Scottish Women's Football

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As we approach gameweek three of the new Scottish Women's Premier League season, there are four teams tied at the top of the table with maximum points.

Reigning champions Hearts, Rangers, Hibs and Celtic have all picked up two victories in their first two matchdays and this weekend throws up some interesting contests.

Arguably the biggest game of the weekend is in Edinburgh as Hearts host last year's runner-up, Rangers, at Ainslie Park.

Having won five of the previous six meetings between the sides, Rangers lost three of the four contests last term and drew the other.

But things have changed in Edinburgh since then.

Hearts lost manager Eva Olid, who subsequently joined Women's Superleague club Manchester United, and she was replaced with Andy Thomson while key players, such as Georgia Timms, Eilidh Shore, Jenna Slattery and Georgia Hunter, also exited the champions.

It has, though, been a good start to the new manager's reign. Hearts beat Aberdeen 6-0 on the opening day before a 5-0 victory away to Motherwell last weekend, but this Sunday's game against Rangers will be their toughest test so far.

Rangers' biggest loss of the summer was young Scotland midfielder Mia McAulay's exit to Aston Villa. However, they managed to hold on to last season's top scorer, Katie Wilkinson, who has already netted five of Rangers' 12 goals this season.

They have also won both of their games so far this term, a 4-1 win away to Montrose on the opening day and a 7-0 victory at home to Spartans last Sunday.

Elsewhere in the SWPL, Celtic host Hibs, Aberdeen are at home to Partick Thistle, Spartans travel to Glasgow City, while Montrose face Motherwell.

How to follow on BBC

Celtic v Hibs will be live on the BBC Sport website and app, as well as on BBC iPlayer, when it kicks off at 13:00 BST.

Later on in the day, you can watch Hearts v Rangers on BBC Alba, as well as on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be match reports from the rest of Sunday's games on the website and app.

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Celtic will host Spartans, Glasgow City visit Livingston and Hibernian travel to face Kilmarnock in the second round of the SWPL Cup.

The other ties pitch Partick Thistle against visitors Gartcairn, Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell and Hamilton playing one another, and Boroughmuir at home to Montrose.

The ties will be played on or before Sunday, 13 September.

The quarter-final draw will feature SWPL champions Hearts and runners-up Rangers.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Katie O'Hanlon (Aberdeen): Made some outstanding saves. Aberdeen would have lost by more than they did were it not for O'Hanlon.

Sofia Maatta (Glasgow City): Back in the starting line-up and played a crucial role in City's clean sheet. On another day she could have been on the scoresheet.

Siobhan Hunter (Hibs): Two goals for Hunter. Not bad for a centre-back!

Kelly Clarke (Celtic): Her goal line clearance at 0-0 came at a vital time. Played a captain's role as she cleared up at the back, looked to get forward and was vocal when she had to be.

Ellis Notley (Hibs): Involved in all of Hibs' goals. Her deliveries into the area were on point.

Maddie Fulton (Hearts): Made the midfield tick and played a key part in the build-up for Hearts' second goal.

Casey Howe (Celtic): Came as a substitute and helped make a real difference. Great ball control and her powerful shot for opening goal got Celtic up and running.

Monica Forsyth (Hearts): Two great goals to help set the tone for another dominant Hearts display.

Laura Berry (Rangers): An assist followed by a goal. A good afternoon's work.

Carly Johns (Hearts): A goal in either half. Was a constant threat both in front of goal and creating for others.

Katie Wilkinson (Rangers): Four goals for the striker, including a hat-trick inside the opening 22 minutes. Such a dangerous player with the ability to score goals in different ways.

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English striker Libby Smith has become Hibernian women's eighth signing of the summer after signing at Meadowbank.

The 25-year-old will wear the number nine vacated by Eilidh Adams, who left earlier in the window to join Ipswich Town in WSL 2.

Smith joins from the same division, having plied her trade for Nottingham Forest in the first half of this year.

She has previously played in the topflight in England for both Leicester City and Birmingham City, and had a spell in America with Sporting JAX.

Capable of playing up front or on the wing, she can also feature at right-back and was an age-grade international for England.

She adds to Joelle Murray's attacking options, with fellow forwards Yuliia Khrystiuk, Aoife Colvill and Kyah Simon also signed this summer.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Spartans began their return to the SWPL with a promising 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle and face a tough test when they travel to Rangers on Sunday.

Having been knocked out of Champions League qualifying just before the start of the new domestic campaign, Rangers initially struggled against Montrose and were held at 1-1 until the final 20 minutes when their quality began to show in what was a 4-1 victory at Links Park.

In last season's Scottish Cup quarter-finals, Spartans kept it goalless against Rangers until the 69th minute before conceding twice.

That stuffy display will give the newly-promoted Edinburgh team heart but they will need to be at their very best at Broadwood on Sunday, and have a bit of luck on their side, to get a positive result.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen host Glasgow City, as the visitors look to bounce back from their narrow opening day defeat to Celtic.

Defending champions Hearts travel to Motherwell after hitting Aberdeen for six.

Celtic welcome Montrose, while Partick Thistle are at home to Hibs who beat Motherwell 7-0 last weekend.

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Hibernian have signed Newcastle United midfielder Jasmine McQuade on a season-long loan deal.

