York Valkyrie have earned a place in the 2026 Women’s Super League Grand Final, where they will meet the defending champions Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The decisive semi‑final took place at Headingley, where York produced a flawless 12‑0 victory over Leeds Rhinos, a result that will see them contest the championship in front of a national television audience on Sky Sports. The turnaround for York has been nothing short of remarkable.
Just a month earlier the team suffered a 38‑16 defeat at the hands of Leeds on 8 August, followed by a 44‑0 drubbing by Wigan a week later. Those heavy losses seemed to set the tone for a bleak season, yet the Valkyrie regrouped, stringing together a series of impressive wins that included a home triumph over Leeds, an away success against St Helens, and a hard‑fought victory over Wigan at their own ground. Those performances built the momentum that carried them into the semi‑final, where they finally put an end to Leeds’ hopes.
The match itself began cautiously, with the first 21 minutes ending without a score as both sides tested each other's defenses. The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when York’s Liv Wood displayed deft footwork, twisting past a defender and grounding the ball for the opening try. Tara Jane Stanley, York's reliable kicker, converted the try without difficulty, giving the Valkyrie an early 6‑0 lead. Leeds responded strongly as the first half drew to a close, pressing hard near York’s try line.
A last‑minute grubber kick from Leeds’s Ruby Walker, however, was mis‑executed, allowing Stanley to collect the loose ball and sprint clear for a potential second try. Instead, she opted for a penalty goal, slotting a long‑range kick that extended York’s advantage to 8‑0 with just three minutes remaining before the break. The second half started with York looking to consolidate their lead. Eight minutes after the restart, Stanley broke through the defensive line and appeared to score her second try, which would have put the scores at 12‑0.
The Video Referee, however, intervened after reviewing the footage and determined that she had lost control of the ball in the act of grounding, nullifying the try. The decision proved pivotal, as it kept the match within reach for Leeds, who launched a series of aggressive attacks. Leeds continued to press, and midway through the half, Georgia Elliston powered over the line for a try that seemed to bring the Rhinos back into contention. Yet once again the Video Referee reviewed the play and ruled the score out, citing obstruction.
The repeated disallowances frustrated Leeds but highlighted York’s disciplined defensive structure, which held firm under sustained pressure. York finally broke the deadlock for good when Adaoha Akwiwu received a short pass from Stanley and burst through a gap in the Leeds defense to touch down, sealing a 12‑0 lead that would prove decisive. In the final minutes, Leeds thought they had a lifeline when Ebony Stead crossed the try line on the wing, but for the third time that night the Video Referee intervened, determining that Stead had lost possession before grounding the ball. The match ended on a bittersweet note for York.
While they celebrated a clean sheet and a place in the Grand Final, star player Tara Jane Stanley, who had been instrumental throughout the semi‑final, failed her Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and was ruled out of the championship decider. Coach Leon Pryce expressed a mixture of pride and disappointment in a post‑match interview with Sky Sports, noting, "Nobody gave us a chance.
Everyone wrote us off, but we used those comments as fuel. To keep Leeds to zero in a semi‑final shows our grit, toughness and determination. Against all odds we’ve got there and I couldn’t be more proud." As York prepares for the final, the focus also shifts to the individual accolades that will be awarded at the end of the season.
The 2026 Woman of Steel award, the most prestigious individual honour in women’s rugby league, will feature three nominees from the reigning champions Wigan Warriors: Jenna Foubister, Eva Hunter and Megan Williams. Foubister, a 19‑year‑old half‑back, finished the season with nine tries in 18 appearances and earned a Player of the Match award in the Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, where she created two tries and supplied three line‑break assists.
Eva Hunter, the current holder of the Woman of Steel, added 23 tries across all competitions and made history by becoming the first woman to score four tries in a Challenge Cup Final. Megan Williams, who joined Wigan from St Helens ahead of the 2025 season, has become a reliable forward, adding four tries during 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 top‑level women’s rugby league, with York seeking to cap off their extraordinary turnaround and Wigan aiming to retain the title they have dominated in recent years. Fans can watch the showdown live on Sky Sports on 27 September, with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m.
at the Brick Community Stadium. The match will not only decide the champions but also set the stage for the upcoming awards ceremony in Manchester on 29 September, where the Woman of Steel shortlist will be honoured.