Honours even for WBA Women

Left to right, back row to front: 7 - Sim Jhamat, 3 - Hannah George, 6 - Izzy Green, 23 - Lavarna ‘LJ’ Johnson, 2 - Taylor Reynolds, 9 - Rhianne Oakley, 4 - Fran Orthodoxou, 14 - Ellie May, 10 - Liv Rabjohn (C), 24 - Ella Haughey, 8 - Seren Watkins. Photo by Liam Sheasby.

West Bromwich Albion Women began their 2025/26 campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at newly promoted Loughborough Lightning. The Albion took an early lead through midfielder Fran Orthodoxou, scoring a rare header from a Liv Rabjohn corner, but the visitors were almost immediately pegged back after a quick break by Loughborough, with Lavarna Johnson parrying a Lucy Cooper shot back into the path of Ella-Mai Coutts who got it over the line.

While the Baggies might rue missed chances, Loughborough did also hit the crossbar twice, so 1-1 could easily have been 3-3 on a different day, and an away draw - against an undefeated side from last season - isn’t a terrible start to a new season while some players build fitness and others return from injury.

Albion manager Siobhan Hodgetts-Still started with a familiar side, full of experience, but had new signings Molly Kehoe, Ruby Heselden, and Amya Hammond-McLean on the bench with Kate Evans, Asiah Janny, and Naomi Sharp to give some options for later in the game. Chances were afforded for some, with Hammond replacing Jhamat in the 66th minute and Kehoe replacing former Cardiff teammate Watkins in the 77th. Kate Evans and Asiah Janny also featured.

Next weekend sees the Women travel away to Hull, but before then there’s a midweek tie on Wednesday against Stourbridge in the new WNL Cup. The Baggies are in Group N with Stourbridge, Leicester City U21s, and Leafield Athletic.

Editor’s Note: Since posting this article, the venue for Wednesday’s cup tie has changed from Stourbridge to the Redditch Borough FC ground at Cherry Tree Lane. Kick off has also been pushed back to 7:45pm.