McQuade, 23, scored nine goals in Newcastle's National League Premier Division North title win in 2024 and has scored five times in all competitions since the club's promotion to Women's Super League 2.

She has represented both England and Scotland at under-23 level.

"Jasmine is a quality, creative player who can make things happen in the final third. She also brings a fantastic work ethic and real tenacity off the ball," head coach Joelle Murray said.

"When we knew there was interest from Jasmine, we worked hard to secure her signature. She's a proven goalscorer, with a real instinct for getting into the right areas, with excellently timed arrivals into the box.

"We're delighted to add her to the group and look forward to seeing her in Hibs colours."

Hibs have also added Manchester City goalkeeper Eve Annets on loan for the rest of the campaign.

The 20-year-old has been capped by England at Under-19 level and has prior loan experience at Portsmouth and Crystal Palace.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Alicia Yates (Spartans): Made some top saves and was key to her newly-promoted side picking up a point against Partick Thistle.

Fi Morgan (Celtic): Scored the winner against Glasgow City on her league debut, helping Grant Scott's side to a big opening-day victory.

Robyn McCafferty (Spartans): Was solid at the back, blocking shots and intercepting dangerous balls.

Rachael Boyle (Hibs): Scored a goal and helped keep a clean sheet in the rout of Motherwell… not a bad afternoon's work for the captain.

Ellen Dolan (Hearts): Controlled the midfield, whether setting up attacks or breaking up play when required as the defending champions started the season by putting six goals past Aberdeen.

Jessica Ramsay (Hibs): The 17-year-old was excellent in midfield, taking everything in her stride, and was on the scoresheet too.

Bailley Collins (Rangers): Made quite an impression on her league debut, scoring a double in the victory at Montrose.

Yuliia Khrystiuk (Hibs): The Ukraine forward proved influential on her league debut with a goal and an assist. Also won the penalty that led to Hibs' third goal.

Aoife Colvill (Hibs): Another newcomer who impressed. Four goals on the opening day, the forward looks like a brilliant signing for a club who lost key players during the summer.

Mariana Speckmaier (Hearts): Scored two for her new side, but also showed plenty of skills and determination to get on the ball and do something positive with it.

Ava Crawford (Hearts): Came on as a substitute midway through the second half, but really shone. The 16-year-old played with confidence, showed pinpoint delivery and took her goal well.

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Ahead of the new SWPL season kicking off this weekend, Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross has added to her backroom staff.

The Petershill side have hired former Scotland centre-back Michelle Barr in the role of assistant coach.

Previously a coach with the Old Dominion Monarchs in Virginia, more recently Barr held a role within the SFA as a national youth support programme manager for girls and women's football, and was also part of the national side's scouting team before the 2019 World Cup.

As a player, she competed in Scotland, England, Iceland and the United States while racking up 87 caps for her country between 1996 and 2005.

Speaking to club media, Barr said: ''It's a great opportunity to work with a team that's been so successful over the years. One that is fully led by women, very independent and doesn't rely on men's clubs.

''I'm excited to work with players. I'm very passionate about that, developing players, helping them be the best they can be and to work alongside Leanne, who has had success here both as a player and as a coach.

"We've only ever played against each other so it's nice to now be on this side of things. I've been against them and now I get to be alongside them, so that's pretty, pretty cool.''

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Hibernian have signed Northern Irish full-back Sofie Keenan from NIFL Premiership side Glentoran on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old joined Glentoran from fellow Northern Irish side Linfield back in January 2024 and made over 70 appearances in the country's top flight and turned out in the Champions League.

The full-back played a key role in Glentoran's title win in 2025 and was named young player of the year during that campaign.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to be here," Keenan said.

"I think it's a really special moment for me and my family, moving to a full-time environment and a professional club.

"It was something I couldn't turn down. I think this is the right step for me. It came at the perfect time. Hibs is such a massive club and it's something I want to be part of, so it's special to be here."

Head coach Joelle Murray added: "Sofie is a really exciting signing for Hibs.

"She is a young player with huge potential and a Northern Ireland youth national team international who has already shown her quality at a high level.

"She's a quality left-footed left-back, composed on the ball and provides plenty of energy and ability going forward. She'll be a fantastic addition to the squad and I'm looking forward to seeing her develop further in green and white."

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Rangers defender Kathryn Hill wants her side to "use the hurt" of going without silverware last season ahead of their new campaign.

Hill, who until last year had never experienced a season without a trophy for the club, lost out on the title on the final day of the campaign, and lost both domestic cup finals to Glasgow City and Celtic.

The side have already been knocked out of Champions League qualifying this season after losing to Ajax.

"It was strange because it's the first season I've not won silverware, so reflecting on that, it was very disappointing," she said.

"To have clawed our way back into a title race and then lost in the manner we did on the last day was really poor from us.

"Then we followed that up the following week with a cup final and losing against our rivals.

"I think it could have been a great season and it ended up a really bad season.

"I think when you reflect on that, you need to try and think why and where we went wrong and hopefully use that going into the new season.

"As I said, I've never not won a trophy with the Rangers, so that was strange not having those celebrations and those moments with your teammates.

"We've got to use the hurt, but also use the excitement and the freshness of the squad and the new players coming in and look forward."