York Valkyrie have earned their place in the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final, where they will meet defending champions Wigan Warriors, after delivering a commanding 12-0 victory in the semi‑final at Headingley against Leeds Rhinos. The final is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, with a 5:30 pm kickoff at the Brick Community Stadium and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The turnaround for York has been nothing short of dramatic. Just weeks earlier the side suffered heavy defeats – a 38‑16 loss to Leeds on 8 August and a 44‑0 drubbing at the hands of Wigan on 15 August. Since those setbacks the Valkyrie have rewritten their narrative, stringing together wins over Leeds at home, a road triumph against St Helens, and a hard‑fought victory over Wigan at the York venue before sealing the semi‑final. The match at Headingley began cautiously, with the first 21 minutes ending without points as both teams tested each other's defenses.
The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood displayed a blend of agility and power, twisting past defenders to ground the ball for a try. Tara‑Jane Stanley successfully converted, putting York ahead 6‑0.
Leeds pressed forward as the half‑hour approached, and a last‑minute grubber kick from Ruby Walker looked promising for the Rhinos. However, the ball slipped away, allowing Stanley to collect it cleanly and sprint clear, extending York’s lead. Three minutes before the break, Stanley added a long‑range penalty, pushing the score to 8‑0. Early in the second half, Stanley appeared to score a second try, bursting through the defensive line.
The Video Referee, however, reviewed the footage and determined she had lost control of the ball in the act of grounding, nullifying the try. Undeterred, York’s defence held firm as Leeds launched a series of attacks, but the Valkyrie’s defensive unit kept the opposition at bay, preserving the two‑score margin. At the 60‑minute mark, Leeds’ Georgia Elliston powered over for what seemed to be a try, only for the Video Referee to intervene again, citing obstruction and disallowing the score. York then capitalised on a short pass from Stanley to Adaoha Akwiwu, who broke through the line and touched down, widening the gap to 12‑0.
In the closing stages, Leeds’ Ebony Stead appeared to cross the try line, offering a glimmer of hope for the Rhinos. Yet for the third time that evening, the Video Referee ruled the effort invalid, noting that Stead had lost possession while grounding the ball. The final whistle confirmed a shut‑out victory for York, but the celebration was tempered by news that Tara‑Jane Stanley, the night’s standout performer, had failed her Head Injury Assessment and will miss the Grand Final. Head coach Leon Pryce spoke to Sky Sports after the match, expressing disbelief at the turnaround: "This is unbelievable.
Nobody gave us a chance. Everyone had written us off, and last week they were saying it was going to be another Saints vs Leeds game after Saints won here. We read the comments and used that as fuel.
I don't think we got the respect we deserved, but they've been unbelievable. To come to Leeds in a semi‑final against a really good squad and keep them to zero just shows. It was going to be about grit, toughness and determination.
Against all odds we've got there and I couldn't be more proud. I've been proud of them all season, but the last four or five weeks we've really turned a corner and we don't want the season to end." The Grand Final will also showcase the elite talent of Wigan Warriors, who dominate the 2026 Woman of Steel awards shortlist. Three Warriors—Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams—have been named among the final three candidates for the sport's most prestigious individual accolade, to be awarded at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on 29 September.
Nineteen‑year‑old half‑back Jenna Foubister earned her nomination after a prolific season, scoring nine tries in 18 appearances and delivering a Player of the Match performance in the Women's Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she created two tries and set up three line‑break assists. Eva Hunter, the reigning Woman of Steel, added 23 tries across all competitions, highlighted by a historic four‑try haul in a Challenge Cup Final, a first for any woman at Wembley.
Loose forward Megan Williams, a recent England Knights international, has become a cornerstone of the Warriors since joining from St Helens ahead of the 2025 campaign, contributing four tries during the Super Four phase and cementing her reputation as a consistent forward. Fans can watch the climactic showdown between Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie live on Sky Sports on Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff slated for 5:30 pm.
The match promises a compelling blend of tactical brilliance, raw physicality, and the culmination of a season in which York has defied expectations and Wigan continues to assert its dominance in women's rugby league.