Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

The last weekend of the WSL before the international break – and boy did it deliver! Chloe and Rachel are here to unpack it all. Is the pressure getting to Renée Slegers? How did Spurs get it so wrong? And are we seeing Sarina Wiegman's new ruthless era? Follow us on X , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube ! Email us show@upfrontpod.com . For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football...

We’ve not even said goodbye to September and we’re already saying goodbye to our first manager this season. Time’s up for Natalia Arroyo at Aston Villa after a thrashing by Tottenham, who are flying high in the table. Is it too early or did Villa need to move on? Chloe and Rachel discuss that issue and many more, including (of course) Arsenal’s continued lack of attacking intensity. In Chloe’s wor...

If you are just receiving this episode: this edition of Upfront was originally recorded and released on Tuesday 22nd September. We apologise for the delay pulling through to podcast apps. 60 shots, 2 goals for Arsenal so far this term. Manchester United were the latest team to keep their attackers (almost) at bay. After coming away with a point from a physical battle at the Emirates, have Eva Olid...

The second weekend of the WSL, and yet more upsets. But should we be surprised by any of them? Chloe and Rachel reflect on Chelsea's ruthless domination of Man United and some more troubling signs for Eva Olid. Plus, West Ham's frontline delivers the goods as we thought they might – but against the mighty London City! And sadly Michelle Kang didn't even make the journey to Dagenham... And finally,...

What an opening weekend in the WSL! A sloppy Manchester United were cast aside by a sharp-looking London City Lionesses as Alexia Putellas made her debut, Arsenal squeezed past Brighton and Chelsea were held to a draw by a Kirsty Hanson-less Aston Villa. Plus, newly-promoted sides faced very different fates. Crystal Palace got a massive (but controversial) win against Everton and Charlton had a to...

Where to begin? The season is almost upon us and, luckily for you lovely lot, Chloe and Rachel are on hand to provide the most comprehensive of previews. First, the title contenders. Manchester City managed to keep hold of Bunny Shaw amid injury worries, Georgia Stanway could be the missing piece at Arsenal and Chelsea might be gearing up for a big return to the top spot. It’s just too close to ca...

Chloe and Rachel are back together! Today, we catch up on the biggest stories of the summer – and there's been A LOT... We kick off with Chelsea and Arsenal's rebuilds: which squad looks refreshed and which looks stronger than ever? Elsewhere, London City Lionesses have a statement summer – in case you've been living under a rock, Alexia Putellas IS officially in Bromley – and we take a closer loo...

We're back with a bang! Rachel brings two special interviews from Australia on Chelsea's pre-season tour: Keira Walsh and Aggie Beever-Jones are on the pod! They discuss the importance of pre-season after some huge summer changes at Chelsea, their excitement for the WSL, and look ahead to a potentially marathon campaign for club and country. Join us! Follow us on X , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube...

Having both missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup, England and Ireland each face the play-offs in the autumn! England may have beaten Ukraine, but got the game plan very wrong against the Spanish, who appeared to be wearing boots that magnetised the ball to their feet. In other seismic news, it looks like two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is London City-bound! Chloe and...

Brighton put up a good fight but were ultimately blown away by Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. What’s more, Andrée Jeglertz’ team has been given a massive boost by Bunny Shaw announcing she’ll be staying! Could this be the start of a sky blue dynasty? While City fans celebrate, Arsenal fans have been left somewhere between shocked and fuming by Katie McCabe’s transfer to rivals Chelsea. It is...

Chloe and Rachel headed to The Valley to witness history: the first EVER WSL play-off to decide whether Leicester City would preserve their WSL status, or if it would be Charlton Athletic's time to shine in the top flight. As well as a pumping atmosphere, we speak to fans on both sides about their seasons, and hear from Chief Marketing Officer of WSL Football Ruth Hooper about this format and the...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Chloe and Rachel are back once again to round up the WSL season in the form of an awards show. Best player, best signing, “WTF” moment of the season – it’s all happening right here on Upfront. Will the takes be hot, lukewarm or ice cold? There’s only one way to find out… Follow us on X , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube ! Email us show@upfrontpod.com . For a...

At last, Man City got the job done! And they didn't even have to be on the pitch to seal their first WSL title in a decade. Chloe and Rachel look back on Manchester City's remarkable campaign and how they got the job done where so many other challengers have failed. But while they're triumphing on the pitch, we have some advice off of it: SIGN BUNNY SHAW UNTIL SHE'S 90!! Plus, we look at both FA C...

