BBC Women's Football Weekly

In this week’s edition of the Football Interview, first broadcast on the Football Daily, Kelly Somers speaks to England captain Leah Williamson.
They discuss her early memories of getting into football, the impact her family have had on her, and how she nearly dropped out of the Arsenal academy at the age of 15.
She relives captaining England to back-to-back European titles and reveals to Kelly the one thing that's missing that would complete her career.
TIMECODES:
0’40 - First memories of football and not being very good.
2’20 - How she nearly dropped out of the academy at Arsenal at 15.
3’50 - Has there been a turning point?
4’55 - What match from her career would she relive?
6’00 - Did she realise what she’d done [winning Euro 2022]?
7’42 - How has it changed her life?
8’09 - The fuel to do win it again in 2025.
8’40 - What was she like growing up and her family dynamic.
10’26 - How she escapes from football and love of fashion.
12’53 - What else does she want to achieve?

In this week’s edition of the Football Interview, first broadcast on the Football Daily podcast, Kelly Somers speaks to England captain Leah Williamson. They discuss her early memories of getting into football, the impact her family have had on her, and how she nearly dropped out of the Arsenal academy at the age of 15. She relives captaining England to back-to-back European titles and reveals to Kelly the one thing that's missing that would complete her career.
TIMECODES:
0’40 - First memories of football and not being very good.
2’20 - How she nearly dropped out of the academy at Arsenal at 15.
3’50 - Has there been a turning point?
4’55 - What match from her career would she relive?
6’00 - Did she realise what she’d done [winning Euro 2022]?
7’42 - How has it changed her life?
8’09 - The fuel to do win it again in 2025.
8’40 - What was she like growing up and her family dynamic.
10’26 - How she escapes from football and love of fashion.
12’53 - What else does she want to achieve?

Ben Haines and Em Sanders are back at St. George's Park as the Lionesses get ready to start their journey to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Ben and Em look ahead to the first fixtures of England's qualifying campaign against Ukraine and Iceland early next month and the squad are boosted by the return of captain Leah Williamson who is back in the squad for the first time since Euro 2025.
Leah joins Ben for a quick chat to discuss being back with the squad and what, or more specifically who, she missed while she was away recovering from her knee injury.
Ben is joined by another member of the squad, Manchester City's Lauren Hemp, who discusses bringing her good form and confidence from club to country, enjoying her football again and what she's packed for an extended time away on camp.
Plus, Ben and Em ask what Jess Park's best position is in this side given her current form and discuss the key positions in the back and forward lines that could be up for grabs over the next few weeks.
TIMECODES:
00:03 - Ben Haines and Em Sanders are back at St. George's Park for the start of the 2027 World Cup cycle.
05:10 - England captain Leah Williamson joins Ben.
09:00 - How could England's defence line up over these two qualifiers?
12:05 - Lauren Hemp's brilliant form this season.
14:25 - England and Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp joins Ben.
29:22 - Ben and Em react to Lauren's interview.
32:20 - What are the key positions in the forward line that could be up for grabs?

Ellen White and Jen Beattie kick off the countdown to the 2027 FIFA World Cup by speaking to vice-captain Erin Cuthbert ahead of Scotland's first qualifying match. We also hear from Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson as she juggles parenthood and the campaign to make it back-to-back major tournaments for Wales.

Elsewhere on the international scene, the Asian Cup gets underway on the 1st of March. Which WSL teams will be most impacted by players leaving to compete there?
Plus, there's reaction to a mixed week for Manchester United who have qualified for their first Champions League quarter final but lost again to 'bogey team' Chelsea in the FA Cup.
TIMECODES:
3'25 Why can't Manchester United overcome Chelsea?
14'45 Champions League chat
20'16 Real Madrid being the only team not to host their quarter-final leg at their 'main' stadium
22'58 Rhian Wilkinson
28'00 Jess Fishlock returns to Wales
30'04 What impact will the Asian Cup have on the WSL?
33'36 Erin Cuthbert interview

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie react to the latest Lionesses squad announcement as captain Leah Williamson returns for the first time since Euro 2025. Emma Sanders sits down with England manager Sarina Wiegman and the team discuss managing minutes and whether it's time for England to have a recognised left-back with Poppy Pattinson's inclusion in the squad.
With a month-long break from the WSL ahead of us, Ben, Ellen and Jen deep dive into how much Manchester City's domestic dominance could be down to the fact they are not in the Champions League this season.
The team also look ahead to the second leg of the UWCL play-offs, the fifth round of the FA Cup and chaos ensues as we uncover what sports Jen and Ellen would want to take part in at the Winter Olympics!
TIMECODES:
00:30 - What Winter Olympic sport would Ellen and Jen compete in?
06:20 - Lionesses squad announced as they begin their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign.
11:40 - Poppy Pattinson’s call up and the need for a recognised left-back.
14:35 - Em Sanders chats to England manager Sarina Wiegman.
20:15 - Managing player minutes this international break.
23:30 - Scotland name their squad for a Luxembourg double-header.
27:40 - How much has Man City’s season without Europe contributed to their WSL dominance?
38:50 - Brighton v Arsenal postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
41:00 - Ellen on the month long break in the WSL and how that could impact teams.
46:10 - Look ahead to the Champions League play-off round second legs.
47:50 - FA Cup fifth round preview.