York Valkyrie have earned a place in the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final where they will meet defending champions Wigan Warriors, following an impressive 12-0 triumph over Leeds Rhinos in the semi‑final held at Headingley. The final is set for Sunday, 27 September, with a 5:30 p.m. kickoff at the Brick Community Stadium, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Valkyrie’s journey to this decisive match has been nothing short of remarkable. After suffering heavy defeats earlier in the season—38-16 at the hands of Leeds on 8 August and a 44-0 drubbing by Wigan a week later—the York side turned their fortunes around dramatically.
They responded with a series of victories, beating Leeds at home, St Helens away, and then Wigan on their own turf before clinching the semi‑final win that propelled them into the championship showdown. The semi‑final itself was a tightly contested affair during the opening 21 minutes, with both teams locked in a defensive stalemate at Headingley.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood displayed superb agility, twisting and turning before grounding the ball for a try. Tara‑Jane Stanley added the conversion, putting the visitors ahead 6‑0. Leeds pressed hard as the first half drew to a close, coming within inches of scoring when a grubber kick from Ruby Walker was mishandled, allowing Stanley to collect the loose ball and sprint clear for a second try.
However, the referee ruled the play dead, and the try was disallowed. Instead, Stanley extended York’s lead with a well‑taken penalty from distance three minutes before the break, making the score 8‑0 at halftime. The second half began with York maintaining their momentum.
Eight minutes in, Stanley broke through the Leeds defence and crossed for what appeared to be a second try, seemingly putting York in an even stronger position. After a review by the Video Referee, however, the try was overturned when footage showed she lost control of the ball during the grounding. Despite the setback, York’s defence held firm as Leeds launched a series of attacks, but the Valkyrie kept their two‑score advantage. Leeds managed to get on the scoreboard when Georgia Elliston powered over the line on the hour mark, but once again the Video Referee intervened, citing obstruction and nullifying the try.
York responded decisively when Adaoha Akwiwu burst through a short pass from Stanley, touching down for the final try of the match and sealing a 12‑0 victory. Leeds did manage a fleeting moment of hope when Ebony Stead appeared to score a try in the closing minutes, but for the third time that evening the Video Referee ruled the effort invalid, determining that Stead had lost control of the ball before crossing the line. The match ended on a bittersweet note for York, as it was announced that Tara‑Jane Stanley, who had been a standout performer throughout the game, failed her Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and will miss the Grand Final. York head coach Leon Pryce spoke to Sky Sports after the win, reflecting on the team’s extraordinary 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." While York prepares for the final, Wigan Warriors are already making headlines in the individual awards arena.
Three of their players—Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams—have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 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 attacking play, scoring nine tries in 18 appearances across all competitions and delivering a standout Player of the Match performance in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she set up two tries and provided three line‑break assists as the Warriors secured their second cup triumph.
Current Woman of Steel Eva Hunter has continued her prolific form under coach Denis Betts, crossing for 23 tries throughout the season. The dynamic second‑rower’s speed, power and defensive work rate have been instrumental for Wigan, and she made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Megan Williams, a recent addition to the club after joining from St Helens ahead of the 2025 season, has quickly established herself as a reliable forward.
The England Knights international has contributed four tries during the Super Four phase of the competition, reinforcing Wigan’s push for another historic campaign. The upcoming Grand Final promises a clash of contrasting styles: York’s gritty, defensively disciplined approach versus Wigan’s high‑octane, try‑scoring prowess. Fans can watch the live broadcast on Sky Sports on Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Brick Community Stadium.
The match will not only decide the champions of the Women’s Super League but also provide a platform for the sport’s growing audience to witness elite women’s rugby league at its finest.