York Valkyrie have earned the right to compete in the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final, where they will meet defending champions Wigan Warriors. The Valkyrie achieved this milestone by posting a flawless 12-0 victory in the semi‑final held at Headingley, the home ground of Leeds Rhinos. The upcoming championship clash is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, at the Brick Community Stadium, with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m.
and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The turnaround for York has been dramatic. Just weeks earlier, the side suffered heavy defeats: a 38‑16 loss to Leeds on 8 August and a 44‑0 drubbing by Wigan on 15 August. Since those setbacks, the Valkyrie have rewritten their narrative, stringing together wins against Leeds at home, a road triumph over St Helens, and a hard‑fought victory over Wigan in the regular season before sealing their semi‑final success.
The semi‑final itself was a tightly contested affair for the first 21 minutes, with neither team managing to break the deadlock at Headingley. The deadlock was finally shattered in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood displayed a combination of agility and power, twisting past defenders to ground the ball for a try. Tara Jane Stanley added the conversion, giving York an early 6‑0 lead.
As the first half drew to a close, Leeds appeared poised to strike, pressing hard against the York try‑line. A last‑minute grubber kick from Leeds’ Ruby Walker, however, proved errant. Stanley collected the loose ball and sprinted clear, extending York’s advantage.
Three minutes before the break, Stanley demonstrated her kicking prowess by slotting a long‑range penalty, pushing the score to 8‑0. The second half began with York looking confident.
Eight minutes in, Stanley broke through the defensive line and appeared to score a second try, which would have put the Valkyrie well ahead. After consulting the Video Referee, the decision was overturned when replays showed she lost control of the ball during the grounding, nullifying the try. Undeterred, York’s defense held firm as Leeds launched a series of aggressive attacks.
The Rhinos managed to cross the line when Georgia Elliston powered over under the posts, but once again the Video Referee intervened, citing obstruction and disallowing the score. York’s resilience paid off when Adaoha Akwiwu capitalised on a short pass from Stanley, bursting through the defensive line for a try that stood, bringing the final tally to 12‑0. In the closing stages, Leeds’ Ebony Stead seemed to revive hopes for the Rhinos with a wide‑out try, but a third Video Referee review determined she had lost control of the ball before grounding it, and the try was disallowed. The match ended on a bittersweet note for York: their standout performer Tara Jane Stanley failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and will miss the Grand Final.
York head coach Leon Pryce spoke to Sky Sports after the match, reflecting on the team’s improbable journey: "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." While York prepares for the final, Wigan Warriors are already in the spotlight for individual accolades. Three Warriors—Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams—have been shortlisted for the prestigious Woman of Steel award, which will be presented at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on 29 September.
Nineteen‑year‑old half‑back Jenna Foubister has been a key architect of Wigan’s attack, recording nine tries in 18 appearances across all competitions this season. Her influence was on full display in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she earned Player of the Match honours by creating two tries and delivering three line‑break assists as the Warriors secured a second cup triumph.
Current Woman of Steel holder Eva Hunter has continued her prolific form under coach Denis Betts, crossing the line 23 times in all competitions. The dynamic second‑rower combines blistering speed, powerful ball‑carrying and relentless defensive work, and made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Megan Williams, a forward who joined Wigan from St Helens ahead of the 2025 season, has cemented her reputation as one of the competition’s most consistent players.
Since her arrival, the England Knights international has contributed four tries during the Super Four phase, helping the Warriors maintain momentum in their quest for another historic campaign. Fans can tune in to watch the Grand Final clash between Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie live on Sky Sports on Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff at 5:30 p.m.
The match promises to be a showcase of skill, determination and the culmination of a season that saw York defy expectations and Wigan strive to retain their crown.