The Champions League title defence is over. It was one step too VAR for Arsenal. Sorry, blame Rach for that one. Chloe and Rachel react to Lyon's masterclass and moving perhaps one step closer to seeing Michele Kang without sunglasses. Meanwhile, Manchester City kept the title in their hands with last-gasp drama – was this the weekend that we saw the mentality of true champions? And we finally kno...

It's all happening at the moment. Chloe and Rachel strap in for a bumper pod, starting with Arsenal's massive first-leg win over Lyon – in part thanks to some chaotic defending and in part thanks to Olivia Smith's tenacity (even after a million fouls). Elsewhere, Brighton spoil Man City's title charge which somehow means the title race could go down to the final day. In the meantime, it looks like...

It may have been a “claggy” pitch in Iceland, and it may not have been a classic England performance, but a win is a win! And in the Lionesses’ 500th game, no less. Make no mistake, though, the Dóttirs are a force to be reckoned with. Chloe and Rachel also speak to journalist and German football expert Kit Holden about Union Berlin’s groundbreaking appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as the head coach...

Sazzy Wiegs’ England continue to make Wembley their fortress, battling their way to a 1-0 win over their old foe Spain. Lauren Hemp scored in the blink of an eye (Chloe’s calling it a “semi bicycle kick half-turn volley”) and Hannah Hampton was heroic at the death. Elsewhere, Katie McCabe can’t stop scoring for Ireland! After narrow defeats to France and the Netherlands, they managed to hold on to...

Fresh from their two-legged triumph at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, Arsenal kept up their poor FA Cup form with a 2-0 defeat against Brighton. Chloe and Rachel praise Brighton and ask just why Arsenal can’t get the consistency to fight on multiple fronts. Elsewhere, it’s high time we take a closer look at the title race in WSL2 because it is HOT! We take you through all the permutation...

On a historic night for Chelsea, Rach heads down to Stamford Bridge to do something historic herself: get a Chelsea and an Arsenal fan to talk to each other! Join us as Rach sits down with members of both Chelsea Women Supporters Group and Arsenal Women Supporters Club. We also chat with AWSC's chair, Farah Chowdhury, and bring you the electric atmosphere at the Bridge from pitchside. Finally, Rac...

Man City might have two hands and a foot on the WSL trophy, but there is STILL a Chelsea pinky toe on there too. Lots of foot chat in this one, sorry everyone. Chloe and Rachel discuss the goals, the salty interviews, and that Kim Little tifo. Plus, Chloe gets disturbed by Rachel's leggings/jeggings and Rachel gets even more disturbed by Chloe comparing herself with Camilla. Stay tuned... Follow u...

Chloe’s spent most of this weekend preparing for her 35-minute stand up set at Rachel’s upcoming anniversary celebrations - join us for a preview of some opening few lines that definitely won’t make it to the microphone on the day. We also manage to recap a load of WSL action as an improving Aston Villa piled more misery on Leicester and The Bunny Shaw Show unveiled its latest magic trick: scoring...

There is only one way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day here at Upfront, and that’s getting Chloe Morgan to try and say a load of things in Irish with very mixed results. Chloe and Rachel tackle the League Cup final, which saw Sonia Bompastor pick up her fourth trophy! But why were Man United so flat? We discuss what’s behind their lack of belief. Plus, Liverpool get a huge win at the bottom to push L...

One of our favourite players in the WSL – a true baller and fashion icon – joins Chloe and Rachel in the studio today. It's Spurs star and Lioness, Jess Naz! We catch up with Jess on her recovery since injuring her ACL in December – the second of her career – and how she's drawing on that past experience to come back even stronger. We also get Jess's perspective on Spurs' record-breaking season, w...

As domestic football finally returns to our screens this weekend, Chloe and Rachel are not ready to leave international pastures just yet. They discuss the Lionesses' professional win against Iceland and how Lucy Bronze proved her value for this England team (like she ever needed to). Goal's lead women's football writer Ameé Ruszkai joins us to give the lowdown on all things Asian Cup, after the g...

We're on the road to the 2027 Brazil World Cup! And after 45 minutes of knocking the ball about, England hit the road in style. Chloe and Rachel look back on the Lionesses' 6-1 win over Ukraine, which featured some interesting personnel and some vintage Georgia Stanway. Plus, a stark reminder of why World Cup qualification is so hard this year, WAFCON gets officially postponed less than two weeks...