Watson and Ellen Jones signed new contracts at the club ahead of the new season. Sunderland bolstered their squad with the signings of Hannah Greenwood and the international quintet of Rhiannon Roberts, Reanna Blades, Grace Moloney, Jamie Finn, and Izzy Atkinson. In the final days of the transfer window, three loanees were added to the squad.
In January, the three loanees of Keira Barry, Evie Rabjohn and Tara O'Hanlon returned to their parent clubs.
On 3 February 2026, Sunderland announced the loan signings of Mared Griffiths and Caragh Hamilton to bolster the squad.
In DatePos.PlayerFromRef. 1 July 2025 CB Rhiannon Roberts Real Betis 2 July 2025 RW Reanna Blades Burnley 11 July 2025 GK Grace Moloney London City Lionesses 18 July 2025 CB Hannah Greenwood Newcastle United 24 July 2025 CM Jamie Finn Birmingham City 31 July 2025 LB Izzy Atkinson Crystal Palace
Out DatePos.PlayerToRef. 1 July 2025 CB Amy Goddard Southampton 4 July 2025 LB Grace Ede Durham 8 July 2025 GK Megan Borthwick Middlesbrough 24 July 2025 RW Mary McAteer Charlton Athletic 31 July 2025 CM Jenna Dear Ipswich Town
Loaned in DatePos.PlayerFromDate untilRef. 3 September 2025 ST Keira Barry Manchester United 31 December 2025 4 September 2025 CB Evie Rabjohn Manchester United 5 January 2026 4 September 2025 LB Tara O'Hanlon Manchester City 31 December 2025 3 February 2026 CM Mared Griffiths Manchester United End of season 3 February 2026 RB Caragh Hamilton Nottingham Forest End of season
Retired / Out of Contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubRef. 1 July 2025 RB Megan Beer Retired 1 July 2025 CB Grace McCatty Retired
Pre-season and friendlies On 16 July 2025, Sunderland announced their first slate of pre-season fixtures, against Middlesbrough, Celtic, Rangers, and Nottingham Forest. Games against Leicester City and Bristol City were later added to the schedule.
Competitions Overall record
Women's Super League 2
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches
FA Cup
League Cup
Group stage
Statistics Italics indicate a loaned in player.
Appearances
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
Goalscorers As of 2 May 2026 NameWSL2FA CupLeague CupTotal18FWEmily Scarr6017210MFKatie Kitching60067FWKaty Watson420649FWEleanor Dale4004519FWKeira Barry120362DFIzzy Atkinson200273DFMary Corbyn10014DFHannah Greenwood01015DFRhiannon Roberts100111DFJessica Brown100121MFMarissa Sheva100126MFMared Griffiths1001Total275133
Disciplinary record As of 2 May 2026 Player WSL2 FA Cup League Cup Total 1GKDemi Lambourne2000000002002DFIzzy Atkinson0001000001003DFMary Corbyn2000000002004DFHannah Greenwood2000000002005DFRhiannon Roberts3000000003006DFLouise Griffiths0100000000107FWKaty Watson1000000001008FWEmily Scarr3000000003009FWEleanor Dale20000000020010MFKatie Kitching10000010010011DFJessica Brown00010000010014MFNatasha Fenton40010010060017MFJamie Finn20000000020019FWKeira Barry00000010010020FWEllen Jones00010000010021MFMarissa Sheva50000000050026MFMared Griffiths30000000030027DFBrianna Westrup200000000200Total 31104002003710
References
External links