York Valkyrie have booked their place in the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final, earning a showdown with defending champions Wigan Warriors after a commanding 12-0 semi‑final triumph away at Headingley against Leeds Rhinos. The final will be staged at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sky Sports.
The Valkyrie’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of a dramatic reversal. Just weeks earlier they 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 side has turned the tide, stringing together victories over Leeds at home, a hard‑fought win at St Helens, and a home triumph over Wigan before clinching the semi‑final. The semi‑final itself began cautiously, with the first 21 minutes at Headingley ending scoreless as both teams tested each other's defenses.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood displayed impressive footwork, twisting and diving to ground the ball for a try. Tara‑Jane Stanley added the conversion, giving York an early 6‑0 lead.
Leeds pressed hard as the half‑hour mark approached, and a last‑minute grubber kick from Ruby Walker looked promising for the Rhinos. However, the kick fell short, allowing Stanley to collect the loose ball and sprint clear, extending York’s advantage. Three minutes before the break Stanley further increased the margin by slotting a long‑range penalty, sending the score to 8‑0.
The second half opened with York looking to cement their dominance. Stanley broke through the Leeds line for what appeared to be a second try, but the Video Referee intervened after reviewing the footage and ruled that she had lost control of the ball during the grounding, nullifying the score.
Undeterred, York’s defence held firm as Leeds launched a series of attacks, yet the Valkyrie kept their two‑score cushion intact. At the 60‑minute mark Leeds thought they had finally broken through when Georgia Elliston powered over for a try.
Once again the Video Referee reviewed the play and disallowed the score, citing obstruction. York responded decisively when Adaoha Akwiwu received a short pass from Stanley and burst through the defensive line, scoring the match’s only try and pushing the tally to 12‑0.
Leeds managed one more near‑miss in the closing stages when Ebony Stead appeared to dive over on the wing, but a third Video Referee intervention ruled the effort out after determining that she had lost possession before crossing the try line. The final whistle confirmed a clean sheet for York, but the victory was tinged with disappointment as Stanley, the night’s standout performer, failed her Head Injury Assessment and will miss the Grand Final. Head coach Leon Pryce reflected on the achievement in a post‑match interview with Sky Sports: "It’s unbelievable. Nobody gave us a chance.
Everyone wrote us off, and just last week people were saying it would be another Saints versus Leeds game after Saints won here. We read the comments and used them as fuel.
I don’t think we got the respect we deserved, but they’ve been unbelievable. To travel to Leeds for a semi‑final against a quality side and keep them to zero says a lot.
It was about grit, toughness and determination. Against all odds we’ve got there and I couldn’t be prouder. I’ve been proud of them all season, but the last four or five weeks we really turned a corner and we don’t want the season to end." While York prepares for the final, Wigan Warriors are already making headlines in the individual awards arena. The club boasts three nominees for the prestigious Woman of Steel award: half‑back Jenna Foubister, second‑rower Eva Hunter, and loose forward Megan Williams.
The shortlist will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on 29 September. Foubister, only 19, has been a linchpin in Wigan’s attack, crossing the try line nine times in 18 appearances across all competitions and earning a Player of the Match accolade in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she set up two tries and delivered three line‑break assists.
Hunter, the reigning Woman of Steel, continues to dazzle with her speed and power, tallying 23 tries this season and becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Williams, a recent addition from St Helens, has quickly become a reliable workhorse for the Warriors, adding four tries during the Super Four phase and cementing her reputation as one of the league’s most consistent forwards. The upcoming Grand Final promises a clash of styles: York’s resilient, underdog spirit against Wigan’s experienced, award‑winning lineup.
Fans can tune in to Sky Sports on Sunday, 27 September, at 5:30 p.m. to watch what is expected to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 Women’s Super League season.