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Leah Williamson officially became our record appearance holder in Women's Super League history when she took to the field against Everton on Friday.

The 27-year-old England captain, who has been at the club since the age of eight, made her first-team debut way back in 2014, and on Friday 14. March ahe made her 158th appearance in the WSL. She has started 146 of those 158 matches, and the tally includes her seven matches in the Spring Series, that bridged the gap between the WSL moving from a summer to a winter league in 2017.

The UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals are set to begin this week, with reigning champions FC Barcelona aiming for their third consecutive title. Their journey continues with a rematch against VfL Wolfsburg, the team they overcame in the 2023 final. Other compelling fixtures include an all-English face-off between Manchester City and Chelsea, and Arsenal's challenging encounter with Real Madrid. As the competition heats up, the pressing question remains: can any team halt Barcelona's dominance?

Sarina Wiegman's side will head out to Switzerland with the aim of retaining the trophy but will be up against it from the off. Standing between them and the knockout stages will be Netherlands, winners in 2017; France, semi-finalists in 2022; and neighbours Wales, who will make their major tournament debut on the women's side.

England knew a tough set of fixtures could be on the cards beforehand, as they were in Pot 2 for Monday's draw. Most fans would've been hoping to be placed in Group A then, with hosts Switzerland, rather than Spain, Germany or France. But the Swiss landed themselves a rather kind draw, while Germany will face Sweden, semi-finalists two years ago, and world champions Spain will take on an Italy side that will be a popular pick as a dark horse.

The tournament will get underway on July 2, with England's first fixture, against France, to take place on July 5. Games against Netherlands and Wales will follow on July 9 and July 13, respectively.

As the winner of The Best FIFA Women's Player for 2024 at the ceremony on Tuesday, Aitana Bonmati was the highlight selection for the top 11 of the year, with fellow Barca stars Irene Paredes, Ona Batlle, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo and Patri Guijarro.

After a brilliant 16-year international career, the 39-year-old is hanging up her cleats for both club and country. Three-time World Cup participant, three-time Olympic Gamed participant and U.S. Women's national team legend Becky Sauerbrunn has announced her professional retirement.

The 39-year-old defender registered 219 caps across 16 years with the program, while on the club side, she participated in every single season of the NWSL since its founding, winning two championships (2014, 2015), an NWSL Title (2022) and an NWSL Shield (2021). Between 2013 and 2024, Sauerbrunn 167 of her 182 caps during that time frame, and overall, has the 10th-most in USWNT history.

It was announced last year that a second women's club competition would be introduced in Europe for the 2025-26 season, to sit under the Women's Champions League as the Europa League does on the men's side, and that it would take on a straight knockout format, but no name had been decided by that point. UEFA has now confirmed that it will be called the Women's Europa Cup and that it will have a two-legged knockout format.

Real Madrid qualified for their fourth consecutive Women's Champions League group stage. They did so after qualifying from a preliminary play-off against Sporting CP, whom they beat in both matches. In the second leg, played at the Alfredo Di Stéfano, the Portuguese took an early lead, but a brace from Toletti and a superb goal from Alba Redondo allowed Toril's side to confirm their place among the 16 teams in Friday's draw in Nyon.
Both sides knew what was at stake, which was evident from the first minute. It was a lively start in which Sporting CP took the lead in the 5th minute from a free-kick taken by Andreia Bravo which, after being flicked on by Fatima Pinto, was headed home by Capeta. The visitors' joy was short-lived as Madrid's response was immediate. Feller stole the ball near the penalty area and combined with Weir, who pulled it back for Toletti to fire home with her right foot (1-1, min. 7).
Penalty not given
Shortly afterwards it was Misa who kept out another Portuguese strike with a reflex save to deny Capeta's close-range effort. In the 25th minute, Real Madrid claimed a penalty for a clear foul inside the area by Cláudia Neto on Feller, but the referee waved play on. Our team had the last chance of the first half with a deflected header by M. Méndez from a corner kick by Leupolz.
Right at the start of the second half, Toletti was on target again to complete the comeback and extend the lead. Weir set up the Frenchwoman for the second time, who struck a precise right-footed shot to make it 2-1. Tiredness would then take its toll on the tempo of the game, but the Lisbon side wanted to get back into the contest and it was Misa who kept them out with a couple of fine saves. In stoppage time, Alba Redondo's right-footed shot into the top corner made it 3-1 and sealed Real Madrid’s place in the Women's Champions League group stage.

• UWCL group stage draw made on Friday
• Chelsea get Real Madrid; Man City to face Barca
• Arsenal land in 'group of death'

The draw for this year's group stage was made on Friday and it has thrown up some tantalising fixtures. Reigning European champions Barcelona have been pooled with Man City, as the English side make the group stages for the first time since the competition changed format in 2021, while Chelsea, still chasing a first UWCL title, will take on Real Madrid.