BBC Women's Football Weekly

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie discuss the Champions League quarter-finals with Arsenal and Chelsea coming up against each other in Europe for the very first time. Ellen goes into why it's so important to go into the second leg ahead and why the first may be a cagey affair. Jen and Ellen discuss Alessia Russo's best position and why Jen thinks Renee Slegers is so good at managing her squad. Manchester United face a tough side in Bayern Munich who are unbeaten in the league this season, plus United have the Manchester derby to manage in between the two legs. Ellen and Jen give their opinion after it was announced every team in FIFA's women's football tournaments must include at least one female head coach or assistant coach. Will the support and funding be in place for female coaches to get their coaching qualifications?Timecodes: 02:00 Players getting ill 04:30 Arsenal v Chelsea 09:30 Importance of first leg 11:35 Russo position & Blackstenious 18:25 Can United cause an upset against Bayern? 24:30 New FIFA rule on female coaches 30:00 What support is needed? 35:20 Manchester derbyCommentaries: Tuesday 24th March: Champions League Arsenal v Chelsea on 5 Live, KO 2000 Saturday 28th March: WSL Manchester United v Manchester City on 5 Live, KO 13:30 Saturday 28th March: WSL Arsenal v Spurs on Sports Extra, KO 17:30 Sunday 29th March: WSL Chelsea v Aston Villa on 5 Live, KO 1200

BBC Sports Katie Gornall has done a deep dive into how Newcastle United are plotting a course to the WSL as they push for a play-off place.Katie has been catching with Newcastle midfielder Jordan Nobbs, manager Tanya Oxtoby, director of women's football Grace Williams and former player Rachel Furness. Grace and Tanya share the ambitions of the club and what has changed since the takeover as they target promotion. Jordan and Rachel reflect on whats changed in the game and how exciting the prospect of seeing Newcastle in the top flight would be.Also, why does Jordan Nobbs keeping taking Tanya's shoes?TIMECODES: 01:23 - Rachel Furness 12:54 - Tanya Oxtoby 24:39 - Jordan Nobbs 34:25 - Grace Williams

In a candid and important conversation, Lioness legend Ellen White sits down with Manchester United’s Celin Bizet Dønnum to discuss motherhood in women's football. From considering the right time to start a family, navigating training while pregnant and her plans to return to training after birth, Celin shares her story proving that you can ‘live out two dreams at the same time’.TIMECODES: 00:45 - How is Celin feeling at the moment? 01:40 - Was starting a family whilst playing always part of Celin’s plan and taking inspiration from Hannah Blundell. 03:51 - The support Celin has had from Manchester United? 08:20 - Celin and Aron’s ‘normal’ as two professional footballers. 09:30 - Who did Celin tell first about her pregnancy? 11:25 - What are Celin’s plans when it comes to returning to play? 12:48 - Learning about pelvic floor health and changes to her body. 16:30 - Breaking stigmas around being a young Mum in her ‘peak years’. 19:45 - What is the maternity leave policy in women's football? 22:50 - How did her teammates react to her baby news? 25:40 - Celin asks Ellen about her motherhood journey. 28:45 - What is Celin most excited about once her little one arrives?

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie reflect on the first international break of the year where England and Scotland made it two wins out of two in their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaigns.The team discuss England's standout performers against Iceland including Lucy Bronze who marked her 145th senior appearance with another superb display. Plus, with Lauren James looking back to her best, we ask how the Lionesses can get the best out of her on a more consistent basis? The WSL returns this weekend after a month-long break with a 'must not lose' game for bottom of the table sides Liverpool and Leicester City. And the first piece of domestic silverware is up for grabs, so who are Ellen and Jen backing to lift the League Cup on Sunday?TIMECODES: 01:12 - Jen is buzzing from Scotland’s Six Nations win! 03:03 - Lauren James starred during England’s 2-0 win over Iceland. 09:30 - Lucy Bronze proves she’s still gold standard on her 145th cap. 14: 00 - Georgia Stanway impresses again. 16:10 - Scotland put seven past Luxembourg. 22:00 - The WSL returns with a huge fixture at the foot of the table. 27:35 - Do players keep an eye on their club teammates fitness whilst on international breaks? 30:00 - League Cup final preview as reigning champions Chelsea take on Manchester United.

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Soccer Aid's newest recruit, Jen Beattie are back together to look back on games which saw England and Scotland get their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign off to flying starts.The team focus on the performances of England's goalscorers, Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park and ask whether a more experimental back line was tested enough against Ukraine. Captain Caroline Weir scored her first international hat-trick as Scotland hit five without reply against Luxembourg. Jen discusses how the side are finding their freedom again.Plus, ahead of International Women's Day, the pod give a huge shoutout to Jen O'Neill, their unsung hero of the women's game.TIMECODES: 00:15 - Jen is Soccer Aid’s newest recruit! 04:18 - England goalscorer focus against Ukraine, starting with Jess Park. 06:55 - Georgia Stanway showing why she’s in demand this summer. 12:00 - Alessia Russo is a ‘world-class’ number 9. 16:33 - A more experimental back four for England. 21:17 - What changes could we see against Iceland on Saturday? 24:20 - Scotland hit the ground running against Luxembourg. 29:00 - Scotland are finding their freedom again. 31:25 - Is Kirsty Hanson the most underrated player in the WSL? 33:22 - We name our Women’s Football Weekly unsung hero ahead of International Women’s Day.

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?