York Valkyrie have earned a place in the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final, where they will take on defending champions Wigan Warriors. The Valkyrie clinched their spot with a commanding 12-0 victory against Leeds Rhinos in the semi‑final held at Headingley, securing a ticket to the final that will be staged at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday, September 27, with a 5:30 pm kick‑off 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 August 8 and a 44‑0 drubbing by Wigan on August 15.
Since those setbacks, the Valkyrie have rewritten their narrative, stringing together a series of impressive performances that included a home win over Leeds, an away triumph at St Helens, and a hard‑fought victory against Wigan at home before the semi‑final. Their resurgence has been built on a blend of gritty defence, opportunistic attacking play, and a belief that many pundits had dismissed. The semi‑final itself began cautiously. The first 21 minutes at Headingley were scoreless as both sides tested each other’s resolve.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood executed a deft twist, turned her momentum, and grounded the ball for a try. Tara Jane Stanley added the conversion, giving York an early 6‑0 lead. As the half‑time whistle approached, Leeds threatened the York try‑line, but a poorly timed grubber kick from Ruby Walker was collected cleanly by Stanley, who sprinted clear and added a second try, extending the lead to 12‑0. With only three minutes left in the half, Stanley sealed the advantage with a well‑placed penalty from distance, confirming a comfortable 8‑0 margin at the break.
The second half saw York continue to dominate. Eight minutes after the restart, Stanley appeared to score a second try after powering through the defence, but the Video Referee ruled the effort invalid after replays showed she lost control of the ball before grounding it. Leeds responded with a surge of attacking intent, but York’s defensive unit held firm, preserving the two‑score cushion. Midway through the half, Leeds’ Georgia Elliston crossed the line under the posts, only for the Video Referee to overturn the decision on the grounds of obstruction.
York then put the game beyond doubt when Adaoha Akwiwu broke through on a short pass from Stanley and touched down for the final try, cementing a 12‑0 shutout. In the closing stages, Leeds’ Ebony Stead seemed to have given the Rhinos a glimmer of hope with a wide try, but a third Video Referee intervention ruled the score out after confirming she had lost control of the ball while grounding it. Despite the victory, the night ended on a bittersweet note for York. Tara Jane Stanley, who had been the standout performer with a try, conversion, and penalty, failed her Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and was ruled out of the Grand Final.
Coach Leon Pryde reflected on the achievement in an interview with Sky Sports, saying: "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." Looking ahead, York will face a Wigan side that has been dominant all season and is also well‑represented in the upcoming Woman of Steel awards. Three Warriors players – Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams – have been shortlisted for the prestigious individual honour.
Foubister, a 19‑year‑old half‑back, finished the campaign with nine tries in 18 appearances and delivered 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, showcasing blistering speed, powerful carries and a ferocious defensive presence.
She also made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Megan Williams, a versatile loose forward, has been a consistent force for Wigan since joining from St Helens ahead of the 2025 season, contributing four tries in the Super Four phase and cementing her role as a key component of Denis Betts’ side. The Grand Final promises to be a showcase of the very best in women's rugby league, pitting York’s resilient, under‑dog spirit against Wigan’s seasoned, award‑winning talent.
Fans can tune in to Sky Sports on Sunday, September 27, to watch the culmination of a season that has seen York overturn early setbacks and prove that belief and perseverance can rewrite a team’s destiny. The match will not only determine the champions but also provide a platform for the sport’s growing profile, inspiring the next generation of female athletes across the UK and beyond.