QB weekly: 11. 5. - 17. 5. 2026

Most European leagues have already crowned their champions. In Sweden, Austria, Poland and Spain, the domestic cup winners have also been decided. But beyond the trophies, this week was also marked by a series of emotional farewells. Whether it was legends leaving their clubs after many seasons or retiring from the professional game. Simply put, it feels like the end of an era in women’s football.

Big goodbyes

Departures that shook the women’s football world could fill an article of their own. We had already told you that Millie Bright and Laura Coombs are retiring, that Alexandra Popp is leaving Wolfsburg and Beth England is departing Tottenham. But this week, they made their final appearances for their clubs and said their last goodbyes to the fans.

And the farewells did not stop there. Sam Kerr announced she would be leaving Chelsea, Katrina Gorry is departing West Ham, where she served as captain, while Katie McCabe and Beth Mead are both set to leave Arsenal. McCabe spent 11 years with the Gunners and won everything there was to win at club level, while Mead leaves after nine years. Both firmly established as club legends. McCabe signed off wearing the captain’s armband and with a Player of the Match award during match against Liverpool on Anfield, while Kerr and Coombs ended their seasons with goals.

Sparta Prague ended its rival's four-year reign, Hammarby secured a cup victory

The Czech Fortuna Liga has crowned its champions, too. Sparta Prague secured the league title with one game to spare after a 2–0 derby win over rivals Slavia Prague, ending a five-year wait for the trophy. Slavia had dominated Czech women's football for the previous four seasons, but Sparta came out on top in three of the four derby meetings this year and capped off an impressive campaign that also saw them reach the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup semi-finals.

The title-clinching victory was sealed by goals from Michaela Khýrová, one of the Europa Cup’s top scorers, and Ellie Ospeck, who arrived in Prague during summer transfer window. The two Prague rivals will meet once again at the end of May in the Czech Cup final. And while that showdown is still to come, Sweden has already crowned its cup winners.

Although the Damallsvenskan season only recently got underway, the Svenska Cupen has already reached its conclusion. Fittingly, the final mirrored this year’s UEFA Women’s Europa Cup final, as Häcken and Hammarby faced off once again. This time, the Stockholm side got their revenge. Thanks to an extra-time winner from Mari Nyhagen, Hammarby lifted their first trophy of the year.

Concerns for OL Lyonnes ahead of the Champions League final

Although they kicked off their title campaign with a confident win over Nantes, OL Lyon are struggling with the loss of a key player. OL Lyonnes have been dealt a major blow ahead of the season run-in, with Kadidiatou Diani set for several weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery. The France international suffered a lateral ligament injury during Lyon’s UWCL semi-final clash against Arsenal and has already been ruled out of several key fixtures — including the Champions League final against Barcelona.

Melbourne City with the double as first Australian women's team