York Valkyrie have earned a 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 over Leeds Rhinos in the semi‑final at Headingley. The final is set 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 dramatic. Just weeks earlier the team 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 completely reversed their fortunes, beating Leeds at home, then traveling to St Helens for a win, and finally overcoming Wigan on their own turf before clinching the semi‑final triumph. The match at Headingley began with a tight, scoreless first 21 minutes.
York’s Liv Wood finally broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, twisting past defenders and grounding the ball for a try. Tara‑Jane Stanley added the conversion, giving the visitors an early 6‑0 lead. As the half‑hour drew to a close, Leeds pressed hard and appeared to be on the verge of a try when a poorly executed grubber‑kick by Ruby Walker fell to Stanley, who sprinted clear and secured a second try, extending the lead to 12‑0.
Three minutes before the break Stanley also slotted a long‑range penalty, cementing the advantage. The second half saw Leeds launch a series of attacks, but York’s defence held firm.
An early try for York was disallowed after the video referee determined that the scorer had lost control of the ball. Later, Leeds’ Georgia Elliston crossed under the posts, only for the video official to rule the score out for obstruction. York responded decisively when Adaoha Akwiwu burst through a short ball from Stanley, scoring the final try and confirming the 12‑0 result.
Leeds managed a late drama when Ebony Stead seemed to have scored on the wing, but for a third time that evening the video referee intervened, citing loss of control before the line. The match ended on a bittersweet note for York as Stanley, who had been the standout performer, failed a Head Injury Assessment and will miss the Grand Final. In post‑match comments to Sky Sports, York head coach Leon Pryce reflected on the extraordinary turnaround: "This is unbelievable. Nobody gave us a chance.
Everyone wrote us off, and last week they were saying it would 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 the grit, toughness and determination we have.
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 really turned a corner and we don’t want the season to end." The upcoming Grand Final will also feature a showcase of individual talent, as Wigan Warriors dominate the 2026 Woman of Steel shortlist. Three Warriors players – half‑back Jenna Foubister, second‑row Eva Hunter and loose forward Megan Williams – have been named among the three nominees for the sport’s most prestigious individual award.
The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 29 September, in Manchester. Foubister, only 19, has been a catalyst in Wigan’s attack, scoring nine tries in 18 appearances across all competitions and delivering a Player‑of‑the‑Match performance in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she created two tries and provided three line‑break assists.
Hunter, the reigning Woman of Steel, has added 23 tries to her tally this season, showcasing blistering speed, powerful carries and relentless defensive work. She also made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Williams, a former St Helens player who joined Wigan ahead of the 2025 season, has quickly become a cornerstone of the Warriors’ forward pack.
Since her arrival she has added four tries during the Super Four phase, helping the club push for another historic campaign. York’s path to the final has been a story of resilience and belief, turning a series of demoralising defeats into a clean sheet against a top‑class Leeds side. The Valkyrie will now aim to replicate that defensive solidity against a Wigan team that has shown both attacking flair and defensive robustness throughout the season. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports on 27 September to watch what promises to be a thrilling climax to the 2026 Women’s Super League season, with the Brick Community Stadium providing the stage for what could become a landmark moment in women’s rugby league history.