Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock each walked away with a trophy on Saturday at the PDC Women’s Series events 17 and 18, solidifying their places as the second and third‑ranked players on the leaderboard. The double‑header was staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, a venue that hosted two days of high‑octane darts action and provided a perfect backdrop for the competitors to showcase their skill. Event 17 saw Lisa Ashton dominate from the outset. She breezed through the round of 16, handing her opponents three consecutive white‑wash victories that left no doubt about her form.
In the subsequent round, Ashton faced Lauren Hall and dropped just a single leg before cruising into the quarter‑finals. Her momentum continued as she dispatched Grace Ferridge with a comfortable 5‑1 scoreline. The semi‑final presented a sterner test against Gemma Hayter, but Ashton edged through after a tense last‑leg decider, earning her a place in the final.
The final pitted Ashton against the experienced Lancaster‑based archer, Lauryn Salter. Salter, who had already made history by reaching her first Women’s Series final after a solid run to the semi‑finals at Event 12 earlier in the year, entered the match with confidence. She had previously taken down Emma Pearce and Jade Gofford in the quarter‑finals and semi‑finals respectively, a run that propelled her to 16th in the rankings. However, Ashton proved too strong on the day, sweeping Salter 5‑0 and claiming her third Women’s Series title of the 2026 season.
Salter’s achievement was nevertheless noteworthy, as she became the first player that season to break into a final, signalling her rising status on the tour. While the headline on the women’s side was Ashton’s triumph, the day also featured a host of other darts content, including promotional material for streaming darts via NOW and a reminder to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience.
The coverage also referenced upcoming Sky Sports darts broadcasts and the Love the Darts podcast, offering fans multiple ways to stay engaged with the sport. Event 18 turned the tables, with Fallon Sherrock denying Ashton a second title in the same afternoon. Sherrock entered the competition with a clear purpose: to claim her first Women’s Series title in more than a year and a half.
She opened her campaign by conceding just one leg in victories over Hollie McKain and Julie Whitehouse. In the round of 16, she faced Jody Hancock, posting an impressive 93 average en route to a comfortable win.
Sherrock then overcame Leanne Topper to reach the last eight, before dispatching Aoife McCormack 5‑0 in the quarter‑finals. The semi‑final saw Sherrock meet Gemma Hayter, a familiar opponent from earlier in the tournament.
After a closely contested match, Sherrock emerged victorious with a 5‑3 score, securing her fourth final appearance of the year. The final was a repeat of the July Women’s World Matchplay semi‑final, pitting Sherrock against Ashton once more. This time, Sherrock dominated, delivering a flawless 5‑0 performance that earned her the event title and marked her first circuit win of the 2026 season.
Beau Greaves, who was not present at the Saturday fixtures, retained her position atop the Women’s Series rankings. Ashton and Sherrock, with their recent successes, solidified their places in second and third, respectively. The stakes are high, as the top three players at the conclusion of the series will earn spots in the 2026/27 Paddy Power World Darts Championship, while the series leader also secures a place at the 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.
The detailed results from both events illustrate the depth of competition: Event 17 – Quarter‑finals: Lauryn Salter 5‑2 Emma Pearce; Jade Gofford 5‑2 Sue Lowther; Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Grace Ferridge; Gemma Hayter 5‑3 Aileen de Graaf. Semi‑finals: Lauryn Salter 5‑4 Jade Gofford; Lisa Ashton 5‑4 Gemma Hayter.
Final: Lisa Ashton 5‑0 Lauryn Salter. Event 18 – Quarter‑finals: Karolina Ratajska 5‑2 Tracey Dean; Lisa Ashton 5‑1 Trina Gulliver; Gemma Hayter 5‑1 Kirsty Hutchinson; Fallon Sherrock 5‑0 Aoife McCormord.
Semi‑finals: Lisa Ashton 5‑3 Karolina Ratajska; Fallon Sherrock 5‑3 Gemma Hayter. Final: Fallon Sherrock 5‑0 Lisa Ashton. Beyond the immediate results, the weekend underscored the growing competitiveness of women’s darts. Players like Salter are breaking through to finals for the first time, while veterans such as Ashton continue to amass titles, and rising stars like Sherrock re‑establish themselves after periods away from the winner’s circle.
The upcoming months will see these athletes vie for the coveted spots at the World Championship and Grand Slam, making every event crucial for points and confidence. Fans can also look forward to other major darts events, including the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, where world number one Luke Littler will defend his title.
All of this action will be available on Sky Sports and can be streamed through NOW, ensuring that darts enthusiasts have plenty of ways to follow the sport throughout the season.