Chelsea Women went into the three-week long winter break with a bang. Will we return with at least some pep in our step?
Today’s opposition will be the second-to-last team in the Women’s Super League table. However given what the team just below them were able to do against us a few months ago, it’s best not to head into this West Ham meeting overly confident.
Date / Time: Sunday, January 11, 2026, 12.00 BST; 7:00am EST Venue: Kingsmeadow, Kingston Upon Thames, UK Referee: Stacey Pearson Forecast:
Drizzle with a breeze
On TV: Sky Sports (UK); none (USA); elsewhere
Streaming: SKY GO (UK); ESPN+ (USA)
Chelsea team news: A 9-1 thrashing of a fellow Women’s Super League is nothing to scoff at. Context still matters. Liverpool’s squad have been ran ragged by injuries and motivation is clearly at an all-time low for them. Keeping themselves in a League Cup run would be a luxury if not a nuisance. Unlike Chelsea who see themselves in the uncomfortable position of not leading the Women’s Super League title race and needing to prove themselves capable of recovering the top post here and elsewhere.
On the health department side of things manager Sonia Bompastor had bad news about Keira Walsh and Aggie Beever-Jones, who won’t be fit to feature in the game today. The counter is having both Kadeisha Buchanan and Mayra Ramírez making good progress on their respective injuries that have kept them off the pitch for a good while. While Bompastor couldn’t give a timeframe on their return, it doesn’t sound like they’re too far away from a return.
West Ham team news: Since facing Chelsea in late September last year things haven’t gone very well for the Hammers. They managed to find one win in 11 Women’s Super League outings, registering five points on the table — just two points ahead of Liverpool in the relegation spot.
For this challenge against the reigning WSL champions new boss Rita Guarino will be able to count on fellow new signing, Estelle Cascarino. The French defender joined West Ham on loan from Juventus, staying at the club at least until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Previously: Sam Kerr gets us the lead in the first half, and Erin Cuthbert adds a late second goal for good measure.
