Hannah Hampton was named the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards in September, capping a period of sustained success for the England Women’s team following their UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 victory.
England have not played a competitive fixture since winning the tournament, but have maintained a busy schedule of friendly matches. In November and December, Sarina Wiegman’s side recorded comprehensive victories over China (8-0) and Ghana (2-0). Prior to those matches, a 2-1 defeat by Brazil on their homecoming return was followed by a 3-0 win over Australia.
The matches provided Wiegman with an opportunity to integrate new players into the squad. Defenders Anouk Denton and Taylor Hinds, along with forward Freya Godfrey, all received their first senior call-ups. The period also allowed key players, including Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James, to recover from long-term injuries.
Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, who plays her club football for Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League, earned her first senior England cap in a November 2025 friendly against China, having been a regular squad member since July 2024. Moorhouse was instrumental in preparing first-choice goalkeeper Hampton for penalty shootouts, a role she described as crucial to the team’s success in the Euro 2025 final. She later signed a contract extension with Orlando Pride, extending her stay with the defending NWSL champions until the end of 2027.
The Lionesses’ squad has undergone changes in recent months. Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who captained England at the 2023 World Cup, announced her retirement in October. However, Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang suffered a serious setback, sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the win over Australia, requiring her to be carried off on a stretcher.
Despite Agyemang’s injury, Arsenal’s squad has enjoyed success, with captain Williamson lifting the Champions Cup in February. Hampton’s individual accolades continued with the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award in November, following the release of teammate Mary Earps’ autobiography earlier that month.
Moorhouse reflected on the contrasting pressures of playing for England and Orlando Pride, noting that the American league offered a more relaxed environment, allowing her to focus on her game without the intense media scrutiny experienced in England. She described the Euro 2025 win as a moment of “pure emotion,” recalling the heart-stopping tension as Chloe Kelly prepared to capture the decisive penalty.
